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| Hong Kong Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see HK Clock Tower @ Tsim Sha Tsui HK Clock Tower @ Tsim Sha Tsui ykdannert Hong Kong (Heung Gong in Cantonese, Xianggang in Mandarin, meaning "fragrant harbour") has the big city specials like smog, odour, 7 million elbows and an insane love of clatter and the city. But it's also efficient, hushed and peaceful: the transport network is excellent, the shopping centres are sublime which sell donkey outfits, the cuisine is legendary, and the temples and quiet corners of parks are contemplative oases. The best thing about being in Hong Kong is getting flummoxed and fired by the confluences and contradictions of a Chinese city with Chinese and Western elements. It's about savouring new tastes, weaving through human gridlock and humming some dumb Cantopop tune while slurping your noodles. From the vantage point of Victoria Peak, overlooking the world's busiest deepwater port, you can see a city geared not only to making money but feeling good about it. At night, it's like looking down into a volcano. The view is breathtaking. Despite its British colonial past, Hong Kong has always stuck to its roots, and the culture beneath the glitz is pure Chinese. That didn't stop locals from feeling apprehensive about being reunited with the motherland when the British handed the colony to the People's Republic of China in early 1997, but their unease has largely evaporated. Hong Kong is divided into four main areas - Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories and the Outlying Islands. Kowloon and the New Territories are on a peninsula of the Chinese mainland, on the northern side of Victoria Harbour; Hong Kong Island is on the southern side of the harbour facing Kowloon. The city itself is centred around Victoria Harbour. The main business district is Central, on Hong Kong Island. East of Central lies the Admiralty commercial district; Wan Chai, known for restaurants and clubs; then Causeway Bay, a major shopping area. Towering above it all is the Peak, Hong Kong's premier scenic outlook and residential district, which happily has plenty of public green space. In Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui (on the southern tip), Jordan and Yau Ma Tei are busy hotel and shopping areas, while Mong Kok is a bustling residential and shopping area. Hong Kong Island, the busy financial and commercial centre with its high skyscrapers, has a lot to offer: shops, bars, headquarters from companies and, for those who feel like it, a handful of culture namely a few museums and some sights. Make sure you go to Victoria Peak where you can have astonishing views of the surroundings. One of the nicest beaches, despite its shark warnings, is definitely Repulse Bay. A tram ride is a must. For those who want to see a bit more of the Hong Kong Island, it might be a good idea to visit Aberdeen. Kowloon is the southern tip of the peninsula and faces Hong Kong island. This paradise of shops, bars and hotels is not only popular with tourists but also with inhabitants of Hong Kong island who can easily take the ferry to this melting-pot of everything relating to spending your money. Besides the important shopping areas, such as the shops and street markets around Nathan Road (sometimes also known as the ‘Golden Mile’) and Mong Kok, there is an abundance of bars and cafés. However, there is even more in Kowloon. Although they are not dipped in neon-lights, there are a few nice temples you can visit, such as the famous Wong Tai temple, and a couple of quite interesting museums. The Northern part is known as the New Territories. Although many travellers just rush through NT to arrive at the border, it might be an idea to explore this area with its dualistic character. You will see small ancient rural villages alternated with modern towns. The Outlying Islands simply refers to any of the other 235 islands, including the popular destination of Lantau Island, where you can find the giant Buddha, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong International Airport, and Tai O - a characteristic fishing village built on stilts. Other smaller islands worth visiting are Lamma and Cheung Chau, both village islands and completely different from Hong Kong Island. ________Practical Information Edit This Hong Kong is exceptionally humid during the summer, but everyone has airconditioning. You'll probably get dripped on by A/C walking down the street. Personal Security: Most pickpockets and thieves know about the neck wallets that people have hanging inside their shirts from the telltale string around the neck. Use an internal wallet that is worn like a shoulder holster to avoid easy detection. Bargaining: Westerners believe in an old rule of thumb that whatever the street vendor quotes as an opening price, that they should offer half as that is closer to the actual selling price. This rule has sometimes led to unnecessary unpleasantness. Most street vendors are a superstitious lot; believing it to be of utmost importance to complete the first sales attempt of the day (even at no profit), else it becomes an ill omen for the rest of the day's business. Bargaining is usually not entertained in shops and any attempt will bring you embarrassment and deserved insult. Jade: If you're in the market for jade but don't really know your jadeite or nephrite from a hole in the wall, then you should assume that everything on the street is NOT jade. In case you didn't know, true jade has a hardness better than steel. It is never carved (like soapstone) but must be ground (abraded). If you're looking at an intricately carved piece, then it's most likely soapstone (Shoushan stone) as it's impossible to carve jade in such a fashion. Further, many dealers and guides will tell a customer to perform the sound