Travel to Hong Kong

Hong Kong was once a sleepy fishing village. But, with the arrival of the British in 1842, it became a crown colony of the United Kingdom, which continued until 1997, when the British handed it over to China, after signing an historic agreement by the then prime minister of the UK, Margaret Thatcher, and the then Chinese President, Deng Xiaoping.

The city has now become one of the vibrant destinations in the world, apart from being a prominent economic center in Asia. The World Tourism Organization rates the city among the 15 most preferred tourist destinations in the world. Al though a part of China, Hong Kong is quite different from rest of the nation, and has its own government and legal systems, monetary policy, and immigration policy. Situated in Eastern Asia, bordered by the South China Sea, it is made up of three areas, such as, the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories as well as the Outlying islands including Lantau Island, Lamma Island, and Cheung Chau Island.

The center of economy, entertainment, and politics - Hong Kong Island is considered the heart of the special administrative region. Stretching from the Tin Hau to Chai Wan on the eastern part of the island is the prime residential area of the region. The northern part of the island is the main commercial as well as entertainment area, stretching from the Central District to Causeway Bay. Likewise, the southern part of the Island is home to some of the destinations that are abound in natural beauty, such as, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay and Ocean Park, which is one of the top-most theme parks in Southeast Asia.

However, most popular among the destinations in the island is the Peak, the highest point on the island that is perched at an altitude of 554 meters. The Peak serves as a perfect base to have a bird's eye view of the whole of the thriving island as well as the spectacular Victoria Harbor, which is one of the three natural water harbors in the world. One of the most popular ways to reach the Peak is to take a ride on the Peak Tram, which runs from the city center and reach here within seven minutes. Another stunning landmark of the island is Bank of China Tower - a soaring 70-storeyed building. In addition, situated on the southwest coast of the Island is the Cyberport, a high-tech facility supporting the multimedia, telecommunications, and IT industries.

The island is also much famed for its destinations including Aberdeen, a traditional village inhabited by hundreds of fishermen. From traditional style Chinese boats to most sophisticated boats, an amazing variety of fishing boats can be seen here. Further, located here are the HK Convention and Exhibition Center and Golden Bauhinia Square, which stands as a symbol to memorize the Return of Hong Kong to its motherland. Kowloon is an exciting part of the city, and is considered one of the prominent industrial and commercial hubs of the nation. It is also home to one of the busiest airports in the world, namely, Kai Tak international airport. A ride on Star Ferry from Kowloon across Victoria Harbour to the Island would be a great experience. On utilizing the excellent options rendered by Kowloon, the city has now become a prominent shipping center in the world.

A visit to Hong Kong is incomplete without touring its amazing attractions such as Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC) Building, Exchange Square and the International Finance Centre, Victoria Park and the Hong Kong Central Library, The Fringe Club and the Foreign Correspondents' Club, Happy Valley and Sha Tin Racecourses, and Murray House.

Attractions in Hong Kong also include an array of Buddhist as well as Chinese temples including Man Mo Temple, Chi Lin Nunnery, Wong Tai Sin Temple, Che Kung Temple, and Tin Hau Temple. In addition, included in the landmarks are a range of museums, such as the Arts Centre Pao Galleries, the Racing Museum, the Film Archive, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, and Sheung Yiu Folk Museum. Gastronomy - The city boasts of a variety of excellent options to satisfy your gastronomic needs, with restaurants providing cuisines, ranging from Japanese, French, and Italian to Asian and Chinese cuisines. Shopping - Fabulous choices are available in the city for a great shopping, with a variety of shops on such happening areas as Stanley Market and Temple Street.

Also referred to as the 'Pearl of the Orient,' the city provides excellent options to cater to the accommodation needs of all types of tourists, no matter you are a budget conscious traveler or a luxury lover traveler. Many of the hotels and resorts are located within the heart of the city, and hence are within easy close proximity to almost all top tourist attractions.

Hong Kong is one of the world's most thrilling destinations. A special administrative region of People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong has the Pearl River Delta to the east, Guangdong Province to the north, and the South China Sea to the west and south. A typical trading village until the 19th century, Hong Kong became a crown colony of the Britain in 1842, which was later handed over to the People's Republic of China in 1997. Hong Kong is now an exciting destination, with a thriving blend of ancient eastern traditions and western modernism. Hong Kong enjoys a liberal system and has its own monetary system, legal system, and customs and immigration policies.

The city of Hong Kong consists of three sections: Hong Kong Island, which is regarded as the heart of the city; Kowloon, which has to its credit attractions such as the Tsim Sha Tsui and the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple; and the New Territories and Outlying Islands such as Lantau Island, Lamma Island, and Cheung Chau Island. Discussed further in this article are some of the hot spots in Hong Kong Island. Once a flat lying area that was considered worthless, Hong Kong Island has now become a busy financial as well as commercial center of this special administrative region. Situated to the south of the mainland China, this is the area of the original settlement of the British, and still continues to be a prominent hub of business as well as commerce. The greatest of the attraction in the island is undoubtedly the bustle of thousands of people of living and working here. The island has been categorized into central district, southern district, and western district.

The central area of the island is regarded as the economic, political, and historical center of Hong Kong, and boasts of such attractions as the Bank of China Tower - a 360 meters tall structure designed by the world-famous architect, I M Pei; Jardine House, alternatively known as the 'House of a Thousand Orifices;' Exchange Square, a shiny tower which houses the Hong Kong Stock Exchange; Li Yuen Street, packed with a range of shops and stalls selling items such as fabrics and fashion accessories; and Queen's Road Central. When comes to the southern area of the island, the area is filled with a variety of mesmerizing attractions. Of which, one of the most prominent is Aberdeen, a harbor town that provides great options to enjoy amazing sea life.

Another prominent attraction in the area is Tin Hau Temple, built in 1851 and which is located at the site from where the town of Aberdeen at its best. Also, a must-visit attraction in the area is Ocean Park. Spread across an area of about 170 acres of land, Ocean Park comprises two sections such as low land site and headland site, both of which are connected by a 1.5 kilometers cable-car bridge. Among the highlights of the park are Atoll Reef, the world's largest aquarium, an amusement park with a variety of interesting slides, Film Fantasia, and the Ancient World, which is an adventure trail.

Situated to the west of Central area, the Western District, as the name suggests, is more or less influenced by the western culture. Most prominent among the attractions in this area is the Central Market, which consists of such attractions as the CRC Department Store, where you can shop items such as Chinese artifacts as well as clothing. Highlights of the region also cover Hillside Escalator - the longest outdoor escalator in the world; Hollywood Road - a street which is famed for its antique as well as furniture shops; Fung Ping Shan Museum, located within the grounds of the University of Hong Kong and which has on display ancient Chinese art and craft; and Morrison Street - a historical red brick building built in Edwardian style.

No visit to the island is complete without taking a tour to Victoria Peak, also known as the Peak. This area is perhaps the most eye-catching landmark of the city. During the first five to six years of the history of Hong Kong, no one traveled up here. With the opening of the Peak Tramway in 1888, the area became popular and came to be known as the Peak. The Peak Tramway is still operational and takes people up and down the hillside. The Peak is also one of the most significant residential areas in Hong Kong.

Above all, the attractions within the area of the Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, such as Admiralty, formerly a British naval station; Hung Shing Temple, which is named after an official of the Tang Dynasty; Pak Tai Temple, an impressive triple hall shrine built in 1863; and Hopewell Centre - a 66 storey building. In fact, Hong Kong Island is home to majority of the attractions in the city. Perhaps for this reason, tourists in increasing number flock to this region. Therefore, the island has accommodation choices to cater to every preference and budget.