Hong Kong, Lantau and the New Territories

A whirlwind tour of a land of contrasts

By Claire

Why Go?

If you want an opportunity to have endless chances to brush up on all genres of photography, both night and day, then this is for you. Hong Kong Island isn't just skyscrapers, it is about a mass of humanity. Escaping modernity is easy; it is a place of contrasts where poverty rubs shoulders with vast wealth, where the old ways of life are still visible and remote but accessible trails within the New Territories take you far from the crowds.

Since the handover in 1997 Hong Kong has become a 'Special Administrative Region of China' that is embedded within the world's largest Communist country. It is also one of the cleanest and friendliest places I've visited. Open a map when you are lost and within moments someone will stop and ask if they can help.

Travel is easy. The public transport system a revelation. Prices from accommodation to food and photographic equipment leave you almost offering to pay more.

The itinerary:

View Google MAP

Day 1 Transfer to hotel via taxi on Silvermine Bay, Lantau island. Catch the ferry to Hong Kong harbour to experience the skyline and get a feel for the city. Travel back on the ferry in the dark to witness the city at night.

Day 2 Visit the Giant Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery by bus as early as possible to avoid the crowds, the bus takes you through Lantau's mountain scenary.

Move on to the Tao O Fishing Village.

Day 3 Transfer to hotel in Mong Kok (Kowloon) which has the highest population density in the world. Investigate the camera shops. Relax in the park and in the evening  take your tripod and gets those shots of the light and laser show from Kowloon then walk the night markets.

Day 4 Up early to get to the Ng Tung Chai trail by train and bus. Walk the mountain track past stunning waterfalls.

Day 5 Explore Hong Kong Island by day and night. Be at the top of Victoria Peak at dusk. Take a boat  trip to Aberdeen harbour.

Day 6 Travel to Sai Kung and  Tai Long Wan  in the New Territories. Walk the trail to Big Wave Bay.

Spend an evening at the Sai Kung fishing harbour photographing the catch coming in on the fishing junks, transferred to tanks in restaurants and then take your pick for your supper.

Day 7 Explore the gardens below Victoria Peak  before catching the Airport Express to Hong Kong Airport.
Sleep.

Highlights of my trip:

The Sai Kung fishing village in the evening, seeing the weird and wonderful sea life caught in the South China Sea and then eating some!

The laser show from Kowloon and the amazing deals on photography equipment on Nathan Road with shops full of all the latest equipment with sales staff who really know their stuff. One young lady with an encyclopaedic knowledge of tripods spent an hour with us. Stick with the bigger stores and don't be tempted by impossibly cheap prices. Tin Cheung Camera Co is recommended

Lowlights:

The smog and heat.
We did too much in a week to get good quality photographs, one has to stop and look and wait to really get "that" shot but I feel I actually know this area, know the places to go back to and how to get there. Quite as achievement in a week for such a huge area covered.

When to Go:

Avoid summer. The heat and humidity even in October was a challenge when hiking. The hotter it gets the more the pollution gets trapped. In October the skies can clear but days with blue skies are rare. The coast in the new territories feels fresher but that haze is there until the light drops and then the colour show starts but even a promising sunset can fizzle out if the ground level pollution is dense. I'm told the best time to visit is November to December, temperatures are around 20 degrees Celsius; there is not much rain, the sun shines most of the time, and it's not as humid.

Access:

Fly into Hong Kong Airport and from here catch a cab, wherever you are staying it will be cheap enough. The taxis are controlled and there was no worry about being ripped off. Just be aware that only some cabs are licensed to go onto Lantau but if in doubt ask. Everyone is helpful. While at the airport buy your Octopus swipe card  that can be used on all major public transport systems (buses, MTR and ferry). I suggest HK$200 (about £12) to start with is plenty and can be topped up all over the city. Ferry crossings  cost around 30p.

How to Get There:

From UK the airline prices have been dropping but as from 9th April Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is in liquidation. Some deals were too good to be true.

Where to Stay:

I can only say that the two hotels we used were clean, efficient and great value. The food we ate for breakfast stunning. The reception excellent. The choice you have is over whelming. If I went again I'd just book a night online in Mong Kok, Kowloon using all the reviews online to locate a deal. If I hated it I'd pack up and walk to the next one (probably next door). Hotels for me are places to sleep, location is more important than facilities as I'm out from dawn to late and never get to use the pool.

Advice for travellers:

Buy that Octopus card. 
Use public transport and taxis to get to more remote locations - ask at hotel reception for help when you first get there. It really is easy. Everything arrives on time - to the minute.
Either do what we did and visit everything or be more selective and have a shot in mind you want and really "work it".
Don't be afraid to head out of town and to the coast. The trails are well signposted and there is lots of online literature that will help you plan a good day out.
Long views over Hong Kong can only really be realised at dusk and night due to the haze. Night views are stunning from Victoria Peak. Arrive early, walk a bit and watch the city slowly light up.

Look for details and reflections in buildings during the day.

Look for people shots. Spend more time than I did just standing and people watching.

You HAVE to watch the laser show from Kowloon. Go early and plan your spot. Try long and fast shutter speeds. Long, slow ones will, like fireworks, capture more of the action. TRIPOD ESSENTIAL. The Chinese celebrate Halloween big time and the evening parade is worth a look.

Equipment for this trip:

What you don't have but feel you need; you can buy.
Every piece of equipment you own could be useful. It depends on what you want to do. I'd certainly take a fast mid length zoom to just hang around your neck, as your camera will never be in its bag for long.
A way of downloading and viewing images will be useful especially if you are venturing into new photographic territory. You can go back to hotel, review, learn and return.

When The Light is good:

If you find light with colour use it wherever you are as it is rare. However, bright, diffused light has advantages in some situations, just avoid the sky and wide angles.

When the Light is Bad:

This means monsoon rain. Find a restaurant, eat great food and wait for the rain to stop. The light afterwards just might be the best you see and it will be cooler.

Will I Go Again?

This is on my "hit list" of places I've been but will go again as I feel I now know where to linger and could make more of the location photographically. From the UK it is a bit of a long haul but you are guaranteed an interesting experience and photo opportunities. It is now cheaper than ever before to get here. On my next trip I'd head out to more remote locations and would probably stay at the fishing village for at least two nights and spend more time just watching rather than moving to the next destination. I found it incredibly friendly, a place I'd travel on my own and have fun.
Given a chance and the money I'd head to the real China but as an introduction this is to be recommended.

Recommended links Trip Advisor   Hong Kong Outdoors

UK Insurance for your trip recommended by PTR:

Travel insurance and camera insurance.

PTR Star rating

  but if street photography is your thing you'd probably easily turn this into a 5 star location.