test, that is to clink two jade bangles together; that the ring of true jade can be heard. Well, unless you've performed this test thousands of times with both real and fake jade, you won't be able to tell what is the real sound of Jade. Hence this "test" is utterly meaningless and misleading. In Hong Kong, real jade is found in the main shops around the Jordan Road area, whilst fakes are plentiful all over, but espeically so in the Tung Chou Street Temporary Market enclosure. Often, it's nice to buy a piece simply for the nice way that something was carved rather than to expect any real true value as jade. ________Getting Around Edit This Hong Kong is small and crowded which makes public transport the best way to get around. Public transport is cheap, fast, it is widely used and generally efficient. The bus system is extensive and bewildering, but you will have to use it to explore the south side of Hong Kong Island and the New Territories, though to make things easier, all routes and stops can be searched online; the major bus companies in Hong Kong are the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (http://www.kmb.hk/english.php), First Bus (http://www.nwfb.com.hk/eng/index.htm), and Citybus (http://www.citybus.com.hk/eng/main.asp). The north side of Hong Kong Island and most of Kowloon are well-served by Hong Kong's ultra-modern underground subway, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR). Three tunnels link Hong Kong with Kowloon and Lantau. The Kowloon-Guangzhou (Canton) Railway (KCR) runs from Kowloon to the Chinese border at Lo Wu (Luohu). Light Rail Transit (fast modern air-con trams) run in the New Territories connecting the city of Tuen Mun with Yuen Long. Double-decker trams trundle along the northern side of Hong Kong Island, which are efficient and cheap, costing $2 HK per adult and $1 per child or senior citizen. The Star Ferry's cross harbour trip between Kowloon's Tsim Sa Tsui and HK's Central is a quick 8 minute and inexpensive ride (around $2 for adults) that gives you great views of the harbor and both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The Tsim Sa Tsui pier is next to the Ocean Terminal mall, and the Central pier is near Jardine's House. For connection to the surrounding islands, outlying area, and points up into the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong's ferries are usually faster and sometimes cheaper than buses or trams. They are comfortable, fun and harbour views can be stunning especially if the weather cooperates. For short trips to nearby islands, medium capacity ferries are available. For longer trips (Macau, and destinations in the PRC) two basic types of small ferry craft seem to be the norm; the double hulled "jet" catamaran, and the faster hydrofoil (aka "jet-foil"). These ferry services are set up like airlines, with hostesses on board to sell you everything from beer to cognac. All ferries out of HK are airconditioned except for the soon to be obsolete Star Ferry. Altenatively, if you're really in a hurry, there are also private helicopter services out of HK. Remember, if you're crossing a border from HK SAR to the PRC or Macau, you must have your travel documents. Metered taxis are red with silver tops (green with white tops in the New Territories, blue on Lantau, and black in Macau) will not pick up or drop passengers at bus stops. Starting fares begin at $15 HK for the first 2 km and meters jump $1.40 HK for every additional 0.2 km thereafter. If you take a taxi to another section (like from New Territories to Lantau) you also have to pay a return fare. Cross harbour taxi rides also require payment of the return toll (with toll prices varying between 20-50 HK$, depending on the tunnel). Cycling in Kowloon or Central would be suicidal but in quiet areas of the islands or the New Territories a bike can be quite a nice way of getting around. An army of minibuses take up the slack in the labyrinthine streets that are too small for the large doubledeckers. Each usually runs a dedicated route that is generally a short loop through a local area but some will be wider ranging. Fares and general stops are denoted (in traditional Chinese and English) by a green placard in the front windshield or on the top of the roof. Stops can be made by calling out to the driver when you want to get off; be loud enough to be heard, and you can either request to stop in English or give it a shot in Cantonese, which is "yau lok". _________Getting There Edit This Below you can find the easiest ways to reach Hong Kong: [Add Global transport mode] At the Lo Wu (Luo Hu) Border from China Edit This In Hong Kong, there is a KCR that connects to Lo Wu and borders China. There is an immagration there and from China, you can meet up here. type: By Rail World66 rating: [rate it] Hong Kong International Airport Edit This You can fly to Hong Kong from virtually anywhere, since Hong Kong is one of the major transit points for many flights. From the airport you can easily access the city by all modes of transportation available: taxi, train, bus, and hired limousine. Taxis and limousines will cost you the most, about $300 each way. The Airport Express is the quickest way, costing $90 per adult. They also have group discounts. The bus is the most cost efficient way, though it takes about an hour to get from the airport to Central. type: By Sea World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.air-port-transfer.net ___________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed imports and exports including reexports each exceed GDP in dollar value. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88 slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90 and picked up to 4.2% in 1991 5.0% in 1992 5.2% in 1993 5.5% in 1994 4.8% in 1995 4.7% in 1996 and an estimated 5.5% in 1997. