The Mango Road

Putting the life back into lifestyle

  • More Travel Features
    • China
      • All along the Watchtowers
      • Dapeng Ancient City
      • A journey to Nantou Ancient City
      • The Fire Carts of Xishi
      • Walking the Line
    • Cambodia
      • Silk islands of Koh Dach
    • Hong Kong
      • The New Territories
        • Oysters by the Bay
        • Hiking: Ghost Brides and Haunted Villages
        • On the Trail of Two Monasteries
        • Ping Shan Heritage Trail
        • Salt, fish and the Battle of Tai O Bay
        • Lunch in the officer’s mess
        • Veggies and Rebellion
      • Tai Ping Shan and Sheung Wan
      • On the Waterfront
      • The waterways of Tai Tam
      • The Tai Tam West catchwater
      • Violet Hill and The Twins
    • India
      • Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The little blue train
      • War, subterfuge and a nice cup of tea
    • Indonesia
      • Botanical Gradens, Bogor
      • The sweet smell of steam
      • Sunrise over Gunung Bromo
    • Laos
      • Watching the river flow
    • Malaysia
      • The Jungle Line
      • Penang’s Living Art Gallery
      • Climbing Mt Kinabalu
      • North Borneo Railway
    • Nepal
      • High as a Kite
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok on foot
      • Historic towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom
      • Sukhothai, The Cradle of Thai Civilisation
      • Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam
      • Simian City
      • Ko Kret: Potters Island
      • Wat Pariwat aka Wat David Beckham
  • A Postcard from …
    • Bagan
    • Cambodia
      • Angkor
    • Darjeeling
    • Hanoi
    • Hong Kong
      • An abandoned Hakka mansion
      • Devil beating in Causeway Bay
      • Nong Ping and Big Buddha
    • Kolkata
    • Krakatau
    • Singapore
    • Thong Pha Phum
  • Airports
    • Cambodia – Phnom Penh
    • Hong Kong – Chek Lap Kok
    • Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, KLIA2
    • Thailand – Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi
    • Thailand – Bangkok, Don Mueang
    • Vietnam – Noi Bai, Hanoi
    • Vietnam – Da Nang
  • Food
    • Tai O Lookout – Hong Kong
    • Beer Republic – Bangkok
    • Glenary’s – Darjeeling
    • Shanak’s – Phnom Penh
    • Som Tam – Some Like it Hotter
    • Chops – Hanoi
    • 80/20 – Bangkok
    • Coliseum Cafe & Bar – Kuala Lumpur
    • Guppy’s – Bangkok
    • Kunga – Darjeeling
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• Features •

The Forbidden Zone
• Features • Hong Kong 

The Forbidden Zone

13th May 202616th May 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

Exploring the once-closed area between Hong Kong and the mainland The forbidden zoneExploring the once-closed area between Hong Kong and

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From Serpent to Sea World
• Features • China 

From Serpent to Sea World

2nd May 20262nd May 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

From Serpent to Sea World Shekou means snake’s mouth. A name conferred on it, probably because it was at the

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• Features • Macau 

Baccarat, Bordellos and Bakeries

28th April 202628th April 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

And other interesting finds in the maze of old Macau Baccarat, Bordellos and BakeriesAnd other interesting finds in the maze

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That Riviera Touch, Zhuhai Opera House and De Yue Fang Seafood Restaurant
• Features • China 

That Riviera Touch

21st April 202618th May 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

A taste of Zhuhai’s past, and a wander through the present That Riviera TouchA taste of Zhuhai’s past, and a

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• Features • China 

Dapeng Ancient City

17th March 202620th March 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

A 600-year-old fort near Shenzhen Dapeng Ancient CityA 600-year-old fort near Shenzhen I recently billeted myself at Dapeng Fortress, a

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Lau Fau Shan Oysters by the Bay
• Features • Hong Kong 

Lau Fau Shan: Oysters by the Bay

3rd March 202613th May 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

Some fine restaurants too Lau Fau Shan: Oysters by the BaySome fine restaurants too One of the more bizarre sculptures

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Twin Peaks
• Features • Indonesia 

Twin Peaks

19th February 202613th March 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

The Kledung Pass is a picturesque road that cuts between two volcanoes. Twin PeaksThe Kledung Pass is a picturesque road

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On the Waterfront
• Features • Hong Kong 

On the Waterfront

20th January 202628th April 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

A stroll on Hong Kong’s newly completed promenade On the WaterfrontA stroll on Hong Kong’s newly completed promenade At the

