Surprisingly compact, Hong Kong is an easy city to explore on foot. If it weren't for the harbor, you could walk everywhere. If, for example, you're in the Central District and want to have dinner in Causeway Bay, you can walk there in less than an hour, passing through colorful Wan Chai on the way. Causeway Bay is good for exploring, since it's full of little sidewalk markets, a Japanese department store, restaurants, and shops patronized by the locals. Another great place for walking is the Western District just west of Central, fascinating because it encompasses a wide spectrum of traditional Chinese shops, from chop makers to ginseng wholesalers. If you like panoramic views, nothing can beat the hour-long circular walk on Victoria Peak.
On the other side of the harbor, a walk up Nathan Road from the harbor to the Yau Ma Tei subway station takes less than 30 minutes, although you might want to browse in some of the shops and department stores along the way. And Yau Ma Tei itself is another good place for wandering about since it also offers insight into the Chinese way of life with its markets and traditional shops. For easy strolling with great views of the harbor, walk along the waterfront promenade that stretches from the Star Ferry all the way through Tsim Sha Tsui East.
Be forewarned that sidewalks and streets can be crowded at the end of the work day as people rush to buses and subway stations for trips back to the suburbs.
What follows are three recommended strolls. If you're interested in additional self-guided walks throughout Hong Kong, be sure to pick up the free HKTB pamphlet called Hong Kong Walks, which covers points of interest in Central, the Western District, Shau Kei Wan (location of the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence), Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, and Sha Tin in the New Territories. For more information, contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (tel. 852/2508 1234).