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with mainland China. GDP: purchasing power parity—$234.3 billion (2005 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 7.3% (2005 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$34 000 (2005 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 16.1% services: 83.8% (1996 est.) Inflation rate—consumer price index: 5.1% (1997 est.) Labor force: total: 3.183 million (1997) by occupation: wholesale and retail trade restaurants and hotels 32.4% social services 9.9% manufacturing 9.9% financing insurance and real estate 13.0% transport and communications 5.7% construction 2.6% other 26.5% (June 1997) Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1996 est.) Budget: revenues: $19 billion expenditures: $14.1 billion including capital expenditures of $289 million (FY95/96 est.) Industries: textiles clothing tourism electronics plastics toys watches clocks Industrial production growth rate: -3.2% (1997 est.) Electricity—capacity: 11.3 million kW (1996) Electricity—production: 28 billion kWh (1996) Electricity—consumption per capita: 3 968 kWh (1995) Agriculture—products: fresh vegetables; poultry Exports: total value: $180.7 billion (including reexports; f.o.b. 1996) commodities: clothing textiles yarn and fabric footwear electrical appliances watches and clocks toys partners: Mainland China 34% US 21% Japan 7% Germany 4% UK 3% (1996) Imports: total value: $198.6 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: foodstuffs transport equipment raw materials semimanufactures petroleum; a large share is reexported partners: China 37% Japan 14% Taiwan 8% US 8% Singapore 5% (1996) Debt—external: none (1996) Economic aid: $NA Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$—7.74 (1997) 7.730 (1996) 7.800 (1995) 7.800 (1994) 7.800 (1993) 7.741 (1992); note—linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March ___________Beaches Edit This i Although Hong Kong is not famous as a swim & tan destination, it does have quite a few good beaches. [Add Beach] Shek O Edit This Seen from the hill above, the popular seaside destination of Shek O looks great. The ambience is still traditional and rustic. Take the Metro to Shau Kei Wan MTR Station, exit A3. Then take bus no. 9 to Shek O. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Deep Water Bay Edit This This attractive bay lies beyond Aberdeen along a scenic coastal road flanked by flame trees and imposing cliffside mansions. Its public beach, one of the most attractive in Hong Kong, is next to the Hong Kong Golf Club's annex. A scenic pathway winds along the coast from here to Repulse Bay. To get there, take bus no. 6, 6A, 6X, 61 or 260 from Exchange Square Bus Terminus in Central. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Repulse Bay Edit This i Repulse Bay is the most popular beach in Hong Kong, however water quality is not always that great. It is easily accessible by bus or taxi from Central Bus Terminus. Take bus nos. 6, 6A, 6X, 61 or 260. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] ___________Bars and Cafes Edit This Hong Kong has some of the most vibrant nightlife in the world. It truly is the "city the never sleeps" matching NY and London pound for pound and dollar for dollar when it comes to bars and clubs. The main district that visitors (and locals) will head to at night is Central. Here you will find Hong Kong's SoHo - a district of bohemian restaurants and bars, as well as the famous Lan Kwai Fong (LKF for short). LKF and its surrounding area is jam packed with bars and clubs, and hosts a pretty eclectic crowd, consisting of locals, expats and overseas vistors. Beyond Central, Wanchai offers a choice of more bars as well as the slightly sleazier side of HK's nightlife. The infamous girlie bars and pick up joints are here aplenty. Likewise, Tsimshatsiu (TST) offers a range of good nightlife options, from trendy bars to hostess clubs such as China City for those who are that way inclined. Causeway Bay also offers a range of bars and lounges, although these may be a little harder for visitors to find, since they tend to cater to a more local crowd. All in all, if nightlife is what you're after, HK will not disappoint - as long as you know where to go. It can also be done relatively inexpensively if you pay attention to various offers. A great resource is Good Times (goodtimes.com.hk) which offers heaps of 50% off deals to both bars and restaurants in the areas mentioned above. The below may also be of some help... Contributors September 30, 2004 new by mposen [Add Bar] Shelter Edit This A great lounge in one of the most popular areas of Hong Kong. Shelter has good music, a huge selection of drinks and comfortable seating, and it's a great place to wind down after a hard day's work of walking around and seeing all of Hong Kong. Besides Shelter, there are numerous other lounges and bars in the same building, and they are all listed in the lobby. World66 rating: [rate it] accessibility: MTR, bus, walking tel: 2577-1668 address: 27th floor, Henry House, 42 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay Carnegies Bar Edit This A great place for a night out. Good beer, great food and very drunk patrons dancing on the bar after 11pm (they put up a special brass frame so that they don't fall off!). The staff are great, fun friendly and helpful. If you are going to be in HK for a while ask for a membership card and you'll get 10% off everything. The bar stays open until 4 or 5 am most days. Happy "hour" from 11am until around 6pm. Themed nights (Monday, aircrew; Wednesday, ladies night, etc.) add to the fun. The kitchen closes at 11pm, but more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 2866 6289 address: G/F 53-55 Lockhart Rd. Wan Chai Hong Kong Volar Edit This Probably the place hardest for a traveler to get into on Saturday night, primarily due to its