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On the Trail of Two Monasteries, Wan Chuen Sin Koon
• Features • Hong Kong The New Territories 

On the Trail of Two Monasteries

3rd April 202520th January 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

On the Trail of Two Monasteries Wo Keng Shan Road is a pleasant little thoroughfare, a country lane with greenery

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The birth place of Buddhism in Hong Kong
• Features • Hong Kong 

When Buddhism came to Hong Kong

21st November 202410th December 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

When Buddhism came to Hong Kong The Tsing Shan Monastery sits on the pleasantly wooded lower slopes of Castle Peak

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Found this impressive butterfly waiting when I got Found this impressive butterfly waiting when I got home the other evening. It's a spangled swallowtail (papilio protenor) resting on the bougainvillea. The wing span is about twenty centimetres. They are actually quite common, I've just never seen one stay still long enough to take a picture of it before. I'm afraid I lack the patience of dedicated lepidoptera shooters.
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#papilioprotenor #butterfly #butterflyworld #butterflies #butterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #spanglebutterfly #swallowtailbutterfly #swallowtail #lepidoptera #lepidopteraofinstagram #insectphotography #insect #insectworld #insect_perfection #insectlovers #insectsofinstagram #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #nature #naturelover #nature_seekers #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict
Graham Street, Hong Kong . . . #central #alley #gr Graham Street, Hong Kong
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#central #alley #grahamstreet #street #asiancities #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #awesomehongkong #explorehk #asiatravel #discoverasia #chinatravel #unlimitedasia #asiatravel #letsgosomewhere #beautifulplaces #traveltheworld #travelgram #urbanlandscape #travellife #seetheworld #worldnomads #doyoutravel #themoderndayexplorer
I made the epic journey from Pui O to Ping Che the I made the epic journey from Pui O to Ping Che the other day, one remote corner of Hong Kong to another. It involved three separate MTR trains sandwiched between two bus rides to cover a distance of about 75 kilometres and took a bit less than two hours. It was worth the effort for Wan Chuen Sin Koon, a Taoist monastery at Ping Che, is perhaps one of the prettiest in Hong Kong.
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It belongs to the Chunyang Taoist sect, a branch of the Quanzhen school, which was founded in the mid-nineteenth century on Xiqiao Mountain near Nanhai City, Guangdong. It moved to Hong Kong in 1944 but the current premises have no historical significance. The land was acquired in 1975 and used as a religious retreat but it wasn’t until 2000 that construction got underway in earnest.
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The monastery buildings are set in spacious grounds with lotus ponds and chrysanthemum gardens, though neither will be in bloom until late Summer or early Autumn when exhibitions of the latter are held. Also in the grounds is a large stele that contains the full text of Laozi's Tao Te Ching.
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Wan Chuen Sin Koon is also famous for its excellent vegetarian lunches served between 12.00 and 14.00. Portions are generous and tables fill up fast so get there early.
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#wunchuensinkwoon #pingche #exploringhongkongsnewterritories #temple #monastery #chinesetemple #shrine #religion #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #themoderndayexplorer
Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

#beetle #insectworld #insect
Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Pin Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping
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#tiantanbuddha #bigbuddha #天壇大佛 #天坛大佛 #lantau #polinmonastery #ngongping #昂坪 #hongkon
Sunset over the Pui O River, Lantau Island, Hong K Sunset over the Pui O River, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
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#wetlands #puio #lantau #lantauisland #southlantau #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #naturelover #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #hongkongphotography #countrypark #wonderful_places #peacefulplace #bythisriver #estuary #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere
This, I believe, is a light-vented or Chinese bulb This, I believe, is a light-vented or Chinese bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis). Most of the year they prefer to stay up in the forest feeding on bugs and berries. But since those delicacies are scarce at this time of year they are not above slumming it down on my balcony in return for a handout of leftover rice.

