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Hong Kong is home to
7 million people. It
is the world's eighth largest trading economy, the third busiest
financial center and site of the world's most expensive office
real estate.
For visitors, it offers an exciting blend
of natural areas, British colonial history, Chinese markets and
temples and breathtaking high rises. We were able to return 12 years later to see
that while much modern infrastructure has been developed, the
charm has remained the same. See
Asia Pacific: Hong Kong
.
(中环,
Wikimedia Commons).
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Hong Kong is
a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of
China on the Pearl River Delta of the South China Sea.
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The Hong
Kong territory's 2755 km2 area consists of Hong Kong
Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, Lantau
Island and 200 other islands.
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We stayed in
Kowloon at YMCA in historical Salisbury near the Cultural Centre
and the Star Ferry terminal. We easily got around by walking and
using the efficient metro system (MRT). |
Walking down
any of the busy streets gives a view of the architecture which
is a fascinating blend of English colonial and modern styles.
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The steepest funicular in the world takes visitors up to
Victoria Peak, the highest hill on Hong Kong Island.
(tatata, Wikimedia Commons)
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The Peak
offers
a spectacular view of Central Hong Kong, the harbour and Kowloon
Peninsula. |
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The Avenue of Stars
on the Victoria Harbour Waterfront honours Hong Kong's film
industry celebrities such as Bruce Lee and Jacky Chan.
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The Chi Lun
Nunnery offers a zen-like garden in the midst of the highrises
of Tsimshatsui.
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In the Western District the market streets
maintain their traditional flavor. Upper Lascar Road (Cat
Street) houses booths and stalls selling antiques and curios.
Nearby is the Man Mo Temple and Fung Ping Shan Museum.
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There are more than 400 Buddhist temples in Hong Kong.
The temples, smoky with incense, are busy every day of the year,
with devotees giving offerings to the gods in exchange for luck,
health and wealth. |
Captivating
sculptures can be seen along Nathan Road, in the Admiralty
District and surrounding the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
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On Lantau Island, theTian Tan Buddha is the largest seated
bronze Buddha statue in the world. |
The Offering of the 6 Divas statues surround the Buddha. Po Lin
Monastery can be seen in the distance below.
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