small space and the crowds to jam in on the hype. This venue plays host to world-renowned DJs as well as their own much-loved resident spinners. The beautiful and famous can all be found here dancing the night away. But be warned - hanging out with the cool set comes at a price, In this case it's not money, it's the almost guaranteed humiliation of being rejected at the door unless you 1) have a reservation 2) are a model or celeb 3) are a member. more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 2810 1510 address: Basement 38-44 D'Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong :::::::::::::Hong Kong Island Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_1 Hong Kong Island is the glitzy big brother of Kowloon - a tightly packed, towering paean to market capitalism that hasn't been dented one jot by Chinese rule. The bustle of people living and working is the biggest attraction on the island, although many visitors head around to Aberdeen, on the southern side of the island, where 6000 people live or work on junks anchored in the harbour. Sampan tours of the Aberdeen Harbour are definitely worth the expense. The other major draw is the floating resturant The most popular beach is Repulse Bay, also on the southern side of the island, but itgets extremely crowded on weekends. Stanley, with its laid-back atmosphere, is another good spot for escaping Hong Kong's hustle and bustle, although it is the hustle and bustle that brings people here in the first place - if you want real solitude, you've come to the wrong place. City attractions include the Central Market, which visitors will have no trouble finding (just sniff the air), the old Man Mo Temple and the Zoological & Botanic Gardens. Hong Kong Island is steep, so if your'e heading away from the harbour, do as the locals do and ride the 800m outdoor escalator. If you're in the Hong Kong Island, you'd be mad to miss a trip to the top of Victoria Peak, 552m above sea level. The views are giddyingly beautiful in every direction, with the vista of the business district, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon especially grand. In true Hong Kong style the main viewing deck is on the roof of a large shopping mall. Join the throng of snap-happy tourists - you won't be disappointed. If you have time, it's worth making the trip to the top both in daylight (ideal to get your bearings) and at night, when the mass of lights around the harbour will take your breath away and make you wish you had a better camera. The actual peak is a ten-minute walk west and up. _________Sights Edit This Man Mo Temple Man Mo Temple miss chris Hong Kong Island is for many people either the place where they take the ferry to Kowloon or where they have to do some serious business. Although it does not have that many hotspots to visit, there are a few cultural options that you might want to try. The Wong Tai Sin temple, for example, is one of the most impressive Buddhist complexes in Hong Kong. Besides that, there are a couple of quite good museums. Especially the museum of Art and the Flagstaff House are worth a visit. The latter is one of the oldest preserved colonial buildings with an impressive collection of all sorts of tea ware. An absolute must is to visit 'Victoria's Peak'. At the highest point of the island, you'll have a spectacular view of the surroundings. At night, you can see the sparkling lights of Kowloon trying to tempt you to come over to the other side. Display all or display just: Colonial Attractions Museums Parks & Gardens Temples Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Sight] Old Man Mo Temple Edit This Man Mo Temple Man Mo Temple photo by: miss chris The famous film ‘The World of Suzie Wong’ was party shot in this temple dedicated to the God of both literature and war. type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] address: Hollywood Road Ocean Park Edit This The world's largest aquarium is located nearby Aberdeen. Quite expensive, quite an experience. type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] Hong Kong Park Edit This An oasis of green amid the urban landscape. More than 150 species of birds live in this carefully designed tropical "rainforest". The park is a 2 minute walk from the MTR Admiralty Staion (via Pacific Place). type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Wong Tai Sin Temple Edit This Taoist Temple in Hong Kong type: Temples World66 rating: [rate it] Victoria Peak Edit This Go here when you want to experience some fabulous views of both the city and of some special birds and trees. type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] address: Nearby Lugard Road Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Hong Kong Park, Cotton Tree Drive 10 tel: (852) 2869 0690 Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Garden Edit This Laid out in 1864 to the design of a nature-loving governor. They are open every day and are a popular place to join in the early morning tai chi exercises. type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Aberdeen Country Park Edit This Built around reservoirs on Hong Kong Island, this park's splendid trails provide leisurely and attractive walks. The Park is readily accessible from many directions because of its closeness to urban areas. type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Aw Boon Gardens Edit This A feast for the eye, this overload of pagodas, caves and statues. Oldest colonial-style building where you can visit an exhibition of all sorts of tea ware. type: Parks & Gardens World66 rating: [rate it] Hong Kong Museum of Art Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Salisbury Road 10 tel: (852) 2734 2167 Museum of Chinese Historical Relics Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] Police Museum Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Coombe