This one was on the lamp post opposite, waiting for me to go inside so it could have its breakfast and squabble with the red-whiskered bulbuls and sparrows.
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#bulbul #lightventedbulbul #chinesebulbul #pycnonotussinensis #birds_brilliance #newterritories #hongkong #wildbird #bird #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdstagram #birdwatching #birding #bestbirdshots #birdphotography #birds #birdlife #featheredfriends #birdsofhongkong #birdsofchina #birdsofasia #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifeonearth #wildlifecaptures #wildlifelovers #naturephotography #natureshots
Winter solstice over the Pui O River, Lantau Islan Winter solstice over the Pui O River, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
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#landscape #sunset  #wetlands #awesomehongkong
The Eiffel Tower and the Big Ben tower. There's a The Eiffel Tower and the Big Ben tower. There's a photo essay at: https://www.smarttravelasia.com/Special/CotaiPhotoEssay.htm

#bigben #eiffel #macau #cotai #cotaistrip
A tourist browses colourful silk lampshades in Hoi A tourist browses colourful silk lampshades in Hoi An, Vietnam
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#lamp lampshade #tourist #tourism #nightmarket #silk #traditional #shopping#hoiantown #hoian #discovervietnam #ig_vietnam #vietnamtravel #vietnam🇻🇳 #vietnamtravelers #igvietnam #vietnamese #vietnam #loves_united_vietnam #asiatravel #unlimitedasia #ecotourism #seetheworld #traveldeeper #doyoutravel #traveltheworld #traveladdict #borntotravel #traveltheworld #travelenthusiast
Old tea merchant in Zhuhai. #tea #china #zhuhai Old tea merchant in Zhuhai.

#tea #china #zhuhai
South Gate, Dapeng Ancient City, near Shenzhen, Ch South Gate, Dapeng Ancient City, near Shenzhen, China
#china #ancientcity #architecture
The Cotai Strip, Macau. Sometimes referred to as t The Cotai Strip, Macau. Sometimes referred to as the Las Vegas of the East, Cotai is a parcel of reclaimed land given over almost entirely to casinos and hotels. The replica landmarks make it popular place with instagram enthusiasts and wedding photographers.
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#macau #macao #macau_ig #macau🇲🇴 #macautravel #cotai #cotaistrip
#cotaistripmacau #london #paris #venice #casino #hotels #lasvegasoftheeast #instagrammers
Notice the scale of the clouds against the trees. Notice the scale of the clouds against the trees. 
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Sunset at the Laban Rata rest house, 3,272 metres (10,375ft) above sea level on Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
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#mountkinabalu #gunungkinabalu #kinabalu #labanrata #sabah #malaysia #borneo #amazingborneo #sunset #clouds #landscape #landscapelovers #landscapephotography #earthpix #awesome_earthpix #earthofficial #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #fantastic_earth #earthscience #nature_brilliance #artofnature #natureinspiration #cloudscape #mountainlandscape #seetheworld #traveltheworld #asiatravel #exploretheworld #travelenthusiast
Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino, Macau #macau #hote Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino, Macau

#macau #hotel #casino #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #travelgram
The little rural hamlet of Muk Wu is dwarfed by th The little rural hamlet of Muk Wu is dwarfed by the towers of Shenzhen. Between them, though not visible, is the river that separates the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the rest of China.
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Muk Wu used to be in what was known as the closed area, a stretch of land that was set up in the 1950s, firstly to prevent gun smuggling during the Korean War, but was later expanded to stem the tide of illegal border crossings. Previously only residents and their families were allowed in but the restrictions have since been rolled back so that now only the river banks and border crossing areas are closed.
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#exploringhongkongsnewterritories
Mt Kangchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in th Mt Kangchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world at 8,586 m (28,169 ft), appears to be floating on a cloud
Incense coils at a Chinese temple in Macau. . #mac Incense coils at a Chinese temple in Macau.
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#macau #incense #smoke #burn #religion #religionsoftheworld #photography #travelphotography 📷 #travelphotography
Wat Suthat, Bangkok #WatSuthat #Bangkok #temple # Wat Suthat, Bangkok

#WatSuthat #Bangkok #temple #religion #faith #bangkok #thailand #buddha #travel #travelphotography #photography
Chapel of Our Lady of Penha The church built in 1 Chapel of Our Lady of Penha

The church built in 1622 by the crew of the Portuguese ship São Bartholomeu who, after escaping from Dutch pursuers, vowed to build a church to commemorate the Virgin Mary if they made it back to Macau.

