| If tranquility and serenity are
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| | for Western nationals. At this time a
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| adjectives you would use to describe the
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| | visa is still not required unless
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| perfect trip, leave Hong Kong out of your
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| | traveling through China as well. English
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| itinerary. The boisterous energy of 14
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| | is still an official language along with
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| million inhabitants leaves the visitor
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| | Chinese.
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| wondering if insomnia is contagious in
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| | The Sights and Sounds of Hong Kong Travel
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| this city. Hong Kong is the
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| | The constant buzz of modern life and the
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| quintessential representation of east
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| | ghostly prevalence of ancient life on the
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| meets west, boasting its own Times Square
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| | island will keep any traveler occupied
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| along with artifacts from the Paleolithic
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| | without a moment to spare. A unique
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| Age. The far-reaching history and booming
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| | attraction that pays homage to the
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| capitalist economy has propelled Hong
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| | Chinese fixation with caged song birds is
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| Kong to the forefront of modern
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| | the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden where 70
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| technology and commerce. The best way to
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| | different bird stalls, each elaborately
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| navigate this urban jungle is to allow
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| | decorated, fill the air with their own
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| extraordinary diversions to lead where
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| | harmony. From anywhere in the city it is
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| they may, while visiting a few key sites
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| | impossible to miss the looming Bank of
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| when you travel to Hong Kong.
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| | China Tower, now Hong Kong?s national
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| From Opium Wars to Opulence: Hong Kong
| |
| | monument and a modern declaration of
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| History
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| | China?s mounting role in the global
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| Since the Stone Age, the island of Hong
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| | economy. In the center of the city is
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| Kong has supported a society rich with
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| | Times Square, a monumental 9-story
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| influences from Europeans and the
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| | shopping complex that dwarfs Western
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| Portuguese through steady and moderate
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| | commercialism. Hong Kong museums do not
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| trade. During the 1700s, increased
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| | skip a beat, ranging from science and
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| commercial value of Asian luxury goods
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| | space to history and art.
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| sparked heightened global interest in
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| | When the sensory overload of the city
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| this once-neglected corner of China.
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| | center begins to take a numbing effect it
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| Following the Opium Wars of the mid-19th
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| | is easy to escape to one of Hong Kong?s
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| century between the British and Chinese,
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| | many parks and monasteries. Victoria Peak
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| Hong Kong was officially ceded to the
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| | is by far the most popular asylum,
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| British Empire as a Crown Colony
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| | standing 1,810 feet above the city lights
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| beginning in 1898 for a term of 99 years.
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| | ? only to offer more distractions of a
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| During that term, Hong Kong?s economy
| |
| | smaller commercial district. The famous
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| blossomed onto the international stage to
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| | Man Mo Temple and the Miu Fat Monastery
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| become one of the most prosperous free
| |
| | provide a mind-calming sanctuary while
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| markets of today. After 1997, Hong Kong
| |
| | Kowloon Walled City Park, which once
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| was returned to China as a Special
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| | protected a private Chinese enclave
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| Administrative Region under the
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| | during British rule, is a true natural
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| conditions that the market and government
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| | refuge from Hong Kong?s concrete.
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| would remain free and democratic
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| | Once in Hong Kong, the city will guide
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| (non-Communist) while Beijing would only
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| | you along its commercial corridors and
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| handle national security and foreign
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| | through its ancient alleys. Tradition and
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| diplomacy (?one country, two systems?).
| |
| | history are alive in every corner of this
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| Today, Hong Kong has maintained a
| |
| | modern municipality, as long as you can
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| majority of its autonomy and travel to
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| | turn away from the neon distractions.
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| Hong Kong has remained relatively easy
| |
| |
|
