Causeway Bay, also called Tung Lo Wan by the local people, is located on the north shore of Hong Kong Island.
This is one of the busiest regions in Hong Kong, with lots of shopping malls and entertainment venues. Besides shopping, visitors can also find some interesting activities to do or try to eat like the locals.
Causeway Bay is a wonderful place to spend one day or more. Here, we have listed some activities that are also liked by the locals.
1. Ride on the "Ding Ding" Tram
The "Ding Ding" is a unique double-decker tram in Hong Kong, officially called Hong Kong Tramways. It got its name from the "ding-ding" sound it makes when the driver steps on the brake. This transportation vehicle has a history of over 100 years and it can only be found in Hong Kong.
The rail tracks for the tram span from east to west across the northern shore of Hong Kong Island. Causeway Bay is one of the stops.
The "Ding Ding" tram seemingly drives you back through the history of Hong Kong at a slow speed. You have plenty of time on the tram to appreciate the old streets and bustling avenues of Hong Kong. This is a good way to get a taste of the most original flavors of Hong Kong from the past century.
2. Go Shopping in Times Square and Lee Gardens
Causeway Bay is a sleepless shopping and dining area in Hong Kong. Walking for about 10 minutes, you will pass through dozens of malls and stores. If you like shopping, you may find that a full day is not enough for Causeway Bay.
You can find exclusive shops for world-famous brands in Times Square, Lee Gardens, Hysan Place, and other shopping malls. The goods sold in Hong Kong are a little more expensive than normal but are much cheaper than in other places in China. Some duty-free goods are sold at cheaper prices than the originals.
The discount seasons in Hong Kong are generally from June to September, during Christmas, and on New Year's Eve.
Check out the top 8 shopping areas in Hong Kong.
3. Drink Yum Cha and Eat Dim Sum
The Hong Kong locals attach great importance to food. Besides trying some local dishes, you can also find delicacies from around the world.
To eat like the locals, you can visit a teahouse or restaurant in the early morning and enjoy some yum cha and dim sum, which are Hong Kong-style tea and snacks.
You can choose a pot of tea first: white tea has the lowest caffeine content, black tea is the best choice if you are on a diet, and jasmine tea has a pleasant flowery flavor.
Then you can order some dim sum, which are exquisite bite-size snacks, such as shrimp dumplings, sweet pork buns, and spring rolls.
Hong Kong street food is also colorful and tasty. Egg tarts, milk tea, egg puffs, and steamed puddings are all worth a try.
4. Visit the Open-Air Stalls in Jardine's Crescent
If you are tired of large shopping malls, Jardine's Crescent may give you a more authentic experience of traditional Hong Kong. The streets in Jardine's Crescent are narrow but are filled with open-air stalls selling interesting objects used by the locals in their daily lives. You can find some cheap clothes, accessories, handbags, seafood, or flowers there.
You may need a guide to give you some advice to avoid buying fake products and to help you bargain with the vendors. It is also a good experience to just walk around.
5. Enjoy Horse Racing at Happy Valley Racecourse
Happy Valley Racecourse is located 1 kilometer south of the Causeway Bay Centre Shopping Arcade. This was the first racecourse in Hong Kong with its first race held in December 1846. At present, the racing season is from September to June, and the races are held every Wednesday night.
The Hong Kong Racing Museum is on the second floor of the racecourse. The museum has eight exhibition halls and a movie theater, displaying Hong Kong's horse racing history and interesting data about race bonuses and famous racing horses and riders. You will have a deeper understanding about Hong Kong horse racing there.
6. Watch a Tennis Match in Victoria Park
Victoria Park is the most popular recreation place for people living in Causeway Bay. Every morning, many citizens arrive there to do their morning exercises. If you want a firsthand experience of the local people's lifestyles, just go there and join them.
During important festivals, such as New Year's Eve, the Spring Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Christmas, local people and visitors will gather in Victoria Park for celebrations.
The tennis court in Victoria Park is where the Hong Kong Tennis Open is hosted. Every September, top tennis players from all over the world participate in the competition. If you like the sport, don't forget to watch the games.
7. Read in Hong Kong Central Library
Hong Kong Central Library is the largest public library in Hong Kong. Located near Victoria Park, the library has 12 stories and over 2.3 million books.
Besides Chinese books, the library also collects books in English and other languages. If you don't like or are tired of the bustling shopping streets, this is a wonderful place to enjoy some peaceful reading time.
8. Watch a Fire Dragon Dance During the Mid-Autumn Festival
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, a large fire dragon appears in the streets and alleys! This is not a scene in a movie but a historical activity of Tai Hang, Causeway Bay.
Tai Hang is located about 2 kilometers southeast of Causeway Bay. If you visit Tai Hang during the Mid-Autumn Festival, you can enjoy watching a great performance of the Fire Dragon Dance.
A fire dragon is a Chinese dragon made of hemp rope that is then inserted with smoldering joss sticks. A fire dragon is 67 meters long and the head can weigh over 70 kilograms. More than 300 local villagers will perform the dance every night during the 3-day festival, and the performance will use about 24,000 joss sticks per night.
9. Listen to the Jardine Noonday Gun
Near the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, there is a blue gun mounted in an enclosed area. Every day at noon, the gun fires one shot, announcing the end of the morning session.
If you happen to be nearby, it is good to have a look at this.
10. "Beat the Petty Person"
If a local person finds that everything is going wrong for them or they are annoyed by a petty person, they will visit a "professional beater" under the bridge that is located at the junction of Hennessy Road and Canal Road.
The "professional beaters" are generally old ladies. They will light red candles, prepare a paper tiger, and beat the paper-made "petty person" with their shoes. People believe this superstitious activity is a good way to drive away evil matters and bring good luck.
You will not consider this to be strange if you are a hardcore fan of Hong Kong movies and dramas. This is an interesting custom to watch.
11. Ride the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui
Like the "Ding Ding" tram, the Star Ferry has been a historical form of transport for over 100 years and forms part of the local people's memories. Today, this is still a popular and widely praised experience in Hong Kong.
The ferry boat can take you from Wan Chai Ferry Pier, which is about 1 kilometer west of Causeway Bay to Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier (12 minutes). The ferry boat takes you away from the busy metropolis for a short while, offering a relaxing time with good views of the sea, mountains, and skyline.
Read more about the Star Ferry including where to get on board, the routes, and why it is popular.
Visit Causeway Bay with Us
Traveling with China Highlights, you will have a private tour guide who speaks your language and you won't have to travel with anyone else. Your guide can suggest some interesting or impressive experiences for you to try, as well as some shopping places that are also liked by local people (there are no forced shopping excursions).
Just tell us what you like to get your unique private experience in Causeway Bay.