Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the city of life. It is the slogan of the Tourism Organization of Hong Kong about the city. One more slogan is - "Asia's world city". And it's true! It's amazingly beautiful and special city. It spreads over several islands and Kowloon peninsula. The central island is Hong Kong and the name of the city is the same. Hong Kong is in the Southern China and people speak Cantonese here while the main part of China speaks Mandarin. The name of the city looks like Xiang Gang in Mandarin.

For approximately 100 years Hong Kong was the English colony and we can see it in many things. Hong Kong uses left-hand drive like England, two-storey buses etc. Chinese culture is very strong at the same time. Interlacing of two cultures and widely used Feng Shui turned Hong Kong in a real pearl of Asia.

	Famous junk with red sails.
	Causeway Bay view.
	Center view. The office buildings.
	The view on Wan Chai. Convention and Exhibition Center is on the foreground. It was built in honour of reunion of Hong Kong and China in 1997. The building has special form. It symbolizes pigeon flying to China.
	Central at night. The buildings are illuminated beautifully. Some buildings participate in wonderful Symphony of Lights every day at 8 p.m. During several minutes they flash with lights in time to the music. You can hear the music on Avenue of Stars which is the perfect place to view the Symphony of Lights.
	District of Wan Chai and Convention & Exhibition Center at night. Some buildings here participate in the Symphony of Lights too.
	In the begining of May (2005) there were fireworks above the buildings participating in the Symphony of Lights. Just in the very city center!
	Avenue of Stars was built recently along the coast of the Kowloon peninsula. There is a beautiful view on the sea and Hong Kong island from the Avenue of Stars.
	There are stars of many famous Hong Kong actors and actresses. For example you can find here the Star of Bruce Lee and you can find the Star of Jackie Chan with his handprints.
	Besides you can see here some figurines representating various scenes of the movie-making life. For example there is an operator and film director. You can stand in front of them and it will look like you are the actor of a new film - nice scene for your photo.
	Avenue of Stars. The view from above.
	Bronze Buddha statue. The height is 18 meters. It is on the Lantau island close to Po Lin monastery. The statue is huge. You can see people on the staircase on the foreground - compare yourself. By the way a statue in the left corner of the picture is not a man; it's a statue much higher than a man.
	Hong Kong Park is in the center of the city. It's a very friendly and curious bird on a tree branch. There is Bank of China on the background.
	Waterfall in the Hong Kong park. It's me on the right behind the waterfall. You can imagine the waterfall size.
	In the Hong Kong park. Tortoises got out to a stone after light rain.
	Man Mo Temple on the Hong Kong island. Incenses with best wishes to the family hang under the roof.