"My Day out in Hong Kong with Shawn Mendes" by Estelle Chin
We asked our readers to write an essay titled "My Day out with Shawn Mendes". Here is one of the entries. It has not been edited.
Hong Kong is a city that is truly blessed with all types of activities — from secret islands to hidden alleyways to gorgeous beaches to breathtaking night views. It would be a blessing to take Shawn on an adventure that he won’t forget.
If I could spend a day in Hong Kong with Shawn Mendes, these are the things I would do:
First of all, an adventure in Hong Kong needs to start with a classic “Hong Kong-styled” breakfast at any classic “dai pai dong” or “cha chaan teng”. Next on the checklist would be to go to Stanley. There, we could explore Stanley Market, take a short hike to Kwun Yam Temple and have lunch on Stanley Promenade.
After lunch, I would take him to Dragon’s Back, which honestly has unbeatable views. Or, if hiking is too intense, I could also take him to Ocean Park, which is a must-do as Hong Kong is its only location!
To finish the day off, I’d take him to The Peak to see Hong Kong’s skyline at night — by the tram of course! However, considering it is December right now, the Christmas lights and decoration in Tsim Sha Tsui is definitely a must-see. But why stop there? To enjoy Hong Kong’s magnificent night view, we could also have dinner on a red-sail junk boat (one of Hong Kong’s classics).
It’s a shame that all the activities must be crammed into one day. If I had more than one day, I would definitely take him to see the Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha), or even the Wong Tai Sin Temple to watch locals worship and understand more about religious culture in Hong Kong. Hong Kong cuisine is a must. Aside from the “Hong Kong-styled” breakfast suggested above, we could also go to Sai Kung for some delicious seafood, or go for some classic “yum cha” (which honestly represents Hong Kong culture so, so well).