Romantic Retreats for Valentine's Day

Amah’s Rock The legend behind Amah’s Rock is omnipresent in the greater China region. It tells of a woman carrying her son while waiting for her husband, oblivious to the fact that her husband had drowned at sea. As a reward for her loyalty, she was turned into stone by the Goddess of the Sea, in order to be reunited with her husband. Reminisce in this myth as you conquer the hike as a couple. Start at Che Kung Temple in Tai Wai Station before making the ascent to the rock. Along the way you will be able to catch exquisite views of both Victoria Harbour and Sha Tin. Exercise caution with the hordes of macaques that now call this country park home. Astropark Astropark, High Island Reservoir, Sai Kung, 2721-0226, www.hk.space.museum The park contains a Telescopic Observation Area, Naked-Eye Observation area and an Educational Zone. The Telescopic Observatory has instruments like star-trackers and binoculars to facilitate your observations. Amongst the many features of the Educational Zone is a mini planetarium that displays the night sky. Please call the neighboring Chong Hing Water Sports Centre if you need directions or would like to stay the night in the nearby camping ground on 2792-6810. To reach Sai Kung, first take a 101M minibus from Hang Hau station.You can then take KMB 94 from Sai Kung to Wong Shek Pier followed by a taxi. Cyberport Waterfall Bay, Bel-Air Peak Rd., Cyberport A waterfall only a stone’s throw away from the Bel-Air Residence, go with your loved one for a spectacular view of the endless expanse of the Lamma Channel. To reach this waterfall, enter Bel-Air Peak Road. There’s a gap in the fence that will lead directly to the waterfall. Take a stroll down the promenade hand-in-hand. Happy Valley Racecourse 2 Sports Rd., Happy Valley, Hong Kong, 2966-8196, www.hkjc.com/english Try to strike it lucky on two fronts when you take a date to the racecourse. Racing happens most Wednesdays at Happy Valley (and Sundays in Shatin). Spend only $10 more and get the opportunity to sit in the second floor terrace. For those who want to splurge, why not book a private box for a minimum of $460 per person, dependent on number of guests and occasion. In a worse case scenario, the restaurants and cafés of Causeway Bay await to heal your wounds or to splurge your winnings. Hong Kong Heritage Tour 9187-8641, www.walkhongkong.com This tour organized by Walk Hong Kong takes you past the oldest colonial buildings in the city. Venture to the Legislative Council Building, Court of Final Appeal and St. John’s Anglican Cathedral—all remnants of a lost time. The tour is something of a mystery depending on your guide and the composition of your group. For example, a tour with Martin will take you through Central, Statue Square, inside St. John’s Cathedral, through Hong Kong Park, a ride on the double-decker tram, inside the Bank of China building, and up the long escalator in SoHo. There’re even walking tours to Man Mo Temple and a wet market. The tour costs $450 and is a perfect way to look at Hong Kong through different eyes. If a tour of Central is not your cup of tea, try the other tours that take you from the Geopark to World War II bunkers. Please refer to the schedule to find a suitable guided tour. Ma On Shan Park 12 On Chun St., Ma On Shan Park, Shatin, 2643-5320, www.lcsd.gov.hk/parks/mosp A perfect and convenient location for a picnic. The park includes a Mediterranean style plaza with a view of Tolo Harbor. Let the artistry of the topiaries enhance the setting. Additionally, those who feel like playing hard-to-get can engage in a game of hide-and-go-seek in the Garden Maze. Ma On Shan Railway is the closest station and minibuses 85C, 681 and 286M arrive the closest to the park. Museum of Art 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2721-0116, www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts Do some research into Chinese fine art to impress your date and show how cultured you are. Pay close attention to the exhibitions calendar so that you can time your trip when the art is most impressive. “The Fantastic Creatures of the British Museum” exhibition is on display till April, featuring works by Picasso and Durer as well as art from ancient civilizations. Peak Loop From The Peak on to Harlech Road, this loop will give you breathtaking views of Aberdeen, West Kowloon and Victoria Harbour. In addition, the gentle incline and lack of stray dogs makes for a pleasant walk—the largest danger being an encounter with a porcupine. Time your walk to last 30 minutes from 7:50pm-8:20pm, so that you can watch the Symphony of Lights—no profligate restaurant charge required. Take either the Peak Tram or a Minibus number 1 up to The Peak. Tai Mei Tuk Start the Wilson Trail Leg 10 from Luk Keng near Sha Tau Kok Road. This fairly easy section will take you past the farming area of Nam Fung, the Edward Youde Memorial (overlooking the Starling Inlet) and finally past the Spring Breeze Pavilion (overlooking Tolo Harbour) to Tai Mei Tuk. Once you reach Tai Mei Tuk, you will be spoiled for choice between choosing barbeque or Thai cuisine. For more bang for your buck, and something a little different, rent a grill by the beach. The Tai Mei Tuk BBQ King offers packages that provides meat and veggies for your beachside grill. Dust off the crumbs and rent a tandem bike to ride along the pier at sunset. To get there, take a green minibus 56K from Fanling station to reach Luk Keng and take a green minibus 20C from Tai Po Market station to reach Tai Mei Tuk. Tai O Village This traditional village in North-West Lantau, known for its stilted houses and charming old school vibe, is a great getaway from the city. Shell out for a cheap speedboat ride to spot wild bottlenose dolphins, this may be one of the last chances to see them. Also, you’ll have a chance to view the Venice-esque fishing village on the speedboat before heading out to sea. Speedboats can be embarked on the rope-drawn ferry bridge. The village has stalls selling snacks like honey crackers, fried squid, shrimp paste and Venus Flytrap juice. Tai O can be reached by ferry from Tung Chung or by taking the bus number 11 from Tung Chung. The Rainbow Organic Strawberry Farm Lot DD, 76 Hok Tau, Fanling, 9302-0258, www.strawberry-farm.com.hk The Rainbow Organic Strawberry Farm allows fruit picking from December until April. Although difficult to reach, it rewards you with very sweet strawberries for the picking. At the time of writing foraging for strawberries costs $60 per pound collected, but every third pound is free. To reach the farm, exit from Fanling station and take minibus 52B to Hak Tau Reservoir. The farm is down the road from the Hak Tau barbecue site.