Travel highlights Hong Kong

Dragon's Back
It's a great walk along the Dragon's Back on the south side of Hong Kong Island and takes about 2 hours to complete. Start at the To Tei Wan Shuen bus stop, and finish with dinner in one of the restaurants in Shek O Village.

Happy Valley Racecourse
First built in 1845 for the British, it is now one of the most famous horse racing venues in all the world. Vast sums of money change hands at Hong Kong's horse-racing meetings, held from September to June.

Hong Kong Park
A popular escape from the busy city streets, Hong Kong Park includes plenty of green space as well as an aviary, fountains, a restaurant and the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. On Wednesday mornings at 0800 there are organised birdwatching sessions starting from the artificial lake; these are cancelled when there's a cyclone warning of level 3 or above.

Macau
Although not part of Hong Kong, Macau is a very popular destination for day trips and weekend breaks. Apart of the casinosm there are also some delightful older parts of the enclave (which is actually two islands which were artificially joined).

Mong Kok
Thought to be the world's most densely populated urban area, Mong Kok provides the ultimate opportunity to mingle with the crowds. Exotic fish and amphibians are sold at the Goldfish Market, and intricate bamboo birdcages and songbirds can be purchased near the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden.

Ngong Ping cable Car and Tian Tan Bhudda
The Ngong Ping 360 cable car is one of the top attractions on Lantau Island, travelling between Tung Chung town centre and Ngong Ping.It offers stunning views across North Lantau Country Park and Tung Ching Bay, as well as of the giant Tian Tan Bhudda statue. Part of the development is Ngong Ping Village, a small theme park incorporating family-friendly attractions such as Walking with Buddha, the Monkey's Tale Theatre, the Ngong Ping Tea House and several dining, retail and entertainment outlets. The Po Lin Monastery, also at the top, is also likely to be interesting to most visitors.

Repulse bay
The gorgeous beach at Repulse Bay is one of the most popular on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. You can also visit the Tin Hau Temple, which overlooks Repulse Bay. Another good beach destination is Cheung Sha, a white sandy beach on Lantau Island, which has the awe-inspiring Shek Pik Reservoir Dam. One-day island-hopping tickets allow unlimited ferry trips between islands.

Victoria Peak
The view of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak is a must-see, and the journey up on the Peak Tram from Garden Road is no less spectacular. At the top, visitors will find the seven-storey Peak Tower, which is a good vantage point. Alternatively, go for a wander along the various roads, including one up to the very top, and the steep Old Peak Road down to Central in around 40 minutes.