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