Bustling Hong Kong may seem best suited as a holiday destination for adults but this fun city also has more than enough to entice and amuse kids. Children on holiday in Hong Kong will be enthralled by a medley of zoos, museums and markets, not to mention the incredible theme parks and amusement parks to visit. There are also nearby beaches, islands and nature reserves to explore.There are a number of museums for kids to enjoy in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Science Museum and the Hong Kong Toy Library, which is situated on the second floor of Central Library. Children can learn about traditional Chinese culture in Aberdeen and the outer islands, which are also very picturesque. Other adventures include the fun-filled Victoria Harbour tours, while Central Hong Kong and Kowloon have markets where children's clothes and toys can be found. Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park will thrill children for whole days, and the inner-city Kowloon Park is a great place for kids to let off some steam on a day of urban sightseeing.The best time of year to take children to Hong Kong, with good weather for outdoor activities and attractions, is between October and December when the days are warm, sunny and dry, and the evenings are comfortably cool. Children's Day is celebrated in Hong Kong on 4 April each year, a very festive time for families to visit.
The fifth Disneyland Resort in the world, but also the smallest, Hong Kong Disneyland offers a magical adventure in four themed lands similar to other parks, namely Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland. Two additional areas, designed exclusively for Hong Kong, are The Grizzly Gulch and Toy Story Land. In Toy Story Land kids can enjoy a number of new attractions, including the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop and the scary RC Racer. In the Grizzly Gulch area the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars will draw shrieks of delight. Classic rides like Space Mountain can also be enjoyed, and kids can explore Cindarella's Castle, Tarzan's Treehouse and the world of Winnie the Pooh, among other things. Mickey Mouse and many other famous Disney characters welcome visitors of all ages to the happiest place on Earth. Particular care has been taken to incorporate Chinese culture into the design, such as a feng shui layout, and the omission of the number four in the numbering of floors in each of the hotels. In addition to the numerous rides and various events and attractions, shops sell Disney souvenirs and restaurants offer a variety of food throughout the park.
Address : Lantau Island
Website : www.hongkongdisneyland.com
Transport : Tung Chung Line of the MTR
Opening times : Daily 10.30am to 8pm. Opening times sometimes vary month to month - check the website to confirm times.
Admission : HK$539 (adult) and HK$385 (child) for a standard one-day pass
This fascinating museum is consistently ranked highly by tourists. Four floors of exhibits cover a range of hands-on science and technology related subjects, including light, sound, motion, magnetism, electricity, robotics, virtual reality and much more. This museum is extremely popular because of its hands-on approach, allowing children and adults alike to learn through involvement. The most prominent exhibit is a 72-foot (22m) tall twin tower Energy Machine which, when activated, triggers a series of displays to produce spectacular audiovisual effects demonstrating various forms of energy.The Science Museum is a great option for entertaining and educating young minds (and old ones) when the weather is bad, and should keep the whole family occupied for a few hours. For young children there are fun play areas and a toddler's tumble area.
Address : 2 Science Museum Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon
Website : hk.science.museum
Telephone : 2732 3232
Opening times : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am to 7pm; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10am to 9pm. Closed Thursdays.
Admission : Standard ticket for permanent exhibition hall: HK$20 (adults), HK$10 (concessions). Free on Wednesdays.
Children on holiday in Hong Kong who want to see crocodiles, butterflies, birds and mangroves should head to the Hong Kong Wetland Park. The Wetland Park showcases the incredible diversity of Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem and the park's main objective is conservation and the education of the public about the importance of preserving this natural system. The park is comprised of a visitor centre, Wetland Interactive World, and a big Wetland Reserve. The Wetland Interactive World has themed galleries and exhibitions, a theatre, a gift shop, and an indoor play area (theme: swamp adventure). Interactive and educational games are a great feature of the centre, as are the sound booths where kids can compose wetland symphonies using the sounds of this fascinating ecosystem. All the games and displays can be absorbing so be sure to actually go outside and enjoy the beautiful walks and the three bird hides, which children will love. The park also hosts some fun events, like bird watching festivals.This attraction is consistently popular with tourists and makes for a really lovely break from Hong Kong's indoor, urban attractions - it'll delight people of all ages interested in nature and animals and will allow kids to blow off some steam outdoors.
Address : Tin Shui Wai, New Territories
Website : www.wetlandpark.gov.hk/en
Opening times : Open daily 10am to 5pm; except Tuesdays, when it is closed.
Admission : HK$30 (adult), HK$15 (child, and other concessions).
The Ocean Park is a theme park spread over two parts, connected to each other by a cable car. A spectacular aquarium, reputed to be one of the largest in the world, is complemented by a funfair containing multiple roller coasters, a space wheel, a swinging ship and much more. Ocean Park is Hong Kong's most popular theme park, and is regularly ranked as one of the best in the world. Indeed, when Hong Kong Disneyland opened, Ocean Park renovated extensively and has managed to maintain its top spot.The variety of rides is impressive, ranging from big thrill rides to mild fun, and lots for children and adults alike. The rides are interspersed with other attractions, like the animal enclosures - the pandas are a highlight for many visitors, as is the Dolphin Show. Areas in the park include Marine World, Polar Adventure, Adventure Land, Thrill Mountain, and the Rainforest. The cable car rides which transport you from one side of the park to the other are really splendid in their own right. There are many restaurants and stalls in the park. Note that although crowds and queues are usually manageable at the park it is much better to visit on a weekday if possible, because on weekends and public holidays there will be long queues for rides and attractions.
Address : Ocean Park Road, Aberdeen
Website : www.oceanpark.com.hk
Transport : Take City Bus route 629 from either Amiralty MTR Station or Central Pier No.7.
Opening times : Daily 10am to 6.30pm.
Admission : HK$385 (adult), HK$193 (child)
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