Yuen Yuen Institute: where one can see the significance all three religions have had on society.

This ornate temple is shared by three religions: Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. It commemorates the monk, Wong Tai Sin who was born in the 4th century. Chinese pilgrims visit the temple to pray for good fortune through offerings and fortune telling.

Visiting an institute of any kind might not sound like the top item on any holidaymaker's 'to-do list', but a trip to the tranquil grounds of the misleadingly named Yuen Yuen Institute will be a pleasant surprise.

Located in scenic Sam Dip Tam, the Yuen Yuen Institute was founded in 1950 to spread the principles of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism; uphold the eight virtues (filial piety, respect, loyalty, fidelity, propriety, justice, honesty and honour) and promote social welfare.

Its sprawling grounds are a smorgasbord of temples, pavilions, monasteries and prayer halls dedicated to these three religions, and are dotted with decorative gardens and ponds. One of its many worthwhile attractions includes a replica of Beijing's magnificent Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan). The Hall of Rocks Collection features rocks with interesting natural shapes, including those of the 12 creatures of the Chinese zodiac.

Visit Tsim Sha Tsui

In Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong we visited the historic Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre - for a quick cupuccino, and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Flagstaff House

Built in the 1840s, Flagstaff House is an elegant reminder of Hong Kong's colonial heritage. Formerly the office and residence of the commander of the British Forces in Hong Kong, it is one of the oldest examples of Greek revival architecture in the city.

Its first occupant: Major-General, who served from 1844 to 1846. Flagstaff House continued to be the residence of the commander of the British forces up until 1978, when it was handed over to the Hong Kong government. The building hasn't been immune to Hong Kong's turbulent life and, during the Second World War; it was hit twice by Japanese shells in the Battle of Hong Kong, but repaired quickly when it was commandeered for use by officers of the occupying forces.

Flagstaff House was converted into the Museum of Tea Ware in 1984. Alongside its exhibitions, the museum holds regular demonstrations, tea gatherings and lecture programmes to promote ceramic art and China's enduring tea drinking culture.

Whilst on the topic of art, there is one festival which takes place in May that is a form of art if you ask me: Tam Kung's Birthday Celebration which falls on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. There are of course many festivals in Hong Kong; however this one I found particularly intriguing (you can guess why).

Like Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Sea, Tam Kung is revered amongst fishermen and coastal communities; however, the worship of this deity is unique to Hong Kong. Born in the Huizhou prefecture in Guangdong Province during the Yuan dynasty (1206-1368), Tam Kung was capable of forecasting the weather and healing the ill when he was a child. His statue is usually portrayed as an 80-year-old man with the face of a 12-year-old child because he is believed to have achieved wisdom at a young age and learned the secret of remaining forever young. I hope his name carries forth it's same wisdom and health…

Don't do what we did mixing up "Wan Chai" with "Chai Wan" - these are two very different places in Hong Kong, on the opposite's sides to each other to add insult to injury! Or the Yuen Wan, Tsuen Wan and Shueng Wan stops! We came close, but jumped off the train carriage just in time - to solve our near mistaken destination.