#macau #macau_ig #macau🇲🇴 #macao #church #citynights #addicted_to_nights #nightphotography #nightimages #nightlights #nightphoto #dusk #cityscape #urbanlandscape #urbanromantix #buildings #buildingporn #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #travelgram
The centrepiece of the Yuen Yuen Institute in the The centrepiece of the Yuen Yuen Institute in the hills above Tsuen Wan is said to have been inspired by the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The institute is the only place of worship in Hong Kong dedicated collectively to the territory’s three major religions, Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
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#YuenYuenInstitute #temple #monastery #chinesetemple #shrine #religion #hongkonghistory #tsuenwan #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
Water buffalo. . . . #waterbuffalo #buffalo #herd Water buffalo.
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#waterbuffalo #buffalo #herd #bovine #mammals #livestock #feral #cattle  #bubalus #bubalusbubalis #puio #lantau #newterritories #hongkong #swimminginthecreek #discoverhk #utravelhk #instahk #hongkonginsta #hongkonger #hongkong #hongkonginsta #hongkongphotography #ilovehongkong #hongkongphoto #ig_hongkong #traveladdict #travellife #ig_asia #asiatravel
Gunung Sumbing a 3,371 metre volcano in Central Ja Gunung Sumbing a 3,371 metre volcano in Central Java. Although the volcano is still active the only recorded eruptions date from 1730.
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#gunungsumbing #volcano #geology  #offthebeatenpath #landscape
Lantau Peak looking dramatic. At 934 metres (3,064 Lantau Peak looking dramatic. At 934 metres (3,064 ft) above sea level the mountain is the highest point on Lantau island and the second highest in Hong Kong.
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#lantaupeak #鳳凰山 #lantau #lantauisland #southlantau #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #naturelover #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #hongkongphotography #countrypark #wonderful_places #peacefulplace #bythisriver #estuary #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere
New Lucky House on the corner of Nathan Road and J New Lucky House on the corner of Nathan Road and Jordan Road, Yau Ma Tei. Built in 1964 its 16 floors boast 200 units and 35 guesthouses.
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#citynights #addicted_to_nights #nightphotography #nightimages #nightlights #nightphoto #dusk #cityscape #urbanlandscape #urbanromantix #buildings #buildingporn #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #travel #travelhk #華豐大廈
Wat Chaiwatthanaram was commissioned in 1630 by Ki Wat Chaiwatthanaram was commissioned in 1630 by King Prasat Thong, who reigned from 1629 to 1656, to honour his foster mother whose ashes are interred here. Since its construction, all of Ayutthaya’s Kings made pilgrimages here to attend royal funerals. See stories for another view.
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#WatChaiwatthanaram #ayutthaya #buddha #buddhism #temple #thaitemples #faith #religion #thailand #ayutthayathailand #amazingthailand #ig_thailand #loves_united_thailand #loves_thailand #ig_asia #loves_united_asia #super_asia_channel #unlimitedasia #unesco #unescoworldheritage #history #culture #statue #smartphone #igmoment #travel #wanderlust #beautifuldestinations #CreateExplore #stayandwander
It's hiking season in Hong Kong. But beware the ol It's hiking season in Hong Kong. But beware the old abandoned villages are hungry.

#hongkong #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hiking #hikingadventures #hike #abandonedplaces #abandoned #spooky #spookyseason #architecture
Found this fellow the other day, he’d sheltered ou Found this fellow the other day, he’d sheltered out the storm in an old plant pot. I relocated him to the lemon tree and he’s been hanging out there ever since.
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#prayingmantis #giantasianprayingmantis #hierodulamembranacea #prayingmantisofinstagram #mantis #bugs #insectsofinstagram #mantidsofinstagram #bug #mantids #insectphotography #insect #insect_perfection #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #creepycrawly #abugslife #nature #insectworld #bugsofinstagram #insectstagram #insectlicious #beautiful_insects #insectguru #fulgoromorpha #earthcapture #inmygardentoday #colorfulbug #insects_of_our_world #insectlovers
Rua de Felicidade, or Street of Happiness. Macau's Rua de Felicidade, or Street of Happiness. Macau's former red light district
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#macau #macao #macau_ig #macau🇲🇴 #macautravel #backstreets
My latest project is now available in bookshops ac My latest project is now available in bookshops across Hong Kong.

Unlike most guidebooks on Hong Kong, this one delves deep into a region that is often ignored yet is replete with ancient monuments and temples, picturesque monasteries, abandoned villages and a network of excellent, well-maintained hiking trails.

Most of the attractions are free or very inexpensive and can be easily accessed using Hong Kong’s excellent public transport systems, details of which are included.
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#hongkong #discoverhk #newterritories #hongkongheritage #hkheritage #discoverhongkong #awesomehongkong #ilovehongkong #hongkongphoto #ig_hongkong #heritage #historicbuilding #historicarchitecture #historicalbuildings #historicplace #pingshan #pingshanheritagetrail #ancestralhall #temple #lungyuektau #hongkonggeopark #hongkongcountryside #picsofhk #utravelhk #instahk #hongkonginsta  #hongkonger #lantau #lamma #cheungchau
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