A 3-Day Trip to Hong Kong and Macau: Best Winter Travel Destinations

    What struck me most about my trip to Hong Kong and Macau was the food, shopping, and churches. No matter if you’re a man or a woman, visiting Hong Kong and Macau for the first time can make you lose your mind. I’m grateful to Beijing China Travel Service’s Fantastic Travel Supermarket (www.qi-miao.com) for recommending such a rich and well-planned itinerary, which made for such a joyful and stress-free trip.

    After breakfast, we arrived at Luohu in Shenzhen, the Chinese border checkpoint. By this time, there was already a long queue of people waiting to cross (the peak tourist season for Hong Kong is August, which I don’t recommend). After “verifying our identities” at the checkpoint, we then underwent inspection at the Hong Kong side. (The crossing hours between Shenzhen and Hong Kong are from 6:00 to 24:00.) After passing through two checkpoints, we officially entered Hong Kong. Hong Kong does an excellent job with tourism services, and you can get free maps, attraction guides, shopping tips, and other materials on-site.

    After clearing the Hong Kong checkpoint, the first thing to do is exchange for Hong Kong dollars. However, I suggest not exchanging too much, as the rates here tend to be higher than those at banks. In fact, paying by card is very convenient in Hong Kong, especially with VISA cards—most small shops accept them. After getting Hong Kong dollars, you should also get an “Octopus Card.” This card is extremely useful and can be used for the metro, buses, phone top-ups, vending machines, and even some fast-food restaurants. (The card issuance deposit is HK$50, and there’s a HK$7 fee if you return the card within three months.)

 

    After getting the Octopus Card, we took the train to the final stop, Tsim Sha Tsui East, and then transferred to the metro to reach Wong Tai Sin. Visiting Wong Tai Sin is essential during a Hong Kong and Macau trip. The Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the most famous temples in Hong Kong. It’s said that the deity Wong Tai Sin enshrined here grants every wish, making it highly efficacious. I even respectfully lit three sticks of incense. We had lunch in Mong Kok, where there are many small shops. Shopping is an indispensable part of the Hong Kong and Macau trip. Cosmetics here are over 100 yuan cheaper than in mainland China. When shopping in Hong Kong, you don’t need to compare prices extensively—products of the same brand are similarly priced. Due to strict supervision, you rarely have to worry about counterfeit goods. Before coming, I had many orders to fulfill, which was quite a responsibility. The only hassle was returning by plane, as each passenger is limited to no more than 500 ml of liquids; the rest must be checked. Still, I didn’t feel entirely at ease. As for local snacks, they were irresistible to me, a food lover. Curry fish balls, pan-fried trio, egg waffles, shrimp siu mai, and peanut cookie cubes are all local specialties. The Central district of Causeway Bay is a great spot to enjoy authentic Hong Kong cuisine. Here, you’ll find traditional cha chaan tengs, wonton noodle shops, sweet soup stores, and plenty of affordable and delicious street food. Many snack stalls operate late into the night, and the area also has high-end shark fin or abalone specialty shops, sushi restaurants, teahouses, and bars. Since accommodation is quite expensive locally—ranging from 1000 to 2000 yuan—we chose to return to Shenzhen and re-enter Hong Kong the next day. (The last train from Hong Kong back to Shenzhen Luohu departs around 11:00 pm; otherwise, there are no more trains back to Shenzhen.)

    Early the next morning, after breakfast, we headed out to Luohu to take a bus to Zhuhai for border crossing. There are two ways to travel from Shenzhen to Zhuhai: by bus or by boat, but the bus is faster. The fare is 100 yuan per person. It took about two hours to reach Zhuhai. We arrived around noon. Exiting the bus station and walking across the square, you’ll see the border control building. The procedure is basically the same as in Hong Kong—you need to pass through both the Zhuhai and Macau checkpoints. In Macau, both the Macanese pataca and Hong Kong dollar are in circulation, but the Hong Kong dollar is more widely accepted, especially for buying gold jewelry. I first went to Macau’s famous “Ruins of St. Paul’s.”

    The “Ruins of St. Paul’s” refer to the remnants of the Church of St. Paul, originally designed by an Italian Jesuit priest and constructed with the exquisite craftsmanship of Japanese artisans. Its foundation was laid in 1602, and it was fully completed in 1637, with the long stone stairway in front completed slightly later. This church had an inseparable bond with fire. From its initial form to the current surviving façade, it endured three major fires, burning down and being rebuilt repeatedly, witnessing living history. The exquisitely detailed carvings decorate the Ruins of St. Paul’s in an elegant, classic style. Whether it’s the towering cross at the top of the façade, the statue of the Holy Infant under the bronze dove, or the statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels and flowers, all are imbued with a strong religious atmosphere, offering aesthetic pleasure. Nearby, there is a Macau museum with a mix of exhibits—some from Macau itself, others from different countries, and even some imitation items. Some replicas reflect Macau’s history. After leaving the museum, take the escalator to the top floor, which houses Macau’s old fort, offering a panoramic view of the city. Walking down the street from the Ruins of St. Paul’s, you’ll find shops lining the way. When visiting Macau, you mustn’t miss the local Portuguese egg tarts—soft, fragrant, and unforgettable.

    Gradually, I grew to love traveling—I fell in love with this state of letting go, going to places others have grown tired of, and just going whenever the urge strikes. The biggest impression this Hong Kong and Macau trip left on me is how high the caliber of the locals is. No littering, clean streets, no jaywalking, and everything runs in an orderly fashion. Goodbye, my Hong Kong and Macau adventure.