A nice walk in Central and Western District (1)

1. Western Market & Sheung Wan Fong

The Western Market, an
Edwardian-style building originally
housing the waterfront Harbour
Office when built in 1906, later became a food
market before closing in 1988. Two years later,
it was declared a historical monument, renovated and then re-opened
in 1991 with themed shops. Next to it is a compass-like piazza
named Sheung Wan Fong – an ideal spot to orientate to the many
traditional trades and shopping streets in Sheung Wan.

Hong Kong Walks

Hong Kong is a non-stop experience filled with the exotic and the exciting. Along every street, down every lane, you are sure to encounter Hong Kong's living culture. From the hustle and bustle of the busy downtown streets and the flamboyant colours and sounds of a local market, to the wonderment and serenity that comes from a visit to a centuries-old temple and a brief experience of a bygone-era - Hong Kong offers a living, breathing cultural experience like no other in Asia or indeed the world.

Six themed walks:
Hong Kong
Central & Western District - Travel Through Time

Shau Kei Wan - Evolvement of a Fishing Village

Kowloon
Tsim Sha Tsui - Cornucopia of Delights

Yau Ma Tei & Mong Kok - Markets for Leisure and Pleasure

Wong Tai Sin & Kowloon City - A Popular Temple and A City Transformed

New Territories
Sha Tin - Suburban Hong Kong

The best area to stay at Hong Kong

Hong Kong is compact, so visitors are never too far from shopping and major sights.

Hong Kong also has an excellent transportation system so visitors can easily reach other areas, no matter where they stay. Most hotels are located in the heart of the city, in Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island and in Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East in Kowloon. There are also a growing number of resort-style hotels in the New Territories that offer relaxing alternatives.

Introduction of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is located in the Far East, just south of the Tropic of Cancer. Hong Kong Island is 32km (20 miles) east of the mouth of Pearl River and 135km (84 miles) southeast of Canton. It is separated from the mainland by a good natural harbour. Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in 1842 by the Treaty of Nanking; and the Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street and Stonecutters Island) in 1860 by the Convention of Peking.

The area of Boundary Street to Shenzhen River and a group of 260 islands, now known as the New Territories, were leased to Britain in 1898 for a period of 99 years. The New Territories (plus the 260 islands) comprise 891 sq km (380 sq miles). Shortage of land suitable for development has led to reclamation from the sea, principally from the seafronts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Area: 1097 sq km (423.6 sq miles).
Population: 6,687,200 (1998).
Population Density: 6,096 per sq km.

Time Zone
Time: GMT + 8.
Hong Kong is 13 hours ahead of New York, 14 hours ahead of Chicago, and 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Since Hong Kong does not have a daylight saving time, subtract one hour from the above times if it's summer.

Because Hong Kong is on the other side of the international Date Line, you lose one day when traveling from the United States to Asian. Don't worry-you gain or back when you return to North America, which means that you arrive back home the same day you left Hong Kong.
Government: Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since 1997. Head of Government: Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa .