Hong Kong things to see and do

Walk along the Dragon's Back on the south side of Hong Kong Island, which follows a ridge and gives spectacular views. It takes about two hours to complete, and isn’t too challenging. Start at the To Tei Wan Shuen bus stop, and finish with dinner in one of the restaurants in Shek O Village.

Vast sums of money change hands at Hong Kong's horse-racing meetings, held from September to June on Wednesday evenings (around 1900-2300). The easiest racecourse to access is Happy Valley (www.happyvalleyracecourse.com), which is on a tram route on Hong Kong Island. There is another racecourse in the New Territories, in Sha Tin (www.sha-tin.com).

This park and garden were developed on the site of an old fort with a fascinating history. Built by the Chinese after the British first took Hong Kong, the fort did not surrender when Kowloon became part of British territory. It remained a semi-autonomous community until the Japanese tore down the walls during World War II, after which it was squatted. Today, the park includes a small museum with photographs of the old walled city.

Not part of the Hong Kong at all, but another Special Autonomous Region which was returned to China by Portugal in 1999, Macau is a very popular destination for day trips and weekend breaks. Locals and mainland Chinese are, on the whole, most interested in the casinos (as there are none in Hong Kong), but there are also some delightful older parts of the enclave (which is actually two islands which were artificially joined).

One of Hong Kong’s oldest Chinese temples, Man Mo honours the gods of literature (Man) and war (Mo). It’s an atmospheric spot in a busy part of town, with large spirals of incense hanging overhead. While in the area, browse through the bric-a-brac shops and street market on Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row (known as ‘Cat Street’).

The 5.7km-long (3.5-mile) Ngong Ping 360 cable car (www.np360.com.hk) 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.

The pristine beach at Repulse Bay is one of the most popular on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island, and on sunny weekends it can get extremely busy. To get away from the crowds walk to Middle Bay or South Bay. Alternatively, 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.

Observe glimpses of Hong Kong's colonial past at St John's Cathedral, thought to be the oldest Christian church in the Far East. Other vestiges of the colonial era can be found at Government House, the residence of 25 British governors from 1855 until Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997 (www.ceo.gov.hk/gh/eng). It is closed to the public except on an annual open day.

The view of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak (www.thepeak.com.hk) 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.