Sunset in Hong Kong
Reason to Stay in Hong Kong
Macau Wet Market
Macau Wet Market
Day 1
Tokyo Haneda 11:00 (All Nippon Airways ANA965) > Shenzhen 15:20
Shenzhen Airport around 16:10 (Bus) > Tsim Sha Tsui (China Hong Kong City) around 18:45
Accommodation: Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong
Day 1 Tips
・After clearing immigration at Shenzhen Airport, I headed to the ground transportation area and purchased a bus ticket to Hong Kong. There seemed to be two companies, I ended up buying a ticket from Eternal East Bus (永東巴士) to Tsim Sha Tsui. A minivan takes you from the airport to immigration, then walk to Hong Kong side. From there, you take another bus into downtown Hong Kong. A sticker is attached to your clothes, so even if you do not speak Chinese, the company staff will guide you.
・Since this was the peak season during the New Year holidays, I calculated the airfare difference based on the cost per hour of extra travel time. It was clearly more than my salary, so I thought traveling via Shenzhen was a reasonable option. In my case, I wanted to give it a try anyway.
Day 2
Sheung Wan Macau Ferry Terminal 07:30 (TurboJet) > Macau Outer Harbor 08:30
・Dim Sum at Lung Wah Tea House
・Red Market
・Ruins of St. Paul’s
・Ying Kee Bakery (Snoopy-themed store)
・Senado Square
Macau Outer Harbour 14:00 (TurboJet) > Sheung Wan 15:00
・Tim Ho Wan
・Mandarin Oriental Hotel “Bar Chinnery”
Day 2 Tips
・I visited the bar on the second floor of the Mandarin. It was wonderful to see that the gentle, elderly bartender was still there.
Day 3
・Dim Sum at Lin Heung Tea House
・Chun Yeung Street (Market street where the tram runs)
・Mandarin Hotel Bar Chinnery
Day 3 Tips
・I had heard that Lin Heung Tea House had closed down. It was reopened at a new location, so I got up early to check it out. It was as lively and fun as before. After breakfast, I went back to the hotel for a nap.
・For dinner that night, I had fish and chips with Guinness Beer at the Mandarin’s bar. It was probably the most expensive fish and chips in Asia. The Guinness comes in Mandarin’s original beer mug, which looks like made of tin, and I almost gave in to the temptation to take it home. The only reason I resisted was that I knew I would get caught — it definitely was not because of my strong sense of morality.
Day 4
・Dim Sum at Luk Yu Tea House
・North River Street Market
Mong Kok 12:00 (Bus) > Shenzhen Airport around 14:30
Shenzhen 17:25 (ANA966) > Tokyo Haneda 22:20
Day 4 Tips
・I had picked up a timetable from Eternal East Bus, the first bus from Tsim Sha Tsui to Shenzhen Airport departed at 1:10 pm. Since that seemed a little too late, I took the bus from Mong Kok. While entering China was relatively smooth, it appears there is no set schedule for the minivan from the immigration to the airport. Considering the time and hassle, riding a high-speed train to Guangzhou East Station then take to subway or taxi to Guangzhou Airport might have been a better option.
・Of course, the best option is not Shenzhen Airport nor Guangzhou Airport. If you take the Airport Express, you can get from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hong Kong Int’l Airport in about 40 minutes. While it is true that “everything in life is an experience,” there are no need to experience some of the things you do not have to.