Hong Kong
We visited HK in July
2000.It takes three hours by plane from Singapore.
The city has world's most dramatic harbors, an incredible range of shopping,
restaurants, fun, varied transportation and breathtaking views. Hong Kong totals
only 1100 sq.km.- so it's easy to get around and see a lot in a short time. More
than 6.9 million people live in Hong Kong. Almost 95% of the population is
Chinese. Chinese and English are the official languages, Cantonese is the most
widely spoken Chinese dialect. It's a subtropical climate with distinct seasonal
changes. Typhoon season is May to November. In summer temperature ranges from
26-33^0c
Big or Giant Buddha :
The Big Buddha (26 m) on Hong Kong's Lantau island. It is the world's largest
seated outdoor Buddha.is made of bronze, stands 34 meters tall, and weighs in at
over 250 tons! He sits cross-legged in a meditative pose atop a green peak on
Lantau Island.The Buddha was completed in celebration of the hand-over of Hong
Kong back to China.
A good place to grasp the diversity and scale of the city is The Peak, rising
552 metres above sea level.The Peak gives Hong Kong legendary vista of any
modern city in the world.An upper class residential area in colonial times.The
Peak is still H.K.poshest area, with rent for a one bedroom apartment starting
aroundHK$50,000 a
month(US$1=HK$7.8).This is the view from the Peak which
overlooks Hong Kong Island and across the water to Kowloon. Peak Tram:
The trip to the Peak takes about ten minutes from the well known 'Peak Tram Central' on a train which is set at an angle off horizontal to counter the steepness of the climb. It's a funicular tram (simultaneously ascending and descending cars hooked together by a huge cable).
An 10-minute ride on the Peak Tram says a lot about the city - offering a
panorama of modern skyscrapers, while along the way also passing some of the
city's poshest new residential towers. Reaching the top, you'll find many new
attractions highlighted by a new observation deck and shopping and entertainment
area, the Peak Galleria