Britain first used the island as a naval base
during the opium wars with China. The first opium war ended in 1842, and Hong Kong was
ceded to the British by the treaty of Nanking.
If you intend to visit China,
we most definitely recommend you fly to Hong Kong first.
The South China Sea, and the Fragrant Harbour, are names that many
romanticise about: tradewinds and pirates, and the gateway to the land of a billion
people.
The former British colony was always the best place to get visas for
China; often in 48 hours.
| Hong Kong, in the black of night, a gleaming liner lies
at anchor: whiter and brighter, with all its lights, than the full moon above it; a true
Princess of the sea. |
|
| To look at such a vessel, so majestic in the harbour,
focuses the mind, concentrates one's thoughts, and then spins the imagination. Where had
it been? Where was it going? And what about all the people drawn together upon it. |
From the quay, many watch their fishing-rods keenly and
listen for the tinkle of tiny bells at the end of their line. Tourists from the liner file
past, on their way to the shops in Ocean Terminal.
The peninsular is the base for many visitors to Hong Kong; the
area near the harbour known as Tsimshatsui.
Nathan Road is lined with shops, restaurants, night-spots and cheap
places to stay. Budget travellers tend to head for Chungking Mansions; five blocks of
guest houses and dormitories.
By blocks, I mean high-rise. You need to queue for the lifts in an
arcade behind the main shops. It may look intimidating, but I've never had any problems
here, and I've stayed there three times.
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The capital of Hong Kong is Victoria, on Hong Kong Island.
Green and white Star
Ferries run across Victoria Bay to the island regularly, where buses connect to
Aberdeen and Stanley.
Between the modern financial offices of Central Hong Kong, old trams
still trundle along Des Voeux Road and peddlers tinkle bicycle bells, as if the
diesel-fuelled double-deckers were not behind them.
No-one stands still for a moment, even the Chinese working on the Star
Ferry wear gleaming gold chains, to show that they had made it in Hong Kong.
 |
The British have gone, and with them the noon-day gun
tradition, but Hong Kong has always been very Chinese; it's only a short train ride into China proper. |
Take the tram up to Victoria Peak, for stunning views
of the harbour.
The Floating Restaurant has always drawn tourists to Aberdeen.
Although most of the sampan dwellers have been re-located, hagglers
still approach the tourists to offer them half-hour tours around the remaining houseboats;
some of them gleaming white yachts.
On the quayside, restaurant owners and old ladies look for the best
price as fishermen offload their catch.
If you're in Hong Kong with the little ones, they'll probably
appreciate Ocean Park (aquarium) and Water World (swimming pools and water slides).
If it's beach weather when you're in Hong Kong, Stanley is a
popular place go.
You can also visit Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay.
If you're in Hong Kong for more than a few days, then there's
plenty of outlying islands to discover.
The easiest to get to are Cheung Chau, Lamma, Lantau, and Peng Chau.
Perhaps you'll forget about mainland China altogether.
Hong Kong Travel Notes:
Hong Kong tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where
to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Hong Kong
links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org -- The Online Guide to Travel.
Books
on Hong Kong Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Hong Kong.
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