Temples
The country's oldest Chinese temple, Man Mo Temple on Hong Kong Island, honours the gods of literature (Man) and war (Mo). On the China border is Fung Ying Seen Koon Temple, built in the traditional Taoist style with a double-tiered roof of orange tiles.

Views of Hong Kong
The view of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak is a must-see. The futuristic, seven-storey Peak Tower is reached by the Peak Tram, that rises 386m (1,266ft) up the mountainside (www.thepeak.com.hk). In the New Territories, the Waterfront Park in Tai Po has a futuristic Lookout Tower that provides breathtaking views across Tolo Harbour.

Colonial vestiges
Observe glimpses of Hong Kong's colonial past, such as Government House, the residence of 25 British governors from 1855 until Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997 (www.ceo.gov.hk/gh/eng). Other vestiges are seen in St John's Cathedral, thought to be the oldest Christian church in the Far East (www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk).

Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
An imposing colonial-style building in Hong Kong Park, the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware houses ancient Chinese artefacts used in tea-making (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cs_mus_lcsd.php). 

Clock Tower
The remaining piece from the old Kowloon-Canton railway station is located near to the Star Ferry pier, so you can still check the time on it.

Central Plaza
The impressive Central Plaza (www.centralplaza.com.hk) is 78-stories high. Visitors can view the city from the Sky Lobby on its 46th floor. After 1800 each day, neon rooftop lights change colour every hour to denote the time. Two International Finance Centre, or 2 IFC, is currently Hong Kong's tallest building, with 88 floors (www.ifc.com.hk). Across the harbour, the 118-floor International Commerce Centre (www.shkp-icc.com) in West Kowloon will be Hong Kong's highest building when completed in 2010.

Beaches
The pristine beach of Repulse Bay is overlooked by the Tin Hau Temple. Lantau Island has the white sandy beach, Cheung Sha, and the amazing Shek Pik Reservoir Dam.

Nunneries and pagodas
The Chi Lin Nunnery is a spectacular Tang Dynasty-style complex. Hong Kong's only historic pagoda, the Tsui Shing Lau Pagoda was built in 1486 in the Yuen Lang district.

Mong Kok
Thought to be the world's most densely populated urban area, Mong Kok provides the ultimate opportunity to mingle with the crowds. Exotic fish and amphibians are sold at the Goldfish Market, and intricate bamboo birdcages and songbirds can be purchased near the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, in the New Territories hills above Sha Tin, houses around 13,000 small Buddha statues (www.10kbuddhas.org). Also in the New Territories, amble around a beautifully designed complex, located in Tuen Mun, which features pavilions, bonsai trees, lotus ponds and a Taoist temple.

Ngong Ping 360
Take the Ngong Ping 360 (www.np360.com.hk), a 5.7km (3.5-mile) cable car ride, to the Giant Buddha on Lantau Island. The Buddha sits upon Ngong Ping Plateau at the Po Lin Monastery (www.plm.org.hk). At 26m (85ft) high and weighing in at 202 tonnes of bronze, it is the world's largest seated outdoor Buddha. 

Further information: More details on many of Hong Kong's museums and historical buildings are available from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (www.lcsd.gov.hk).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.