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