6 best free things to do in Hong Kong

It is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in and visit. But with a little careful planning you can experience some real Hong Kong gems without taking your wallet out of your pocket.

Climb the steps to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Deror_avi

While it's easy to assume you'd have to pay to visit Hong Kong's impressive temples and monasteries, that is not the case for the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Tai Po Road, Sha Tin, Tel: 852 2691 1067). It is free to visit - though you do have to negotiate over 430 steps to reach it, as it is located high on a hillside above Sha Tin (look out for wild monkeys as you climb).

Once up you will find not just one temple, but five, plus four pavilions and a pagoda. Inside the main temple you'll find almost 13,000 miniature Buddha images, none of which, remarkably, are the same. Legs still have some life left in them? Scale the spiral staircase to the top of the nine-storey pagoda for sweeping views of Sha Tin and the New Territories.

Visit the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

This 5.6-ha Victorian-era garden, located on the northern slope of Victoria Peak, is a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of what is the one of the world's most densely populated cities. Set foot inside and you are transported into the wild, as you explore its array of green spaces, from a bamboo and herb garden to a magnolia and azalea garden, all interspersed with bubbling fountains and sculptures. It is also home to about more than 200 birds, mammals and reptiles. Look out for the ring-tailed lemur, buff-cheeked gibbon and American flamingo.

Stay for A Symphony of Lights

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Deror_avi

Situated between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, Victoria Harbour is famous for its spectacular city skyline views. And just when you thought the harbour couldn't get any more splendid, the tourist board throws some music, lights and pyrotechnic fireworks into the mix. Every evening at 8pm, you can view the A Symphony of Lights show from the harbour's shores. Named the 'World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show' by the Guinness Book of World Records, it sees coloured lasers and flashbulbs light up the city's soaring towers on both sides of the harbour, synchronised to music. There are five main themes: Awakening, Energy, Heritage, Partnership, and - the grand finale - Celebration.

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Mingle with locals at Temple Street Night Market

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Daniel Case

Even if you don't plan on shopping here or feasting on the dazzling array of dai pai dong (street stall) food on offer, it's worth a visit to Temple Street come nightfall just to experience the vibrancy of what is the city's liveliest night market. It is at its best from about 7pm to 10pm, when it is packed with brightly-lit stalls and swarms of people. Rows upon rows of vendors vie for space, selling everything from handbags, belts and clothing to antique trinkets and local arts and crafts. The foods stalls - serving up spicy noodles, soups and seafood - fill the air with delicious smells.

Go to museums on Wednesdays

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

If your trip coincides with a Wednesday, you're in luck - some of the city's most engaging museums open their doors to visitors for free for one day mid-week. First up is the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, a treasure trove of historical and cultural relics. Highlights include the Bruce Lee: Kung Fu Art Life exhibition, showcasing over 600 items, including movie costumes and hand-written letters.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Science Museum has over 500 hands-on exhibits. Centre-stage is the 22-m-high Energy Machine (it occupies all four storeys of the museum), which, when set in motion, gives a impressive audio-visual demonstration of energy conversion in action.

Watch performances at Kung Fu Corner

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Jakub Halun

Here is one for families with kids in tow. Each Sunday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at the Sculpture Walk at Kowloon Park there are free performances of traditional kung fu demonstrations by Chinese martial artists. To add to the spectacle, the demonstrations are accompanied by colourful lion and dragon dances and ceremonial drumming. At the end of the show, Jackie Chan wannabes (the actor was born in Hong Kong) are invited to have a go themselves, with the instructors on hand to lead visitors through typical kung fu movements. Once the crowds have dispersed, take some time to admire the sculptures, created by young local and overseas artists. Look out for a metalwork figure of a man - this is 'Concept of Newton', created by the well-known sculptor Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.

This article was first published in Singapore Airlines’ travel magazine, SilverKris. Go to silverkris.com for more travel stories.