Octopus Card
Tarjeta Octopus
Octopus Card
For those who live in major cities that use an electronic card to pay for their mass transit rides, this is Hong Kong’s version of it. The “Octopus Card” is a stored-valued electronic card that can be used on most public transportation in Hong Kong, and even for other purchases at convenience & fast food stores, supermarkets, vending machines, and elsewhere. To make a purchase, simply place the Octopus Card over a reader, and the correct amount is deducted automatically from the stored value. These cards, with values of up to HK$50, are readily available at any train or bus terminal. You will see frequent references to it as you go through this section.
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (Hong Kong Park, 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong) – this British colonial era building once housed the commander of the British forces. Over 600 pieces of delicate antique teaware are located here, from the Tang (618-907) to the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
Exchange Square
Exchange Square
Exchange Square (8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong Island) – Home to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx) and other financial institutions, this spectacular trio of buildings was recognized as an important architectural achievement by Time Magazine and was awarded a Silver Medal by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects in 1985. The complex comprises three office towers, which are 52 stories, 51 stories and 33 stories, respectively.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum
Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum (7 Castle Road, Central, Hong Kong Island) — Guiding the world’s largest nation out of thousands of years of monarchic rule and transforming it into a republic was no small feat, which makes the museum dedicated to the man responsible for doing this even more fascinating. Dr Sun Yat-sen was educated in Hong Kong, and the city served as his base for the 18 years that led up to him officially declaring the Republic of China in 1912.
Housed in the restored Kom Tong Hall (now a Declared Monument) the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum relives the epoch-making accomplishments of this extraordinary revolutionary, offering exhibition galleries that trace his life and close relationship with Hong Kong.
Clock Tower
Torre del Reloj
Clock Tower (Star Ferry Pier, Kowloon Point, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) – this building was part of the Kowloon-Canton Railway terminal (built in 1915), and stands at 44 meters. Even though the railway station is gone, the local authorities declared it a landmark monument, in part because it once acted as an “Ellis Island” in reverse (since it was a departure point for Hong Kong residents who were starting new lives in other countries).
Central Star Ferry Pier
Central Star Ferry Pier
Central Star Ferry Pier (Man Kwong Street, between Rumsey and Man Yiu Streets, Central, Hong Kong) – visitors show up here to take in the view of the Kowloon skyline from this pier. Green-and-white Star Ferry boats can be seen crossing the harbor.
Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery
Gran Buda y monasterio de Po Lin
Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery (Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, Outlying Islands, Hong Kong) – at one time this was simply a remote monastery hidden by lush, mountain scenery. Nowadays, the Po Lin Monastery made it to the world map when the extraordinary Tian Tan Buddha statue (informally known as the Big Buddha) was erected in 1993. Sitting 34 meters high and facing north to look over the Chinese people, this majestic bronze Buddha draws pilgrims from all over Asia.
The eyes, lips, incline of the head and right hand, which is raised to deliver a blessing to all, combine to bring a humbling depth of character and dignity to the massive Buddha, which took 12 years to complete. Climb the 268 steps for a closer look at this remarkable statue, and visitors can enjoy the sweeping mountain and sea views that can be seen from its base. Opposite the statue, the Po Lin Monastery is one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist sanctums and has been dubbed ‘the Buddhist World in the South’. This monastery is rich with colorful manifestations of Buddhist iconography and its pleasant garden is alive with birdsong and flowery scents. One amenity that will be enjoyed by many visitors is their vegetarian restaurant.
Avenue of the Stars
Avenue of the Stars
Avenue of the Stars (Promenade, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) – this strip pays tribute to the actors that helped made Hong Kong the “Hollywood of the East”, while giving visitors a panoramic view of the the city’s skyline. Here, visitors will see commemorative plaques, celebrity handprints, descriptive milestones, movie memorabilia, a life-size statue of kung fu action hero Bruce Lee and a bronze rendering of popular cartoon character McDull.
About Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong, which is not just a city-state, but one of the world’s major trading centers, began to grow in prominence when it became a British colony in 1842. In 1860, this colony grew from Hong Kong Island to the Kowloon Peninsula, and again into the New Territories in 1898. Hong Kong went through Japanese occupation during World War II, with Britain regaining control afterwards.
When Britain turned over control of Hong Kong to China in 1997, Hong Kong, like Macau, became part of what’s known as Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China (SARs) – Chinese territories that have political and legal autonomy. In practice, this means that Hong Kong maintains its own government, multi-party legislature, legal system, police force, monetary system, separate customs territory, immigration policies, national sports team, official languages, postal system, academic and educational system, and substantial competence in external relations that are different or independent from the People’s Republic of China.
For this reason, Hong Kong has been able to maintain its status as one of the world’s leading financial centers – complete with a major capitalist service economy characterized by low taxation and free trade, and its currency, the Hong Kong dollar, is the eighth most traded currency in the world. Over the years, Hong Kong’s economic development has gotten to the point where the construction of office and residential towers has made it the world’s most vertical city. Hong Kong still enjoys its status as one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
