| Viewed from Victoria Peak, Hong Kong surely rates as one of the most stunning cities in Asia, if not the world. In the foreground rise the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island? while beyond them is the incredible bustle of Victoria Harbor, where all manner of water craft - from the historic Star Ferries to cruise liners, cargo ships, and wooden fishing vessels--compete for space. On the other side is the Kowloon Peninsula, growing by the minute with ambitious land-reclamation projects, housing estates, and ever-higher buildings, all set against a dramatic backdrop of gently rounded mountains.
Today's Hong Kong is a blend of the exotic and the familiar forged during its 156 years as a British colony-from 1842, when Britain acquired Hong Kong Island as a spoil of the first Opium War, to its 1997 handover to the Chinese. The Chinese government has given Hong Kong status as a Special Administrative Region (SAR), guaranteeing its capitalist lifestyle and social, system for 50 years, so to the casual observer little seems changed. English is still an official language, the Hong Kong dollar remains legal tender, and entry formalities are largely the same. Although it's pricier than most other Asian destinations, the Asian financial crisis has made it more affordable for international visitors, with reduced hotel rates and restaurant prices.
Hong Kong boasts what is arguably the greatest concentration of Chinese restaurants in the world, along with top-notch restaurants serving dishes from around the globe. The city has also revved up its sightseeing attractions, offering museums, parks, temples, and other amusements. And Macau, with its fascinating blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures, is just an hour's boat ride away.
Highlights of Hongkong:
|