Victoria Park

As soon as the noise, crowds and grandiosity of Hong Kong begins to overwhelm, grab a bubble tea and fruit then head to Victoria Park. Nestled near the busy streets of Causeway Bay, the park offers a relaxing atmosphere for much-needed breaks. There are joggers and exercisers, and in the early morning, seniors who perform tai chi in many of the wooded areas. Clean, clear paths provide ample room if you decide to roam through the park, while tennis courts and swimming pools are open to the public for a small entrance fee.

But it’s the Model Boat Pool that no doubt will bring a smile to your face. Most afternoons you’ll find middle-aged men cruising their motor-operated, remote-controlled toy speed boats over the pond’s ripples and around its fountains. The surrounding benches are usually full of locals taking lunch breaks and cheering on the boats that they most enjoy watching zoom around the pond.