Do places with 0 tourists exist in Hong Kong? Yes.

“There cannot be a place in Hong Kong with no tourists around.”

This was what I thought when I was planning for my two-day solo trip in Hong Kong from Sep. 9 to 10, with the goal of avoiding the crowds as much as possible.

I know wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of city life in Hong Kong sounds like an oxymoron.

However, I decided to try my luck anyway, because I really needed a break from my daily routine in Singapore, which has remained almost unchanged since I joined the workforce years ago.

Why Hong Kong?

Because I know the Hong Kong Tourism Board has been giving out vouchers and discounts to visitors.

And I like to save money so that I can retire as soon as possible.

With no expectations, I arrived in Hong Kong on Sep. 9 afternoon. Here’s how my trip went (spoiler alert: it went damn well).

Day 1

I arrived in Hong Kong with no cash on me, which was partly an attempt to limit my spending as much as possible.

I only brought my Singapore bank card and used it to top up my digital Octopus card for tourists on my phone before heading out.

My first stop was Central Pier 6, which would bring me to Peng Chau, an offshore island in southwestern Hong Kong.

The ferry had two decks, and I could choose to sit inside the ferry, which had air-conditioning, or on the open upper deck to feel the bracing sea winds.

I took the ordinary ferry, which cost HK$19.80 (S$3.30), and arrived at Peng Chau after a 30-minute ride out at sea.

My first impression of the small island, which spans less than 1 sq km, was one of shock, as I saw how different it is from the Hong Kong I know.

The island was rustic, slow-paced, and peaceful, with only a handful of local residents walking around running errands.

I subsequently took a walk in between shops along Wing On Street, where a wide range of items could be bought, such as fruits, souvenirs, and local delights.

While I did not get the chance to try coffee and milk tea at Peng Chau, as some of the shops were closed on Monday, the island’s tranquillity helped me relax and rejuvenate.

One hidden gem that I missed out on, unfortunately, was the former Fook Yuen Leather Factory.

The factory, constructed in the early 1930s, has been transformed into a colourful “secret garden” with graffiti and installations made by residents from household supplies, such as chairs, bottles, and tyres.

Climbing Finger Hill

Following the road signs, I climbed up some stairs before arriving at the foot of 95m-tall Finger Hill, the highest peak of Peng Chau.

The hill is slightly shorter than Bukit Timah Hill (126m), so it was a good way to get some exercise during my trip without putting too much strain on my body.

However, I would recommend future climbers to go in groups and wear mosquito repellent, as there were way more mosquitos (uncountable) than humans (literally zero) when I was on the hill.

Nevertheless, the serene views from the summit made the mosquito bites on my limbs worth it.

1,000 seconds of solitude

The views on my way down the hill towards the ferry terminal were equally refreshing.

I sat down on a rock by the beach to fully immerse myself in the moment of solitude, to feel the breeze dancing on my skin and the smell of the sea tingling my nose.

After a therapeutic 10-minute respite, however, I came to the realisation that I had lost my way, and there was no one around to ask for directions.

Led to a dead end by my phone’s map, I had to try to find a way out by myself.

Fortunately, I noticed a small, handwritten note on one of the steps by accident, which informed me that I just needed to turn left and keep walking to return to the terminal.

Indeed, within 15 minutes, I arrived near Wing On Road and breathed a sigh of relief.

I then headed back to Central via a fast ferry for HK$28.40 (S$4.73), which took me around 15 minutes.

Cheers to finding my way

To commemorate my thrilling experience at Peng Chau, I made an exception by treating myself to a fancy meal and drink at Kinsman, a Cantonese-style bar that is inspired by legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai’s, “In the Mood for Love”.

One drink that stood out to me was Kowloon Diary (HK$138 or S$23), a milk punch that is made with alcohol from Magnolia Lab, Hong Kong’s “first homegrown liquor brand in generations”.

The floral yet citrusy taste of the alcohol, combined with the salted cream cap on top, reminded me of the first diary that I kept — filled with sweet and tearful memories of my first love.

I was also very impressed with the generous serving size of the Baked Wagyu Ox Tongue Rice (HK$198 or S$33).

Day 2

The next day, I planned on visiting The Mills, a retail-cultural institution complex.

Opened in 2018, the Mills was transformed from three cotton-spinning factory buildings that belonged to Hong Kong textile company Nan Fung Textiles, now known as Nan Fung Group.

After alighting at Tsuen Wan station, I walked towards Exit A4 and immediately noticed the free shuttle bus along the road, thanks to its bright colours.

When I alighted at The Mills, I could not stop myself from taking photos of its sleek building structure and the textile-themed murals on its wall.

The Matcha Tokyo

Before I delved deeper into The Mills, I visited The Matcha Tokyo on the ground floor for brunch first.

As its name suggests, The Matcha Tokyo is a Tokyo-based cafe that aims to offer its customers “the highest quality, organic matcha”.

I was excited to try it because the brand does not have an outlet in Singapore, and its other outlets in Hong Kong are said to draw long queues.

I ordered the top three most popular items at The Matcha Tokyo, namely Matcha Mochi Croffle (HK$42 or S$7), Matcha Latte (HK$42 or S$7), and Matcha Espresso Latte Parfait (HK$68 or S$11.32).

Here’s my review for each of them.

Matcha Mochi Croffle: a treat for the tongue as the slightly bitter matcha powder meets the crunchy, sweet croffle.

Matcha Latte: a balanced combo of bitter flavours from matcha and sweet notes from the fresh milk.

Matcha Espresso Latte Parfait: sweet matcha ice cream followed by matcha jelly, milk-flavoured ice cream, and bitter espresso jelly. The sequence reminds me of how I feel when the weekend comes to an end, and I have to return to work on Monday.

Inside The Mills

Having nourished myself, I began my tour inside The Mills.

My research was not done in vain, as the premises were not crowded at all, thanks to its location in Tsuen Wan, a residential area in Hong Kong.

While it was a bit difficult to tell how many tourists were there, I could say for sure there were as many furry friends as humans, thanks to The Mill’s pet-friendly policy.

Spending entire day there

After going through The Mills, I realised I could spend my entire day there (another reason to retire ASAP).

Level G and Level 1 of the building feature a diverse range of F&B establishments and shops selling upcycled denim and handmade textiles, amongst others.

On Level 2 of The Mills, I found the Centre for Heritage Arts and Textile (CHAT), which offers free exhibitions, co-learning activities, and workshops.

While I was unable to enter because I went to the Mills on a Tuesday (CHAT opens from 11am to 7pm daily, except Tuesdays), here are some of the artworks that are on exhibition:

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A post shared by CHAT 六廠 (@mill6chat)

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A post shared by CHAT 六廠 (@mill6chat)

Let Hong Kong surprise you

Having been to Hong Kong many, many times previously, I thought I would no longer be surprised by the city.

However, my latest trip there just showed how many hidden gems are waiting for me to explore in Hong Kong.

If you are considering travelling overseas in the upcoming months, Hong Kong will be a good option, especially as its temperature is likely to drop below 25°C around November.

What’s more, you will get the chance to experience an exciting line-up of events towards the end of the year, such as Clockenflap Music and Art Festival 2024 and Hong Kong Winterfest.

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A post shared by Clockenflap (@clockenflap)

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A post shared by Discover Hong Kong (@discoverhongkong)

Feeling the wanderlust? Find out more about Hong Kong and its countless hidden gems here.

This writer started planning her next trip to Hong Kong after writing this sponsored article by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Top images via Winnie Li & Mothership reader