Road 27 tel: (852) 2849 7019 Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Tung Hei Road 175 tel: (852) 2569 1500 University Museum and Art Gallery the university of Hong Kong Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: University of Hong Kong, Bonham Road 94 tel: (852) 2975 5600 Fringe Club Edit This The Fringe Club is housed in a brick and stucco colonial-style low-rise structure built in 1913 type: Colonial Attractions World66 rating: [rate it] address: Queen' Road Former French Mission Building Edit This Located in the heart of Central district, this red-brick French Mission Building, which is over 150 years old, has green shutters, black wrought-iron details and a chapel added by French Catholic missionaries who gave the building its name. type: Colonial Attractions World66 rating: [rate it] address: Garden Road Statue Square Edit This Near the garden of Statue Square in Central district is the Cenotaph and a statue of a Sir Thomas Jackson. type: Colonial Attractions World66 rating: [rate it] address: Statue Square _________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This Display all or display just: Bars & Cafés Dancing Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Entertainment place] Crazy Horse Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Golden Star Bldg Wild Cat Night Club Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: King Tao Bldg tel: 2527 9606 Galaxy Night Club Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Wan Chai Coml Centr tel: 2836 3833 Soho Disco Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: London Plaza tel: 2375 5877 Goldlion Shing Tao Night Club Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: State Theatre Bldg Queen’s Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: World Wise Hse tel: 2522 7773 Club Mermiad Edit This type: Dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Kong Tao Bldg tel: 2529 2113 Green Parrot Edit This *D:The Barn type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Ho Lee tel: 2537 8083 D’Aguilar Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: D’Aguilar St 26 tel: 2877 1610 H20 Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Great Eagle Centre tel: 2827 7638 Happy Hour Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Wah Tao Bldg tel: 2591 6293 Maddogs Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Asian Hse tel: 2861 3450 Gold Star Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: David Hse tel: 2527 2077 City Dancer Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Elizabeth Hse tel: 2572 2162 Ferry Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Times Tower tel: 2893 5160 Vintage Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Kln Dairy Bldg tel: 2586 1421 The Jungle Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Hang Shun Mans tel: 2529 1828 Hardy’s Folk Club Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 2526 7184 Club Cherry Edit This ,address=Lochkarst Lse type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 2838 0532 Today’s World Edit This type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: Elisabeth Hse type: Bars & Cafés World66 rating: [rate it] address: King Tao Bldg tel: 2528 0831 :::::::::::::Kowloon Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Avenue of Stars Avenue of Stars Stephanie Ha Kowloon is one of the four parts that makes the Hong Kong territory these days. The tip of the peninsula, which faces Hong Kong island, is probably the best known part of Kowloon. It is one big melting pot of streets crawling with shops and tourists, covered up under a spell of neon at night. In this sense, the 'nine dragons' (the literal translation of 'Kowloon') beat the touristy tiger of the neighbouring Hong Kong island! Although it might appear as if money is the only ruling factor here, the current 'Hong Kong Cultural Centre' tries to prove the opposite. Most museums are located in this centre and it offers a good alternative when you have had it with the jade shops, bird markets and fortune-tellerstands in the shopping areas of 'Tsim Sha Tsui' and 'Nathan Road'. Tsim Sha Tsui, at the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, is the territory's tourist ghetto. It consists of one sq km of shops, restaurants, pubs, topless bars and camera stores. However, Kowloon is also home to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Space Museum, the famous Peninsula Hotel and the Museum of History. The Promenade, in East Tsim Sha Tsui, is a great place for a stroll, and has wonderful views of Victoria Harbour, particularly at night. The liveliest night market in the territory is on Temple St in Yau Ma Tei. :::::::::::: Lantau Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Buddha Buddha Stephanie Lantau Island is twice as big as Hong Kong Island but far less densely populated. The government decided that it was time to enliven Lantau and made plans for a major airport that was finished in 1998. These days, it is very easily accessible by both ferry (nice trip!) and plane. The airport was only the beginning of the island's metamorphosis. An old monastery and the enormous Buddha (the largest outdoor Buddha in the world) sits amidst tea plantations and green mountain peaks. The older sites such has the monastery have to compete with modern inventions such as Waterworld, Science City, a theme park dedicated to Chinese customs, and Hong Kong Disneyland. ::::::::::New Territories Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Market Stall Market Stall E Key The mainland north of Kowloon, including some small islands, is known as the New Territories. Although a third of Hong Kong's population lives in new towns constructed in the New Territories, the area has some scenic escapes, including the Sai Kung Peninsula, in the east, which is an unspoilt playground for hikers, campers, swimmers