HK Highlights
One of the biggest hubs in Asia, Hong Kong is a major global city well connected to rest of the world. If you’re heading to East or Southeast Asia, HK makes a great transit spot. I spent just three days here early autumn post 2019 summer riots where the weather was just perfect and enough time to do most of the big sights in the city. If you want to explore farther afield and enjoy hiking, 4-5 days is sufficient and plenty of time for a day trip to Macau.
Here’s a Muslim friendly guide to Hong Kong.
- Muslim Friendly: 4/5
- Female Friendly: 5/5 (very safe for solo female travellers)
- Halal food: 3/5 (veg alternative available)
- Mosques: 4/5
- Recommendation: 4/5
- Great underground/ public transport system
Special Administrative Region of China (SAR), Hong Kong was a former British Overseas Territory until 1997. The 2019 anti-government protests were mainly due to the proposed extradition bill to mainland China. Protests started early summer until my visit later in the year, luckily my trip wasn’t hugely affected other than some transport diversions but did pass by some clashes between police and protestors, who were mainly made up of students.
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most expensive cities thanks to its international trade links, it has a high standard of living and general expenses comparable to that of western Europe if not more. Smaller than London but with a population close to 8 million and many thousands of tourists (mainly from mainland China), HK creeps up on you with its overwhelmingly city landscape. It felt like a city in-between London and Singapore.
HK Highlights by area:
Kowloon (most of the below doable in a day)
- Tsim Sha Tsui/ East (this is a great location to have your base) close by amenities
- Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre (largest in HK)
- Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre
- Kowloon Park
- Hong Kong Museum of Art
- Hong Kong Museum of History Exhibits
- Temple Street Night Market (the best tofu fa/ tofu pudding)
- Walk along the Avenue of Stars (take a pic with Bruce Lee)
HK Island:
- Victoria harbour
- The Peak Tram funicular to Victoria peak observatory viewing platform
- Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre (halal canteen)
- Central and Western District Promenade – Central Section
- Golden Bauhinia Square
- Blue House
- Mount Cameron
- The peak viewing platform in Aberdeen country park
Lantau island:
- Lantau Trail
- Tian Tan Buddha
- Ngong Ping Cable Car from Tung Chung station to village (for walk around village before visit to large Buddha)
Accommodation:
- I stayed in Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui area), which is connected to mainland China and as it’s bigger than HK island itself, more choice of accommodation here alongside some of the top attractions and mosque nearby, would recommend staying around here.
- Budget hotels around Chung King Mansions on Nathan Road from £30+ per night. Note, these are high tower blocks with very small rooms (HK is known for coffin apartments). If you’re travelling solo and are petite, a single room will do otherwise would recommend a double room in a budget hotel on Nathan Road. The bigger your budget the nicer the accommodation here will be but not significantly.
Food:
- Best halal authentic Chinese food was served at the Islamic Centre Canteen near Times Square (Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre). There are other halal eateries in the surrounding area (some Arab and Indian cuisine too) but the dimsum at the mosque here was delicious, don’t miss out!
- Temple Street night market is very popular with locals and the expat community, it helps if you can speak Chinese. Great informal outdoor dining here, and very good dessert shops for Hong Kong speciality – Tofu pudding! Unfortunately, couldn’t spot any halal food here and thankfully had a friend who translated to ensure I was only served veg and seafood dishes without any pork contamination.
- NB: Some Chinese vegetarian food along Temple Street serves veg/ seafood dishes but cooked in same dish as pork products, and most restaurateurs here don’t speak English -best to take a local with you or get the info you need translated (use app).
- Koi Bubble Tea is probably the best I’ve ever had, it’s a chain so you’ll see many around, have been craving it since!
- Steet food is plentiful in Hong Kong, you’re never far away from a small eatery/ stall serving lots of sweet/ savoury snacks for your walks
Transport:
- HK is very accessible by public transport, all of the main sights are within reach, the metro system works very well. Getting to the city centre and back from airport is also pretty straight forward. Downloading all the relevant transport maps before arrival helps a lot.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Hong Kong as a solo traveler and looking forward to visiting it again, it’s a overly city despite recent troubles. Meeting locals here does change your experience a little, but for the better, parts of the city may seem a little cold and hospitality should not be compared to south-east Asia, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time. HK has a lot to offer!
ENJOY!
Halal Foodie Travel 