Travel to Hong Kong

The fame of Victoria Bay of Hong Kong is threefold – as China's largest harbour, for being the third largest in the world and one of its busiest sea ports. Appearing between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, the harbour is a teeming and unceasing hive of activity, its cargo ships, cruise liners and fishing vessels going to and fro regardless of night and day.

The views of Victoria Bay are among some of the most beautiful boasted by Hong Kong, with the natural beauty of the sea and the visually stunning architecture. The city's most modern and highest skyscrapers cluster around the skyline of the Bay; four of the world's tallest buildings all appear within sight of the harbour. Unlike most busy ports of the world, Victoria Bay is largely free of pollution and is designed in lines of the aesthetic pleasure so beloved of Hong Kong architects. The myriad of amusement parks, public zoos, museums and leisure parks cluster around the area, inviting the attention of sight-seers drinking in the fresh sea breeze and azure-hued scenery.

The secession of the harbour to the British Empire by the Treaty of Nanking was a great windfall for the British colonists, as this sea port was an ideal nexus between the major shipping lines that run from Singapore to Japan and therefore one of southern China's most strategically important harbours. They rechristened it in 1861 after the then-ruling Queen Victoria, the oldest and longest-reigning monarch of British history whose rule saw a golden age of industry and prosperity for her country.

The sprawling harbour is divided into two main parts. The section falling between Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui is the one seen by most visitors, but the Kwai Tsing Container Port to the northwest is actually the most impressive in terms of activity. The latter is the passage through which most of Hong Kong's enormous export wealth is funnelled.

Being the natural hub of the city to which all urban celebrations tend to gravitate, the harbour plays host to some of the most spectacular public events and festivities in the city. The annual fireworks show in honour of the Chinese New Year is among the most iconic of these,

prompting thousands of tourists to gather in wonder upon the promenades below.However, the Symphony of Lights is by far the most breathtaking spectacle to light up the Bay. Since 2004, over 40 of Hong Kong's skyscrapers take part in creating a massive show of light and sound almost every night. Laser lights and sky beams reflect off the overhung clouds and rippling waves of the Victoria Harbour, presenting an audio-visual extravaganza of epic proportions. This "Symphony of Lights" is entered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest permanent light and sound concert in the world. It is also famous for being among the three most beautiful night-scapes in the world.

One can gain some of the best vantage points and panoramic views of the harbour at the following four places:

Victoria Peak is the highest mountain in the city, accessible via a half-hour trek through the city park. You can see the sky set afire when the sun sets onto Lantau Island and many places of refreshment are dotted along the way.

The Avenue of Stars is located along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and is famous for its benches into which are set the handprints of Hong Kong's most famous film stars. The Star Ferry Terminal, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Cultural Centre and the Space Museum appear all around this avenue and the speakers out of which the music for the Symphony of Lights emanates are almost right behind.

Golden Bauhinia Square appears on the Wan Chai waterfront at the very centre of the harbour, being surrounded by the Bay on three sides.

The Central Plaza is the third-tallest building in the city; the highest church in the world is set right at its topmost level. As the building sits on the waterfront of the harbour and the chapel has glass panels on all sides, this is one of the best places to watch the passing ships go by in the evening.

In addition to the aforementioned sites, one can also take a ferry cruise along the Victoria Bay. The Star Ferry is the best choice among these tours, providing a magnificent night-time excursion that the National Geographic has listed among the 50 best experiences of a lifetime. When it comes to exploring the best of Hong Kong's sights and sounds such as Victoria Harbour, finding the most strategically placed Hong Kong hotel accommodation is key to a well-rounded sight-seeing experience. Traders Hotel Hong Kong is one of the centrally placed Hong Kong hotels that provide quality service and accommodation ideal for the traveller's functional and budgetary requirements.

Hong Kong is probably the best shopping destinations in the world that offer various types of goods and services at reasonable costs. Hong Kong is also one of the world's leading destinations that thrive in shopping mall tourism as well as retail therapy. In fact, Hong Kong is a shoppers' paradise. For tourists visiting Hong Kong, shopping is not only a process of buying several exciting stuffs but also an important recreational as well as fun filled activity.

Since Hong Kong is a free international port, it keeps abreast with the world's latest fashion trends and provides opportunities for the tourists to buy custom-free products that have been brought from across the world. No matter you want to shop fashion accessories, apparels, or electronic items, Hong Kong has superb options for all. Discussed further in this article are some of the most popular shopping areas in Hong Kong that are spread across its three major sections such as the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and New Territories.

One of the most prominent shopping areas in the Hong Kong Island is the Central District, which is also the economic and financial hub of Hong Kong. With a fusion of designer outlets, high-end shopping malls, and old markets, shopping in the Central District is truly an enjoyable experience. For antique collectors, Central District's such areas as the Cat Street and the Hollywood Road are a great choice, both of which are lined with a number of antique shops.

Likewise, if you want to shop fabrics, souvenirs, handbags, and other fashion accessories at bargain prices, then Des Voeux Road and Queens Road in Central District are some of the popular choices. Further, the Central District is home to the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system, the Midlevel Escalator and Walkway System. Another popular shopping area in the island is Causeway Bay, otherwise known as East Point. This significant shopping district is a great place to shop locally made as well as fashionable items from Japan, with an array of Japanese malls, prominent being the 13-storey Sogo Japanese department store, World Trade Center, Fashion Walk, and Lee Gardens.

Apart from these, Causeway Bay also contains such shopping options as Jardine's Crescent, a popular open market, from where fashionable clothes and items can be bought at great prices. Many of the large scale department stores offer great shopping as well as dining experiences. Prominent shopping areas in the island also include Admirality, which comes with a great number of shopping malls, departmental stores, upscale hotels, and recreational areas. Few among the shopping options available here are Pacific Place and Queensway Plaza. The Admirality stations link Hong Kong Island's MTR Line with the Kowloon Tsuen Wan Line.

Among the significant shopping destinations in Kowloon are Mong Kok, which is a great place for shopping electronic items at bargain rates; Tsim Sha Tsui, an area designed especially for those who want to shop high-end fashion accessories; and Kowloon Tong, whose focal point is the mall Festival Walk, with more than 200 shops. When comes to New Territories, perhaps its most prominent shopping area is Tsing Yi, with a number of glitzy shopping malls.

With these scores of options, visitors touring Hong Kong can shop from morning to late night. But, certain important things have to be considered while shopping in Hong Kong. First of all, don't get swayed away by illegal products. Since Hong Kong consists of a large number of stores selling same products at various prices, a smart shopper must shop around to compare prices and to buy a product at the possible least price. Likewise, it is advisable for the buyers to shop from stores or malls with membership of the Hong Kong Tourist Association.

Additionally, it would be better to shop an electronic item that carries some kind of guarantee or warranty. One can also approach night markets in order to shop several items at exceptionally cheap rates; however, these may not be attached with any kind of guarantee. Above all, do practice bargaining to buy a product in Hong Kong. In case if you are convinced that you are deceived on purchasing a particular item in Hong Kong, then you could complaint it regarding by contacting the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) or via calling the Consumer Council Hotline at 2929 2222.