Urban walk - Space Invaders 1

Duration: 

(9 kilometers)
7 hours

Difficulty: 3/10. For distance.

Appreciation: 9/10. A great way to experience Hong Kong island. For someone with just one day to browse around town, this walk covers a lot of Hong Kong's city experience; architecture, food, museum, temples, lemurs, space invaders, it's got it all! The space invaders murals may not be there for long but the walk is still worth it.

Transportation: MTR to IFC. MTR back from Wanchai

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/442613920
(There are a few spikes in the path - due to the lack of line of sight - that make no-sense but they are pretty obvious. Other than that, it is quite accurate)

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Starting right outside the IFC mall, on the walkway towards the ferry pier, the space invader is on the tunnel vent. Can't miss it.

Going through the mall an exiting midway, interestingly shaped building.

On a Sunday, the maids are coming out to play.

Streets of Sheung Wan

The old Western market

Pay attention to the little shops, cats are the real shopkeepers!

Nice little park aptly named "Queen Street Rest Garden"

Another space invader

Fruit bowl on top of fruit shop

Lots of temples on that street

Stop at Nosh for brunch or a little piece of sweet. Nice art-deco building...

Right buy, Teakha for a nice pot of tea

Hong Kong Museum of Medical Science

Down the stairs to the...

...Man Mo temple

Gothic-revival kitsch, Kung Lee Church, Cnr. Bridges St and Ladder St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Yet another of those space invaders

One more!

Fruits anyone?

Lan Kwai Fung, where, on a Saturday night, you can find the highest density of drunk Gweilos in the world!

Bishop's House(1848, The Colonial Era of Britain), Central, Hong Kong Island

Duddell Street... the only remaining working gas lamps in HK

Then through the Hong Kong Zoo. Nosey lemurs!

And then to the Hong Kong park. Spend some time in the aviary, it's quite nice

Appropriate space invader under the overpass, right by the Bank of China

If you haven't eaten yet (why?), you can always grab a bite at one of the numerous restaurants in the Pacific Place mall

Little invader

This one right in front of the Hopewell Centre. Can't miss it if it is still there...

The Indigo Hotel with cool architecture and cantilevered pool 

Final space invader of part one...

Ok, now, if you got the munchies by then, Stone Nullah Tavern is highly recommended; that meat loaf burger and mac and cheese were to die for...

Urban waterfalls of Central

Duration: 

(~1.5 kilometer) 45 minutes if you are not stopping. 2 hours at a leisurely pace.

Difficulty: 0/10. 

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Appreciation: 8/10 for waterfall lovers. Nice urban waterfalls. If you only want to do one, do Hong Kong park. 

Transportation: Take the MTR to Hong Kong Stations. Ends at Central station.

Why it's worth it: 
For whatever reason, you don't want or can't do a real trail but like me, you love waterfalls. Then a casual central stroll might just be the thing.

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#1. Inside Exchange square #2, at podium level, you will find a set of escalators with those impressive looking dual waterfalls. Not worth a trip in itself but kinda nice when one just goes by.

#2. In front of the Jardine house's building. 

#3 The Cheung Kong's park. A little oasis in the middle of Central. Very nice an peaceful. There are streams and waterfalls on the top as well as on the westernmost side (by the court of final appeal building)

#4 The waterfalls at Hong Kong Park. Quite impressive (15 or so meters tall). Lots of turtles resting in the sun. The aviary is nice as well. Actually, the whole park is worth a visit.

#5 Overlooking the artificial ponds, on top of the main waterfall, is the conservatory. Nice little falls  as well as various local and exotic plants.

#6 Still in the Hong Kong Park, a few more water features.

#7 Right by the Bank of China, the iconic I.M. Pei designed building, are Feng Shui inspired waterfalls. I wouldn't make a detour for those but if you are in the area...

#8 Chater garden, final stop before getting back on the MTR