Hong Kong stands as a prime example of free markets and limited government. Even after it transferred sovereignty to Communist China in 1997, its economy thrived, boasting lower unemployment and infant mortality rates than Britain or America.
As mainland companies with deep pockets begin snatching up land in Hong Kong, local tycoons are taking action in response. Their objective: protecting the core local business against “red capital.”
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is one of the world’s busiest ports, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. Victoria Harbour bustles day and night with watercraft ranging from historic Star Ferries to cruise ships and wooden fishing vessels – as well as serving as an entertainment and shopping hub – attracting historic Star Ferries, cruise ships, wooden fishing vessels, wooden fishing vessels as well as wooden fishing vessels for hire. You can stroll its waterfront promenades or take a Victoria Harbour cruise to take in its beautiful skyline while taking in its stunning views from Victoria Harbour’s surface!
Victoria Harbour is the focal point of Hong Kong’s dense urban area and contributes significantly to its international metropolis status. Here, diverse cultures and traditions come together, and its waters serve as the stage for public performances of all kinds. Promenades around its waters serve as popular gathering points during festivals like Spring and Lantern Festival celebrations, among many others.
Victoria Harbour is home to some of the city’s most iconic structures, from the Bank of China building and Central Library to monuments such as the Victoria Memorial Tower. Yet despite being heavily industrialized over time and built up today, Victoria Harbour still retains an ecological value worth protecting; many new developments aim at restoring some natural aspects within this heavily modified environment.
As a bustling port, Victoria Harbor hosts some of the world’s largest and most luxurious cruise ships. Additionally, seaplanes and helicopters often use Victoria Harbour to depart and arrive. Over 80 aircraft movements (departure/arrivals) occur daily due to its proximity to Canton and significant shipping lines between Japan and Singapore, making Victoria Harbour an ideal hub for international trade.
Victoria Harbour provides an idyllic backdrop for outdoor activities like cycling and kayaking. Boat tours with audio guides allow visitors to learn more about its history and culture; alternatively, visit Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade every evening to view the Symphony of Lights show that illuminates the skyline; for something a bit more relaxing, take advantage of the 2-hour Bauhinia Cruise that features dinner and drinks!
Kowloon Peninsula
Hong Kong is a fantastic combination of old culture and new modernism. Hong Kong stands out as an incredible mix from its beautiful districts and hills to parks, delicious cuisine, and mesmerizing light shows – to one of the world’s largest shows of lights and sounds. Additionally, this global city serves as an economic center and hub of business and finance, with remarkable progress made since it first emerged from a sparsely-populated fishing village to becoming an internationally renowned center of commerce – this exhibition explores all this with materials from within our Library collections!
Kowloon Peninsula is the southern section of Hong Kong that lies along Victoria Harbour. This includes the Kowloon Bay area, Mei Foo Sun Chuen Hilly Areas, Butterfly Valley, Lion Rock, and Tate’s Cairn. Furthermore, the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront area and ocean liner passenger disembarkation piers existed before the 1960s and made up part of this Peninsula.
The peninsula resembles a half-moon shape, with its sharp end facing Hong Kong Island and smoother side pointing toward the sea. This form can be explained by the geological inclination of Kowloon granites, which form their bulk and have been smoothened by erosion and glacial movement over time. There have also been periods of land reclamation, predominantly within the Tsim Sha Tsui area.
One of the city’s most notable sites is Walled City Park, constructed around the remnants of Kowloon Walled City in 1951 and now an incredible tourist attraction. Additionally, Wong Tai Sin Temple can be found here, as well as several commercial buildings.
Arriving by bus from the airport or MTR subway train, or traveling directly by train from Beijing or Shanghai. Additionally, Shenzhen provides direct flight connectivity. In addition, bus and taxi services are also readily available from Shenzhen Airport.
The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong is an iconic example of an Asian colonial hotel. Established by members of the Kadoorie family in 1928 with the intent to become “the finest hotel east of Suez,” you know you’ve arrived at an exclusive establishment when pillbox-hatted pageboys greet guests politely by opening double front doors revealing airy lobbies.
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan is one of Hong Kong’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Home to an extensive network of shopping malls, cozy cafes serving comfort food made in-house, and an impressive range of activities, it also boasts one of the highest walkability scores in Hong Kong so that most areas can be reached on foot.
Tsuen Wan offers many attractions to see and explore, such as the Sam Tung Uk Folk Museum – located within a Hakka-walled village built by Chinese Hakkas – which provides insight into its history. Additionally, its proximity to the ocean makes Tsuen Wan home to some fantastic beaches and parks, with luxurious hotels such as The Conrad and Four Seasons available.
Tsuen Wan’s top attraction, the Yuen Yuen Institute, houses Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism statues. The stunning temple complex includes many pavilions and prayer halls; its primary building replicates Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. Also worth seeing is Western Monastery, with its nine-story pagoda that looks similar to traditional Chinese palace architecture; Western Monastery also provides breathtaking scenery for photography opportunities.
Ocean Park Hong Kong provides adventurers with something different. This marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park, and amusement park is located near Tsuen Wan and ranks seventh as a world theme park in terms of visitors.
Tsuen Wan is connected to other parts of Hong Kong via public transportation, with numerous bus routes serving it and two MTR subway stations – Tsuen Wan Station and Tai Wo Hau Station, both located within its boundaries – providing convenient access.
Tsuen Wan is well connected by ferries that provide access to Lantau Island and other outlying regions, and serves as a popular day trip destination due to its beaches and other attractions. Tsuen Wan also makes for an excellent venue for weddings or other events, with various platforms available to meet every need imaginable.
Central
Central is the vibrant core of Hong Kong, packed with skyscrapers and chic malls. It also serves as an epicenter of nightlife, ranging from boisterous pubs in Lan Kwai Fong to wine bars and trendy restaurants in SoHo – not to mention Victoria Harbor, home to ferry boats and traditional vessels.
Visit Old Town Central when in Hong Kong to experience its fascinating past. This area was where some of Hong Kong’s earliest chapters of development took place, and its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and traditional temples offer an insight into this cosmopolitan city’s formation.
Visit the Former Central Police Station Compound, which made headlines after its renovation into a heritage and arts center in 2018. Constructed between 1841 and 1925, this compound includes Victoria Prison, Central Magistracy, and former Central Police Married Quarters, designated monuments by the Hong Kong Heritage Review Board.
Jamia Mosque was established here in 1915 thanks to donations from Bombay merchant Haji Mohamed Essack Elias. Now listed as a declared monument of Hong Kong, it serves as an essential place of worship for local Muslims.
The Central waterfront served as the hub of business and government during Hong Kong’s British colonial days, and many Grade-A office buildings still stand today – the Bank of China Tower and HSBC Main Building being two notable examples with stunning nighttime views. Furthermore, the historic Court of Final Appeal building is nearby, and lush spaces like Chater Garden and Hong Kong Park are for further relaxation.
The city is well known for its vibrant and diverse economy, thanks to free trade and limited government intervention. As the sixth largest trading economy worldwide and with mainland China as its primary trading partner, Hong Kong enjoys strong service economies as it serves as a manufacturing hub in Asia-Pacific regions and is home to numerous multinational corporations with headquarters there.
