The name Hong Kong means "fragrant harbor" in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Situated in China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, this natural harbor is a Special Administrative Region of China. An important centre for international trade and finance, Hong Kong hosts many headquarters of corporate businesses in the Asia-Pacific region, making for a highly developed capitalist economy. The result is its cosmopolitan demography, complete with Chinese immigrants and foreigners.
In recent years, this former British colony has turned into one of Asia’s major tourist destinations for not only China but also for the rest of Southeast Asia. Maintaining China’s traditional customs and Confucian values, this bustling city is a melting pot of diverse cultural influences from places around the globe. It is really a city in the crossroads of the East and West. An assortment of colorful festivals dots the Lunar calendar year. Traditional Chinese festivals like the Spring Lantern Festival and the Hungry Ghost Festival are celebrated, along with Halloween and Christmas, with equal gusto and enthusiasm. Modern superstructures throng the city with traditional grand mansions; luxury haute cuisine restaurants coexist with street side food stalls, selling dim sum and hot-pot. It is easy to see the fusion of East and West in the characteristic wooden boats and huge liners in the harbor, the penthouses, parks and office blocks in different parts of the city. Hong Kong is also the entertainment hub of China with its highly popular martial arts film industry. Several of Hollywood’s martial artists like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Chow Yun-Fat started their journey from the Hong Kong film industry.
A holiday in Hong Kong can be a great touring and shopping experience. Hong Kong is made up of four parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and the Outlying Islands. While Hong Kong island is the center of economy and politics, Northern Hong Kong Island is the main commercial, shopping and entertainment destination. Enjoy the panoramic view of downtown Hong Kong, Kowloon and the Victoria Harbor from the Victoria Peak, situated 1810 feet above sea level. Alternatively, walk down to the Hong Kong Museum of Art to have a feel of local history and culture and marvel at a stunning collection of 14,000 items on display.