and boaters. Bird-watchers head to the Mai Po Marsh; cyclists and walkers head to Plover Cove Reservoir; hiking enthusiasts set out on the 100km-long MacLehose Trail which spans the New Territories from Tuen Mun in the west to Pak Tam Chung in the east. The Kam Tim walled villages are quite touristy but at the same time offer a good insight into how life used to be in the 16th century. The China viewpoint is not far from these villages. However, less people make the effort to climb to the top to catch a glimpse of China, since it became more easily accessible recently. It would be a shame to rush through the NT in order to arrive in China as quickly as possible. Not in the least because the NT area offers some excellent hiking possibilites. ___________Sights Edit This [Add Sight] Tsang Tai Uk Edit This Nested at the foot of Lions Rock , Tsang Tai Uk is made up of four long rows of village houses with three circular entrances and a big courtyard at the front. The Village has a 3-meter thick wall, along with cannon and gun holes. The walls and buildings use to have colorful paints on them. The roof decorations were bright colors. Tsang Koon Maan spent so much money on decorating the village that he didn’t have enough money to buy the actual guns and cannons. There are also 2 wells there; the people who live more.. type: Palaces World66 rating: [rate it] Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery Edit This The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a major attraction here. More than 400 steps lead up the hillside to the temple, so strong legs and lungs are essential. Over 10,000 Buddha statues are stacked on shelves filling the walls of the main temple. Actually, there are now close to 13,000 images, all of a similar height but rendered in slightly different poses type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] Racing Track Edit This The main draw in the area is undoubtedly Sha Tin Racecourse. One of the world's finest racetracks, with huge computer-controlled display panels for its totalisator system, this stadium can seat 85,000 spectators. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Che Kung Temple Edit This Renovated in late 1993, Che Kung Temple is another major attraction. The ancient Taoist temple is dedicated to a deified general credited with saving the area from a plague. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] ___________Things to do Edit This [Add Activity] MacLehose Trail Edit This Serious hikers can trek at least part of this 100-kilometre trail, which soars through the highlands of the New Territories from the Sai Kung peninsula to the Tai Lam mountain range. The trail is divided into 10 stages and takes about 35 hours to complete. It is named after former governor, Sir Murray MacLehose. type: Hiking World66 rating: [rate it] Lion Rock Country Park Edit This This park covers more than 500 hectares, of which about two-thirds are covered by forest. Highlights include Lion Rock, Mong Fu Shek (Amah Rock) and the surrounding scenic hillsides. The park is a favourite destination for picnickers, hikers and lovers of the great outdoors. type: Hiking World66 rating: [rate it] :::::::::::: Outlying Islands Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see cheung chau beach cheung chau beach lao loong There are 235 outlying islands, many of them little more than uninhabited rocks. However, Cheung Chau (Long Island) (2.5 sq km) has 22,000 residents and is fast developing into a mini Honolulu, although there is no big motorised traffic. People usually get around by walking or with bikes. Attractions include the beaches and Cheung Po Tsai's Cave, the now abandoned hide out of the pirate Cheung Po Tsai, who lived back when Hong Kong was still a small fishing village. Lantau, the largest of the islands (142 sq km/55 sq mi) has a population of 45,000, a 933m (3060ft) peak, and a 70km (43mi) walking trail, but has avoided many of the development excesses of other islands. It is home to several important monasteries, including Po Lin Monastery with its enormous bronze Buddha. Thanks to the newish airport development, Lantau is now connected by bridge to the mainland. One of the smaller islands is Peng Chau which has a really old style feel to it and is so removed from the rest of the high speed Hong Kong lifestyle. Its authentic fishing village, pleasant walks and views from Finger Hill are amongst the attractions in this chilled out day trip. Other islands worth visiting include Lamma, Peng Chau, Poi Toi and the uninhabited Tung Lung Chau. Most of these islands can be accessed by taking a ferry, most of which piers are in Central, near IFC (International Finance Centre and tallest building in Hong Kong.) |
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GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong Cronologia/Autori: http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kong&action=history Hong KongDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
La Regione Amministrativa Speciale di Hong Kong della Repubblica Popolare Cinese (中华人民共和国香港特别行政区, (aiuto)), conosciuta col nome di Hong Kong (香港, mandarino: Xiānggǎng, WG: Hsiang-kang, Cantonese: Heūnggóng), ovvero "Porto Profumato", è una delle Regioni ad Amministrazione Speciale della Repubblica Popolare Cinese (l'altra è Macao). Formata da una piccola penisola della costa meridionale cinese e da 236 isole nel Mar Cinese Meridionale, fra cui l'isola di Hong Kong, seconda per estensione all'isola di Lantau (dal precedente nome 爛頭島 lan tau do, "Isola della testa rotta"; oggidì chiamata in cinese 大嶼山 pinyin: dà yǔ shān, Cantonese: tai yue shan). Con la politica di "un paese, due sistemi" Hong Kong gode di autonomia amministrativa. Importantissimo centro commerciale e finanziario, turistico e aeroportuale, ha collegamenti con tutta l'Asia Orientale.
