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Museum Wednesdays

With free entry, there's no excuse not to visit Hong Kong's remarkable museums. Every Wednesday, various museums across the city offer free entry. These include the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, Museum of Coastal Defence, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Science Museum and Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Even better, the Flagstaff Museum of Tea Ware never charges a fee. See the museum listings on page 64 for more information.

Harbour Ride

The Duk Ling junk is the last remaining sailing junk in Victoria Harbour. Chinese sailing vessels of this sort were once the main mode of transportation across the harbour. After being used by Chinese fishermen for 25 years, the Duk Ling was restored to the classic junk design and assigned for use by the public. Departing on Thursdays and Saturdays from Kowloon Public Pier and Public Pier 9 in Central, the one-hour ride is free. For enquiries, contact 2508 1234 or see www.discoverhongkong.com

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Evening Promenade

Stroll along the Tsim Sha Tsui East promenade and the Avenue of Stars, a waterfront walk devoted to the city's film heroes, to take in the view of Hong Kong Island from Kowloon. Schedule the visit for 8pm to catch the start of A Symphony of Lights, the nightly sound and light show put on by 44 buildings on both sides of the harbour. Just bring yourself and your camera - no ticket needed. MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui.

Skyscraper Sights

Most people have worked hard to climb the corporate ladder and be rewarded with an office at the top of one of the city's skyscrapers. A little known visitor's tip is that you can visit the upper floors of some of these buildings free of charge, for a view of Hong Kong as the top executives see it on a daily basis. Both the 55th floor of IFC II (8 Finance Street) and the 43rd floor of the Bank of China Tower (1 Garden Road) are public viewing galleries. Both are only open during business hours and are within walking distance of the Central MTR station.

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Park Adventures

Enjoy the birds, bees and trees and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city in Hong Kong's beautiful parks. Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Park in Admiralty, the Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Gardens in Central and the Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden in the New Territories are all free of charge. While the Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden (tel: 2843 7200) is a bit of a hike, the other three are in the centre of Hong Kong and are easily reached by MTR.

Culture Classes

Hong Kong boasts strong culture and traditions. The Hong Kong Tourism Board sponsors weekly Cultural Kaleidoscope classes for tourists to take part in, ranging from Chinese Tea Appreciation, Feng Shui, Tai Chi on The Peak, Antiques Appreciation, Jewellery Appreciation and Kung Fu to Chinese Medicine and Chinese Cake Making. All are free of charge and taught by cultural connoisseurs. See www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/heritage or call the HKTB Visitor Hotline at 2508 1234 for more information.

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Temple Tours

No matter what religion you are, the city's temples are both intriguing and open to all for free. One of Hong Kong's oldest temples is the Man Mo Temple on the corner of Hollywood Road and Ladder Street in Central. It is open from 8am to 6pm daily. To reach the Man Mo Temple, take the MTR to Sheung Wan, exit A2. Another is the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple in Kowloon, a scenic 18,000-square metre attraction and religious centre near the Wong Tai Sin MTR, exit B2.

Market Browsing

While most people go to markets to spend money, half the fun is the browsing experience in itself. There are markets all over the city, from the Temple Street Night Market in Jordan to the Ladies' Market in Mongkok. While it may take an effort not to pick up souvenirs from these bargain hubs, they are well worth the trip for a glimpse into local culture and customs. If you can't deal with the temptation, head to the Goldfish Market or Bird Market where the goods are a little more difficult to bring home. See page 53 for some market shopping details.

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The Great Outdoors

Hiking across the beautiful landscapes of Hong Kong is as free as it gets. Most perceptions of Hong Kong see the city as an urban jungle, but around 40% of the territory is actually devoted to country parks and nature reserves. Trek through the wilder parts of the New Territories, see the south side of Hong Kong Island on the Dragon's Back Trail or take in a leisurely 360-degree view along the Peak Circle.

Golden Bauhinia Square

Perched at the tip of the extension to the Convention and Exhibition Centre is the Forever Blooming Bauhinia, a six metre-tall statue of Hong Kong's symbol, the Golden Bauhinia. The statue is a gift from the people of the PRC to mark the momentous occasion of the handover in 1997. Golden Bauhinia Square is the scene of a daily flag-raising ceremony at 7.50am, which is free of charge. On the first day of every month, the police silver and pipe band joins the honour guard, weather permitting. Enquiries: 2814 4279. MTR: Wan Chai, exit A1 and then a 10 minute walk.

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