At Q Language we know that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and HK is far from dull! With this in mind, we encourage all our students to take part in authentic, fun learning experiences outside the classroom.
From scenic landscapes to bustling streets, delectable food and vibrant attractions, there’s something for everyone, and 2022 has been no different for our students here at Q Language.
This post gives you a little insight into what some of our students and teachers have enjoyed outside the classroom so far this year.
Peking Garden’s World Famous Peking Duck
Boasting culinary flair we kicked off the year at Peking Garden for a taste of their world-famous Peking duck.
Established in 1978, Peking Garden has earned a global reputation and the mix of traditional recipes and new cooking techniques made for an afternoon delight!
Students enjoyed various dishes and accompaniments, some of which had been prepared the same way as in Imperial times in Beijing.
From tender slices of duck, delicate pancakes and perfected crispy barbecued skin – it was Peking paradise!
An Intrepid Trek Up to The Peak
Next, we were off to see the spectacular views of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak.
At an elevation of 552 metres above sea level, with stunning views of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon, and many surrounding islands, The Peak, as it is locally known, brought out the adventurous side in all of us.
We started the day by climbing HK’s renowned outdoor escalators amongst the many high rises and skyscrapers in the Mid-Levels until we reached the start of the hike at the beginning of the Morning Trail.
We walked through beautiful, lush trees, floral scents, and floating butterflies. Around halfway, we stopped at Lung Fu Shan Country Park, where we paused to take in our surroundings and had a bite to eat at the grassy picnic area.
Lung Fu Shan Country Park
Lung Fu Shan Country Park is home to the restored military remains known as The Pinewood Battery, which received grade II conservation status in 2009.
Here, we explored the sites and peeked over the viewpoints before making our way closer to the top. The canopies provided shady breaks under the blazing summer sun, and the paved trail made the hike easy to follow.
The Peak Tower
Soon, we reached the top, where we came to the piazza and saw the well-known Peak Tower, which houses the unique rooftop Sky Terrace 428. At 428 metres above sea level, it is the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong and offers some of the best panoramic views of the cityscape and surrounding ocean.
With so much to feast our eyes on, we took our time browsing the tower levels, which have everything from souvenir stores, restaurants, clothing shops and even a Madame Tussaud’s waxworks museum.
We walked along the Peak Galleria’s free viewing terrace and the Lion’s Lookout pavilion, which had an attractive ‘moon’ gate entrance that was a great spot for some Instagram-worthy snaps!
Our Descent Down Old Peak Road
Satisfied by all we could see at the top, we started to make our way down the mountain, following the twists and turns of Old Peak Road.
This was the steepest part of the trail, and on either side of our descent, we were surrounded by huge trees and green vegetation.
Going down the slope we picked up the pace and with wobbly knees we made it all the way to the bottom where we could enjoy walking on even ground again.
With smiles on our faces and sweat on our brows, we hopped on the next bus and gave our weary legs a break!
A Sunny Farewell With Doughnuts & Delectable Indian & Nepalese Cuisine
At Q Language we ‘donut’ hesitate to celebrate when our students achieve their goals!
Sunny, one of our level 2 students, completed her Intensive English course, and before she headed back to South Korea, we had a surprise party to share in the joy!
The class that day was filled with some of her favourite games and some delectable doughnuts to sweeten her farewell!
Also, since Sunny hadn’t really tried much Indian food, we thought it would be the perfect cuisine to relish before saying our goodbyes.
So, later that evening, we went to Chautari Restaurant in the Sheung Wan cooked food market for the best quality Indian and Nepalese food. Dinner was delicious!
We tried multiple dishes, including samosas, curries, sizzling tandoori chicken, and, of course, extra garlic and butter naan!
We sat reminiscing about Sunny’s experience at Q Language, from all the friends and memories she’d made to the great progress and improvement throughout her course, all in English, too!
Conquering The Dragon’s Back
Making the most of summer, we managed to squeeze in another hike where we combined our level 2 and 3 classes to take on the dragon!
“Dragon!” you might say, “Dragons don’t exist!” Oh, but they do, and the reward if you can conquer this one is most revitalising!
In the south-eastern part of Hong Kong Island, within the Shek O Country Park, lies Dragon’s Back, an 8 km trail stretching from Shek O road to Big Wave Bay and Tai Long Wan.
We all met in Central together, where we jumped on the MTR and then caught a minibus to the start of the trail. The hike started on a shaded path, where we began the ascent. We spotted a few golden silk orb weaver spiders in their webs nestled between the trees.
After about 30 minutes of hiking, we came across the Shek O Peninsula viewpoint, which overlooked Shek O Beach and the islands in the distance.
Here, we stopped for a refreshing water break before continuing along the winding ridge to Shek O Peak, where we stopped again to take in the marvellous sights!
It was truly beautiful, and the sparkling waves below looked very inviting!
It was boiling hot, so we did a quick round trip back to Shek O road, where we caught a bus down to the beach.
We stopped at a local Thai restaurant and indulged in a mix of Pad Thai, Pineapple fried rice, Phat Kra pao, Som tam and Pak Boong dishes to replenish our energy before heading straight to the beach.
Soon, we were floating in the glistening sea, and after a revitalising swim, we ended with some beach games to round off a fab day out!
About The Teacher
Whether in group classes or one-to-one lessons, I teach various English levels and enjoy helping learners build their conversational or business English skills.
I love learning about different cultures and am fortunate to meet and teach some great learners along the way.
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