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Header images courtesy of sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck
Despite Hong Kong’s size, you’d be hard-pressed to run out of things to see and do. In fact, you may need a lifetime to try out everything the city has to offer! It is a versatile city loved by all types of travellers, from solo globetrotters to holidaying families, but not everyone who travels to Hong Kong will stay long enough to enjoy a deep dive. If that is the case with your travel plans, find out how you can see all of Hong Kong in just one day.
As popular Thai actor Nonkul Chanon documented in his vlog, if you are looking to explore Hong Kong to the fullest in a short amount time, the best way is to go up! Many lookouts around the city have good views, but the only location with a 360-degree panoramic opportunity for sightseeing is sky100, the observation deck located within the International Commerce Centre (ICC). As the tallest building in Hong Kong, ICC stands at the centre of Kowloon and in the proximity of the Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood.
Easily accessible from Hong Kong International Airport via a train ride on the Airport Express to the Kowloon MTR station (around 20 minutes), sky100 is the ideal first stop for travellers arriving in Hong Kong. Like Chanon, you can leisurely wend your way through the retail-heavy corridors of the lavish Elements mall, a shopping, dining, art, and entertainment destination, until you reach the entrance of sky100.
Travellers will be in for a thrilling ride with the sky100 lift as it takes you from the second to the hundredth floor in just one minute! You can even time your ascent, like Chanon did, for a fun challenge and witness the high-speed lift race against the clock.
The fun continues once the lift doors open to reveal sweeping views of Hong Kong. Sitting at 393 metres above sea level, the 360-degree floor-to-ceiling windows invite you to observe your surroundings one landmark at a time from an elevated bird’s-eye view.
Among other locations, you can see Victoria Harbour, Tai Mo Shan, Ladies’ Market, and IFC, which appeared in Batman’s The Dark Knight movie! The West Kowloon Cultural District is also visible at your feet, making it the perfect place to visit later on in the day.
Tech lovers will be delighted to discover the sky100 tour app. Gone are the days of trying to compare a map and a landscape pretending they match—with the interactive map on the app, you can pinpoint exactly what you’re looking at. Visitors can also enjoy a VR experience at sky100, occasional workshops, as well as a 28-metre-long interactive story wall that records local Hong Kong stories and tales for you to share back home. A vital part of the sky100 visit, the photo opportunities know no limits thanks to the panoramic views, backdrops, displays, and AR filters for you to try out. Plenty of Hong Kong- and sky100-themed souvenirs are on offer at the gift shop. Chanon seized the opportunity to write a postcard and send his precious memories through the sky100 postbox!
While you are up high in the sky, make the most of the experience and the well-rounded services as sky100 even has a place for you to refuel between sightseeing. Enjoy Café 100 by The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. An all-day à la carte menu, afternoon teas, and dinner options are available throughout the day. What’s more, you can enjoy sunset from Café100 located at the west deck! We dare you to find a better spot for your next cup of coffee. Enjoy a sandwich and strawberry waffles with cream—Chanon’s order of choice.
After enjoying an afternoon at sky100, complete the Hong Kong experience with some night-time sightseeing. Departing from sky100, you can easily hop on the 7 pm Big Bus open-top bus like Chanon and snap plenty of photos to treasure! Driving around Tsim Sha Tsui, you’ll get to see the impressive exterior of ICC, the iconic Clock Tower by the waterfront, the mesmerising Victoria Harbour skyline, the Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok, and much more.
Follow in Chanon’s footsteps and make your last stop at Temple Street. Recently revamped, the iconic night market is the place to go to enjoy local food (think dim sum, claypot rice, fish balls, and more). You can also consult a local feng shui master (Chinese fortune teller) and find souvenirs and trinkets from Hong Kong to bring home and share with loved ones! A cultural landmark in the city, visiting the colourful Temple Street Night Market is one of the best ways to round off your 24-hour Hong Kong experience.
If you’d like a better idea of what awaits before you visit sky100, just watch Nonkul Chanon’s vlog below and start planning your Hong Kong itinerary!
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