“Hong Kong is a very distinct and unique place consisting of a melting pot of cultures, architecture, and people. Whatever you want, you can get in Hong Kong. It is a cosmopolitan of old and new, East meets West, with British colonial influences embedded into Hong Kong society.”

Vanessa’s Travel Itinerary

[MAP]   [DOWNLOAD]

As an Urban Sketcher, born and raised in Hong Kong, Vanessa Leung (also known by her many Instagram followers as @Vansketcher) has a great eye for detail. From the simplest changes of a building that we wouldn’t even be able to spot if we were right in front of it to the latest new boutiques on the block, we are certain that Vanessa has come across many colourful, vibrant neighbourhoods, delicious restaurants, and urban landscapes in the city that she could introduce to us. So we sat down with the talented Architecture (by day) and Urban Sketcher (at all other times) to tell us which places she would visit if she had one day to do all the things she loved in Hong Kong. Take a look at her 24-hour itinerary here:

6:30AM: Wake up and have a quick cup of coffee to start the day

7AM: Take a taxi out to Repulse Bay for a blissful morning of wake surfing

7:30AM: Arrive at Repulse Bay and hit the water on a private wake surfing boat. (Be sure to book a boat in advance as there will not be boats available for rental on arrival. If you don’t want to wake surf, you should opt for a nice tan on the beach or visit the shops at The Pulse, a six-storey, 167,000-square-foot shopping centre located on Beach Road overlooking the gorgeous ocean at Repulse Bay)

10AM: After a morning dip in the ocean, head over to the popular “dai pai dong” open-air food stall Lan Fong Yuen in Central for a hearty morning breakfast. Be sure to try their delicious egg & spam noodle soup bowl, a classic Hong Kong style breakfast you won’t want to miss

11AM: Stroll through the eclectic Central district for an inspiring sketch walk. You may want to head into IFC mall and then take the exit nearest the ground floor of the Apple store which will lead you to a pedway bridge connecting the mall to the Star Ferry Pier in Central. By walking towards the pier, you will find a truly stunning view of Hong Kong’s Observation Wheel with a breathtaking backdrop of the city skyline

12:30PM: After a relaxing sketch walk in Central, take a taxi to Stanley, a laid-back seaside village that is very popular for tourists to visit, for a nice lunch at one of the restaurants facing the ocean

2PM: Take a short walk in Stanley to Murray House for another afternoon of sketching. Murray House is a truly iconic landmark in Hong Kong. The Victorian-era building was originally built in the business district of Central in 1844 as officers’ quarters of the Murray Barracks, but the building was then moved to the south of Hong Kong Island during the 2000s, which you can find now in the seaside village of Stanley

4:30PM: Head back to Central for a cup of coffee with friends at the ever-so-chic coffee shop NOC on Graham Street. On a quaint day, be sure to ask the waiter to sit you outside so you can take in the fresh air and do some people watching

6:30PM: For dinner, venture over to Wan Chai’s Yik Sun restaurant for Vanessa’s favourite dish, the Lemon Chicken. She also suggests you try their delectable duck dish

9PM: After an exquisite authentic Hong Kong meal, you’ll be exhausted from getting up early so head back to Page148 and call it an early night

Tags