HONG KONG · DAY TRIPS
Day trips from Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a compact SAR surrounded by sea, with the Guangdong mainland to the north. Its own outlying islands offer hiking and fishing villages, while Shenzhen and Guangzhou are accessible by MTR or high-speed rail for a mainland China day trip.
Destinations within reach
Lantau Island (Ngong Ping)
大屿山昂坪
- How to get there
- MTR to Tung Chung, then Ngong Ping 360 cable car; or bus 23 from Tung Chung
- What to see
- Tian Tan Big Buddha (34m bronze seated Buddha); Po Lin Monastery; Ngong Ping village.
- Why go
- A very different character from the urban core; combine with a coastal hike on the Lantau Trail.
Cheung Chau Island
长洲
- How to get there
- Ferry from Central Ferry Pier 5; very frequent on weekends
- What to see
- Car-free island with a fishing village atmosphere; Pak Tai Temple; alleyway street food (fish balls, grilled squid).
- Why go
- A genuine Hong Kong outlying island with no cars; the main street is good for street food.
Shenzhen (mainland China)
深圳
- How to get there
- MTR East Rail from Hung Hom or Kowloon Tong; visa required for most nationalities
- What to see
- Dongmen Old Street; OCT-Loft contemporary art district; Dafen Oil Painting Village; Chaoshan beef hotpot.
- Why go
- A complete contrast in pace and atmosphere; excellent affordable food and an insight into mainland Chinese urban life.
Guangzhou
广州
- How to get there
- G trains from West Kowloon station; several per day
- What to see
- Chen Clan Ancestral Hall; Shamian Island; Qingping Market; dim sum at century-old teahouses.
- Why go
- The origin city of Cantonese cuisine and culture; a different scale and pace to Hong Kong.
Macao
澳门
- How to get there
- Ferry from Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan; or bridge shuttle bus from HK–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge HK Port
- What to see
- Ruins of St Paul's; Senado Square; egg tart bakeries; Taipa Village.
- Why go
- UNESCO-listed Portuguese colonial heritage; a complete change of cultural scenery from Hong Kong.
Lamma Island
南丫岛
- How to get there
- Ferry from Central Pier 4 to Yung Shue Wan; or to Sok Kwu Wan
- What to see
- Low-rise fishing village streets; seafood restaurants along the waterfront; Family Walk between villages.
- Why go
- Relaxed island atmosphere very close to the city; the seafood restaurants at Sok Kwu Wan are a reliable experience.
Sai Kung Country Park
西贡郊野公园
- How to get there
- Bus 92 from Diamond Hill MTR to Sai Kung town, then minibus or taxi into the park
- What to see
- Dramatic coastal hiking on the MacLehose Trail; Sai Kung town seafood restaurants; turquoise sea kayaking.
- Why go
- Hong Kong's least developed and most dramatic natural landscape, accessible without leaving the SAR.
Verified May 2026