Landmarks
Statue Square
Public square from the 19th century, originally with a number of royal statues, but now only with one statue of banker Sir Thomas Jackson. It is a relaxing place with plantings and fountains. The square is surrounded by some impressive buildings, including the HSBC headquarters and the Legislative Council.
Cenotaph
Built in 1923 in honour of the fallen soldiers of WWI and later also attributed to the ones from WWII. It is a copy of the more famous one in London.
City Hall
Concert hall, theatre, and exhibition space. This cultural hub is famous for its dim sum restaurant.
Man Mo Temple
Nestled in amongst the antique shops of Hollywood Road. With air full of smoke from the hundreds of burning incense coils, it was built in the 1840s and is Hong Kong Island's oldest temple. While you are there, pop into one of the many antique shops to see some of the best Chinese and South-East Asian antiques in the world, but beware that there are many very clever fakes for sale.
Museums and exhibitions
University Museum and Art Gallery
The oldest museum in Hong Kong dating back to 1953. Has a large permanent collection of Chinese antiquities as well as modern paintings. Is also home to exhibitions of contemporary and ancient art.
Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery
The Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery, located on ground floor of the City Hall Annex, was set up in 2002 as a temporary exhibition gallery, pending the establishment of a full-fledged permanent exhibition gallery which will occupy the entire City Hall Annex Building. The expansion works are in progress and the permanent Gallery will be open in 2012. To make way for the refurbishment and expansion works at the City Hall Annex, the temporary Gallery has been relocated to the ground floor of the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building in mid-2009 to maintain continuous services to the public. The temporary Gallery showcases the planning proposals and infrastructure projects by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to enhance the quality of life and strengthen Hong Kong's status as Asia's world city. It comprises six main sections: Imprint, Hong Kong 2030, New Kai Tak, Transport & Logistics, Sustainable Development and Living Environment. Interactive features and devices give visitors the latest information on planning and infrastructure developments in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
Offers visual arts studios for artists as well as exhibition halls.
Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
The neighbour of one of the earliest hospitals in Hong Kong, Tung Wah Hospital, this museum shows how the healthcare system evolved from traditional Chinese medicine to modern Western medicine, via the establishment of numerous hospitals and the first medical school now the University of Hong Kong, of which Dr. Sun Yat-sen was a student.
Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum
Exhibits on the life of Sun Yat-sen.
Madame Tussauds
The usual Tussauds waxworks with characters that appeal to Chinese interests.
Parks and nature
Lung Fu Shan Country Park
Hong Kong newest and smallest Country Park. Its proximity to the Peak makes it highly accessible and one is rewarded by a pleasant hike away from the crowds nearby. A convenient place to make a BBQ with great views over Victoria Harbour. Budding military historians will enjoy exploring Pinewood battery and other remnants of the Second World War.
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
A small, free zoo with reptiles, primates, a jaguar, and rare and endangered birds and plants.
Charter Gardens
Adjacent to the Legislative Council Building, this is the place where disgruntled Hongkongers come to protest.
Hong Kong Park
A great place to relax in Central. Head for L16 cafe and bar which is one of the few places where you can eat and drink outdoors away from the traffic.
King George Fifth Park
Central-Mid-Levels Escalator
At 800 m long, this is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. The escalator runs downhill from 6AM to 10AM and uphill from 10:30AM to midnight every day.