A Day for Exploring
Morning
Start off with a brisk stroll through Hong Kong Park,
a green haven surrounded on all sides by thrusting towers of glass and
concrete. Chances are you’ll see several caparisoned couples awaiting
their turn to be married at the Cotton Tree Drive Registry Office. Take
time for a look through the Edward Youde Aviary, a spectacular creation
of mesh arches replete with Southeast Asian birdlife.
Make your way down past Citibank’s imposing black towers to Pacific Place for a coffee and some window shopping. Keep heading towards the harbour and you’ll see to your right the elegant sweep of the
Convention and Exhibition Centre
. Enjoy the harbour panorama through soaring glass walls.
Afternoon
Return to Wan Chai for lunch.
Lockhart Road
is as good a place as any. The sleazy
joints are still slumbering, and there is decent pub grub, Thai, Mexican
and Chinese food on offer (see Places to Eat and Drink).
Hennessy Road is the place
to jump on a tram to Causeway Bay, due east of Wan Chai, or you may
prefer to go one stop on the MTR. If you want to go shopping, take the
Times Square exit, and start exploring from there. Then leave the crush
and chaos behind with a leisurely afternoon stroll through Victoria Park, and perhaps a cocktail in Totts, the eyrie atop the Excelsior hotel.
Places to Shop
Page One
The
best bookshop in Hong Kong, not least because the books are all stacked
facing outwards. Huge range of fiction and non-fiction at reasonable
prices.
Page One
Jusco
One
of Japan’s biggest department store chains. Lower rents to the east of
the island translate into cheaper fashion, food and household goods.
Sogo
With a fine range of mostly Japanese goods, Sogo is very popular among locals, though not up to Seibu’s standards in the hipness stakes.
Island Beverley
An arcane arcade stuffed with tiny boutiques featuring the creations of talented young local designers.
Fashion Walk
Lots
more interesting boutiques here. The vibe is similar to the Island
Beverley. Good place to find bargain cosmetics. Also, check out D-Mop.
J-01
This
store is cool bordering on crazy. The highlight of the hip and
happening design collections is the “Splatter Collection” by Japanese
artist Dehara Yukinori. It’s hard to say if he’s trying to be comical or
is seriously deranged. Either way, don’t miss his lurid, twisted
figurines such as Killed Person and Brainman.
Spring Garden Lane
Head to this fun market for export-quality clothing at rock-bottom prices.
Marathon Sports
Acres of trainers and sporty stuff.
Fortress
This is the best place to buy the latest electronics, which are sold at reasonable prices and with reliable guarantees.
Lee Gardens
Prada, Paul Smith, Versace, Christian Dior and Cartier for the well-heeled.