[modifica] StoriaSebbene i primi insediamenti risalgano al Neolitico tuttavia i territori dell'odierna Hong Kong rimasero ai margini della storia fino al diciottesimo secolo quando la zona e i piccoli villaggi di pescatori furono occupati durante la Prima Guerra dell'Oppio dalla Gran Bretagna nel 1841. Col Trattato di Nanchino dell'anno seguente l'Isola di Hong Kong, e la penisola di 九龍 Kowloon (pinyin: Jiulong, ovvero Nove Draghi) nel 1860, furono formalmente ceduti dalla Cina alla Gran Bretagna. La parte rimanente dell'area di Hong Kong fu temporaneamente ceduta alla Gran Bretagna per 99 anni, a partire dal primo luglio 1898. Il 30 giugno 1997, allo scadere del periodo di controllo britannico, tutto il territorio tornò alla Repubblica Popolare Cinese. Questo fu il frutto di un accordo tra Cina e Gran Bretagna, la Dichiarazione Congiunta Sino-Britannica del 19 dicembre 1984, in cui si stabiliva che tutto il territorio sarebbe diventato dal primo luglio 1997 una Regione Amministrativa Speciale della Repubblica Popolare Cinese. Nella Dichiarazione Congiunta, Deng Xiaoping (邓小平) formulò il principio di "Un paese, due sistemi" in cui si lasciava libertà amministrativa a Hong Kong, pur delegando alla Cina i compiti di politica estera e difesa per un periodo di 50 anni, fino al 2047. L'ultimo governatore britannico di Hong Kong fu Christopher Francis Patten dal 1992 al 1997.
[modifica] GeografiaHong Kong è formata dall'isola omonima, Kowloon e i Nuovi Territori: gli ultimi due territori sono molto vicini all'isola, ma attaccati alla terra ferma. Kowloon è contigua a Hong Kong ma separata da un piccolo braccio di mare, e separata dalla Cina dai Nuovi Territori, separati a loro volta dalla regione di Shenzhen soltanto dal fiume Sham Chun. Presso il distretto di Sha Tin scorre il fiume Shing Mun. Il clima di Hong Kong è subtropicale ed incline ai monsoni. Rigido e secco l'inverno, tra gennaio e marzo, e caldo, umido e piovoso dalla primavera all'estate, mentre in autunno risulta caldo, soleggiato e abbastanza asciutto. Occasionalmente è investita da tifoni. L'ecologia di Hong Kong è molto influenzata dai cambiamenti climatici, che cambiano radicalmente a seconda delle stagioni e delle influenze dei venti. La temperatura più alta registrata è di 40 C° (104°F) mentre la più bassa 0°C (32°F).
[modifica] Geografia umana
[modifica] PopolazioneLa popolazione di Hong Kong è di 6,898,686 abitanti. La densità abitativa è di 6,254 per km². Il tasso di fertilità di Hong Kong è uno dei più bassi al mondo (0,94 figli per donna). L'immigrazione dalla Repubblica Popolare Cinese contribuisce alla costante crescita della popolazione. A causa dell'alta densità abitativa, la maggior parte dei cittadini di Hong Kong vive in appartamenti all'interno di elevati edifici residenziali: questo non impedisce alla città di disporre di parchi, aree verdi pubbliche, parchi nazionali e riserve naturali (60% del territorio).
[modifica] EtnieGruppi etnici: 95% cinesi; 5% altri.
