| This vibrant, bustling city of seven million people | | | | buses. These are numbered according to their |
| occupies a mere 1,100 square kilometers. But don't let | | | | respective routes with their destinations prominently |
| its small size fool you; Hong Kong is a giant on the | | | | displayed on the front of the vehicles.Another mode of |
| world stage. The densely populated area is not only a | | | | transport which is popular with the public is the mini light |
| major international center of finance and trade, it is also | | | | buses. Tourists, however, are not advised to take |
| one of the world's most open and dynamic | | | | these unless they speak Chinese as directions are |
| economies.Located on the eastern side of the Pearl | | | | given only in the local language.Hong Kong enjoys a |
| River Delta on the southeastern coast of China, facing | | | | mild climate the whole year round. The weather is cool |
| the South China Sea in the south and bordering | | | | and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through |
| Guangdong Province in the north, it is the perfect | | | | summer and warm and sunny in fall.As far as religious |
| gateway to China.Occupied by Britain in 1841, the | | | | freedom is concerned, Hong Kong is a paradise; every |
| territory remained a British colony until 1997 when it | | | | major religion is practised here.As for safety, Hong |
| was returned to Chinese sovereignty and became a | | | | Kong is one of the safest cities in the world. One can |
| Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's | | | | walk the streets alone even late at night without fear |
| Republic of China.Hong Kong is guaranteed a high | | | | of being mugged or robbed. While there there are |
| degree of autonomy for the next 50 years following | | | | always exceptions to the rule especially in big cities, |
| the change of sovereignty, as stipulated in its | | | | attacks on tourists in Hong Kong are isolated cases |
| mini-constitution the Basic Law. Under the one country, | | | | and very rare.The Giant Buddha on Lantau Island is |
| two systems policy, it has its own legal system, | | | | one of many sights Hong Kong has to offer the |
| currency and immigration laws but has no say in | | | | tourist.. Weighing 250 tons and measuring 34 meters |
| foreign and defense affairs.The official language is | | | | high, the bronze statue is the world's tallest sitting |
| Cantonese, which is spoken by most of the population. | | | | Buddha. Other places worth visiting, to name a few, |
| But English is also widely used . In fact, signs and | | | | are Ocean Park and the recently opened HK |
| directions are written in both Chinese and | | | | Disneyland.Hong Kong is one of the great cities of the |
| English.Getting around is a breeze, thanks to the | | | | world. It is also one of the most expensive places on |
| territory's extensive public transport system.The city's | | | | earth in which to live.But despite the |
| railway network, which practically covers the whole | | | | "expensive" tag, hundreds of thousands of |
| area, carries a large part of the daily passenger load. It | | | | tourists visit the territory every year for a bit of |
| is fast, convenient and always on time. If you want to | | | | shopping. For many, it's the shopping experience of a |
| get from one spot to another in a hurry, taking the train | | | | lifetime. Hong Kong is, after all, a shopper's paradise. |
| is the way to go.An alternative is the double decker | | | | |