TSIM SHA TSUI. The concept is familiar: immortalize the icons of cinema with a special plaque on the sidewalk. Sure it's been done before, but people are forever entranced with movie stars and filmmakers, so Hong Kong's Avenue of Stars was an instant success as soon as it was unveiled in 2004. The walkway traces the history of Hong Kong filmmaking, from the first film shot here (the 1909 "Stealing the Roast Duck"), through the heyday of Cantonese cinema in the 1960s, right up to the present. Many of the names may be unfamiliar unless you're intimately acquainted with Asian cinema, but there are enough internationally known stars here to make everyone's visit worthwhile. Look for Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Cheung. Located along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade from Salisbury Garden to the New World Centre.

VICTORIA PEAK. Yes, there's even a Madame Tussaud's in Hong Kong. Exhibits include "Hong Kong Glamour" (rich, famous and/or powerful), "Historical and National Heroes" (such as President Hu Jintao, the British Royal Family, and Neil Armstrong), "World Premier" (national and international film celebrities), "The Champions" (athletes like David Beckham and Tiger Woods), "Music Icons" (international stars like Elvis and Madonna displayed alongside Chinese popsters like Leslie Cheung, Teresa Teng and Joey Yung).

ABERDEEN. (Ocean Park is undergoing extensive expansion and renovation, scheduled for completion in 2010; some sections or exhibits may be closed during your visit.) Combination amusement park-aquarium-zoo, Ocean Park is divided into two sections connected by circular cable cars and an escalator. The "Lowland" section is where the giant pandas live, and is where you'll find a variety of fun animal shows, a few rides, a section of attractions sized just right for tots, and Dolphin Encounter, 90 minutes of up-close-and-personal time in a pool with the friendly cetaceans. The "Headland" section has most of the big rides (roller coasters, water rides, etc), a vast aviary with more than 1000 birds, and Marine World, a massive aquarium with a fabulous jellyfish exhibit, a shark tunnel with 35 species of sharks, seals and sea lions, a huge reef tank with some 2000 fish, and dolphin shows. For Dolphin Encounter, minimum age is 8 and at least 5-day advance booking required. Park hours vary slightly seasonally.

CENTRAL. A must see for visitors to Hong Kong! The Symphony of Lights is a stunning display that illuminates 33 buildings on either side of Victoria Harbour. Designed to honor the "energy, spirit and diversity of Hong Kong," the spectacle is accompanied by music and narration. The English version can be heard at the Avenue of Stars and the promenade outside the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or tune in to radio station 103.4FM any night. Guinness calls this the "World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show."