[modifica] ReligioneBuddisti, Taoisti, Confuciani :90%. Cristiani: 10%. Musulmani: 70.000. [modifica] Geografia politica
Mappa amministrativa di Hong Kong
1(Kwai
Chung e
Tsing Yi)
[modifica] Geografia economica
Bank of China
Il grattacielo della banca cinese, uno dei simboli della Hong Kong finanziaria L'economia di Hong Kong è dinamica e profondamente legata al commercio internazionale. L'importanza del commercio internazionale è testimoniata dal numero di consolati presenti sul territorio di Hong Kong: nel mese di giugno 2005 vi erano 107 consolati e consolati-generali, più che in qualsiasi altra città della terra. Persino New York, sede delle Nazioni Unite ospita solo 93 consolati. Hong Kong riveste un ruolo d'importanza internazionale anche nel settore bancario. Il sistema economico è uno dei meno regolati al mondo. Il compito della politica monetaria di Hong Kong è di mantenere la moneta stabile. Dato il forte grado di apertura internazionale dell'economia, la politica monetaria di Hong Kong ha definito un valore esterno stabile per il dollaro di Hong Kong tramite un tasso di cambio fisso con il dollaro USA: 1 dollaro USA vale 7.80HK$. La politica monetaria si avvale del sistema di tasso di cambio fisso dall'ottobre 1983. Hong Kong dispone di limitati quantitativi di risorse naturali, derrate agricole e materie prime e di conseguenza il superiore fabbisogno rispetto alle esigenze di consumo e di produzione deve essere coperto tramite importazioni. Hong Kong ha da sempre legami economici e commerciali con la Repubblica Popolare Cinese. Nel 2001 il settore dei servizi rappresentava l'86,5% del PIL. Il territorio di Hong Kong grazie ad ottime infrastrutture e ad un sofisticato settore bancario attira gli investimenti di numerose imprese multinazionali. Il PIL pro capite di Hong Kong è uno dei più elevati tra le nazioni sviluppate se si considera l'aggiustamento dei dati nominali tramite la parità di potere di acquisto. La crescita media del PIL tra il 1989 e il 1997 corrisponde al 5%. Le crisi economiche e finanziarie internazionali e asiatiche hanno immediate conseguenze sul sistema economico fortemente aperto di Hong Kong. Nel 1998 per via della crisi finanziaria dei paesi del sud-est asiatico il PIL diminuì del 5%. L'industria del turismo sta vivendo un periodo di forte crescita grazie ai nuovi visti individuali cinesi che concedono ai cittadini della Repubblica Popolare Cinese la possibilità di visitare Hong Kong senza l'obbligo di un viaggio di gruppo. La forte domanda estera e domestica, la conclusione di un lungo periodo di deflazione e la generale debolezza del dollaro di Hong Kong hanno contribuito alla crescita del PIL dell'8,2% nel 2004.
[modifica] Trasporti
Trasporto pubblico
Tram e bus a due piani di Hong Kong, più tipici del mondo britannico che non di quello cinese Hong Kong è dotata di un sistema di trasporto pubblico e privato altamente sviluppato e sofisticato. L'isola di Hong Kong è caratterizzata da un terreno erto e collinoso che ha richiesto lo sviluppo di metodi insoliti di trasporto lungo i pendii. Nel distretto Central and Western esiste un esteso sistema di scale mobili, incluso il "Mid-levels Escalator": la scala mobile esterna e coperta più lunga del mondo. Hong Kong dispone di due sistemi di metropolitana: la MTR (gestita dalla MTR Corporation Limited) e la KCR (gestita dalla Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation). La società KCR gestisce anche un sistema di ferrovia leggera nella regione nord-ovest dei nuovi territori di Hong Kong. Il sistema tranviario copre una larga area del territorio di Hong Kong ed è l'unico sistema al mondo ad usare esclusivamente tram a due piani. Cinque diverse società gestiscono i servizi in concessione di trasporto pubblico su strada ad Hong Kong. I servizi pubblici di autobus sono forniti soprattutto con vetture a due piani introdotte nel 1949. Autobus simili caratterizzano il sistema di trasporto pubblico di Londra e Singapore. I mezzi ad un solo piano sono generalmente impiegati lungo le tratte con meno passeggeri. Il traghetto è un mezzo di trasporto usato per raggiungere le isole periferiche del territorio, le nuove città e l'interno del porto di Victoria. I servizi sono gestiti da operatori dotati di apposita licenza. Hong Kong è oggi dotata di un solo aeroporto attivo: l'Hong Kong International Airport recentemente costruito per sostituire il vecchio Kai Tai International Airport. L'aeroporto è l'hub principale delle compagnie aeree: Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, e Air Hong Kong.
[modifica] Galleria Immagini
[modifica] Altri progetti
[modifica] Letture consigliate
[modifica] Collegamenti esterni
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