Hong Kong Railway Museum

Do you know that the Hong Kong Railway Museum was originally the Old Tai Po Market Railway Station?

The (old) Tai Po Market stop used to be one of the stops for the Kowloon-Canton Railway (British Section), which was opened in 1910, connecting Kowloon and Guangzhou. Later, since the trains started to be electrified, the station was out of service in 1983. It was then declared a monument in 1984. The railway company gave the abandoned station to the government and the museum was finally finished and opened in 1986.

What can you do inside?

Well, you can read about the detailed history of the museum and how Hong Kong’s railways were developed; you can admire the old train station’s unique and classic architectural style; you can walk along the rail tracks and be amazed by the display of locomotives, old station sign, old ticket samples…; you can also get on the old train compartments and experience what a train journey in the past feel like; there are also the exhibitions of Japanese Shinkansen and Eurostar. In simple words, you can do everything that makes a train lover’s blood boil!

The museum is in Tai Po Market, just a 10-minute walk away from the (new) Tai Po Market train station. And did I mention that it’s free to enter? Just don’t be like me and visit on Tuesday because it’s when it will be closed (on Christmas and Lunar New Year as well).

Oh man…I got so excited just from the talk. I was so crazy for trains when I was a kid, and the museum was more appealing than any theme park to me.

Right, let me go there and be reminiscent…

Dang it! It’s Tuesday again!

Ocean Park Hong Kong

Do you know that in 2014, Ocean Park Hong Kong (香港海洋公園) is the 13^th most visited theme park in the world, and the largest theme park in Asia?

 

It is located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, opened in 1977 by the Hong Kong Governor Sir Murray MacLehose. As the name suggested, it is a marine life theme park which does not only provide animal exhibition, but also exciting rides.

The park can be divided into different attraction areas, and each of them has its own theme, like “Polar Adventure” focuses on arctic animals and rides naming after “arctic” or “polar”; “The Rainforest” focuses on the exploration of rainforest plants and animals; “Amazing Asian Animals” lets you visit different interesting and rare animals which are mainly found in Asia, like pandas, red pandas, golden monkeys and Chinese alligators; And “Whisker Harbor” (Whisker is the mascot sea lion of the park) provides attractions for children like Ferris wheel, merry-go-around and playground.

Yeah, there are lots to play and see. But what if you are tired?

Don’t worry, you are free to take the 1.5km-long cable car ride. Each cable car can hold 6 visitors, and the journey will take about 8 minutes. It is not only a good time for you to catch a breath, but also a great chance to enjoy the magnificent view of the South China Sea. Or you can take “Ocean Express” if you prefer something faster; or maybe that 225m-long escalator, if you prefer standing.

What’s funny is that there is a law in Hong Kong forbidding visitors from bringing their own food inside (I am serious!). So…be a law abiding visitor and visit the park’s restaurants instead, ok?

And, more importantly, be prepared to queue for a really looooooooong time before you do anything in the park because it’s… crowded, very crowded.

Though on the bright side, the park doesn’t only provide entertainment, but also opportunity for you to pursue your inner peace and train your patience, right?