Hong Kong’s double-decker trams have been gliding along their tracks for a century. To take a ride in one of these relics – colloquially called “ding ding” by locals because of the sound their bells make – is to experience a bit of history. If you have some time to while away, look no further than the upper deck for cheap seats to take in the bustle and beauty of the city with the windows open. A one-way ride on the tram – which takes about 80 minutes if you go all the way from Kennedy Town on the west side of the island to Shau Kei Wan on the east – is a bargain at $2. Or just see the highlights by hopping on at Sheung Wan and getting off at either Happy Valley or Causeway Bay – this should take under an hour.

Dried Seafood Street

Fishy smells emanate from rows of shops selling every kind of dried seafood, from scallops and abalone to other more difficult to identify varieties. Chinese medicine and bird’s nest are also available in the stores in this part of Sheung Wan.

Western Market

This red and white Edwardian-style structure stands out in Sheung Wan. Built in the early 1900s, it housed a food market until 1988. The renovated historical monument now has several restaurants and a floor of fabric shops.

HSBC Main Building

This is the fourth HSBC headquarter building to be built on this site in Central, the previous three having been demolished each time to make way for something bigger and better. The two bronze lions standing guard at the front door are possibly even more iconic than the façade’s triangular suspension framework.

Legislative Council Building

The elegant home of Hong Kong’s governing body in Central was previously the Supreme Court Building. It is easily identifiable by its columns, dome and a statue of the blind-folded goddess of justice perched on the top.

The Pawn

Once partially a pawn shop, this row of four historic tenement houses was recently gutted and given new life as a restaurant and bar. The distinctly old façade stands out among its modern neighbours in busy Wan Chai, but on the inside it is designed with a stylish east-meets-west vibe.

Happy Valley Racecourse

If you take the Happy Valley tramline, you will end up near the large track where a fast-paced evening of horseracing takes place most Wednesdays. Betting on the thoroughbreds is a sporting tradition that is also an extremely popular form of entertainment among locals.

The “Sogo” Intersection

For a memorable image of a busy street crossing, observe the mass movement of people at this intersection. The Sogo department store in Causeway Bay is a well-known landmark, and with every change of the traffic lights, seemingly hundreds of people cross the busy lanes of Hennessy Road.

Victoria Park

This large public park in Causeway Bay is the venue for everything from sports events and fairs to protest gatherings. This month, from the 19th to the 28th, the Hong Kong Flower Show is the main attraction.