Hong Kongs Uniqueness - Essay Example

A Global Hong Kong is a Chinese found in the southern coast enclosed by Pearl River delta and the southern China Sea (Liu 209). The city has a land mass of 1,104 Km2 with a population of close to seven million people, making it one of the most populated cities globally (Wing-kai Chiu 1). Hong Kong’s population comprises of 90% Chinese and 10% of other groups (Roberts 260). Hong Kong is a major and unique city as it attracts visitors of diverse races and states. It was under British colony for decades until 1997 when china resumed sovereignty of the city (Reiber, 42). This enormous city acts as a major route for commercial purposes besides unlocking significant parts of Asia to the global metropolis (Wing-kai Chiu 3). The city has a capitalist’s outstanding economy made up of low taxes and no trade barrier. The city’s currency the Hong Kong dollar is the eighth most traded currency worldwide (Louie 197). The city ranks second globally due to its good and well maintained ports that dock ships from all varied states. Hong Kong’s way of governance is also peculiar and very intriguing (Louie 197). It has a chief executive who is the head mainly appointed by a committee of 400 to 1200 members (Louie 197). The chief executive is the head of government although china claims to be a multiparty state (Wing-kai Chiu 1). Besides its way of governance and the captivating ports, the city also gets credit from building great international air flights that host planes from different states globally (Louie 214). In addition, expatriate children residing in Hong Kong claim to enjoy learning in its various superb international primary, secondary and tertiary institutions that offer top quality education in Hong Kong (Louie 214). The city also enjoys the outstanding services of “top 40” co-operations that work tirelessly to make the global city’s economy flourish (Reiber, 48). Hence, boasting of numerous international high rankings and awards, for instance, corruption free society, economic freedom and guaranteed quality of life (Reiber, 48). Hong Kong’s uniqueness comes out in a number of ways, which undoubtedly make it a global city. The city has many peculiar and attractive sites which tourists of varied countries find extremely intriguing (Wing-kai Chiu 1). Therefore, it hosts hosts many tourists annually than any other city globally (Wing-kai Chiu 1). This is due the decision made by its tourism board to adopt the Hong Kong Asia’s World City to highlight the city’s vibrant and cosmopolitan lifestyle (Reiber, 45). Besides, Hong Kong has an awesome cultural fusion and diversity from different cultures (Reiber, 29). The “culture” and “ethos” of its institutions entails flexibility that makes the institutions and decorations extremely attractive to tourists and those who may be touring the city for varied reasons (Reiber, 29). This is because most those residing in Hong Kong exhibit mixed up comprising of both east and western cultures (Chan 107). This enables every traveler from any part of the world might be able to find a place in Hong Kong where they do not feel foreign. This turns out to be extremely intriguing to many tourists. In addition, the city’s crafting designs are products of the exciting duality of both modern cities’ vitality merged together with traditional society historical colors and richness. This extends to other factors like shopping, entertainment, arts, history, festivals and remarkable events (Reiber, 29). In addition, the global city is also rich in beautiful and breath taking white snowed mountains, still sandy beaches to the idyllic islands like Lantau and Lamma islands (Reiber, 31). Another uniqueness of Hong Kong city is in the kind of transportation characterizing the entire city. It has about 7 million residents but only about three hundred thousand private vehicles ply in the city’s roads. Many residents prefer using public transport because the city is a public transit utopia. This is evident from the big buses, ferries, and railway besides turn ways in the city. The city also owns the world’s largest skyscrapers like the Hong Kong international commerce centre (Helen, Agnes 28). Hong Kong has eighteen distinct cities. They include, Central and Western, Eastern, Islands, Kowloon City, Kwai Tsin, Kwun Tong, North, Shai Kung, Sham Shui Po, Sha Tim, Southern ,Tai Po, Tseu Wan, Teu Mun ,Wan Chai,Wong Tai Shin, You Tsim Mong And Yuen Long. Famous landmarks, monuments and tourists’ sites are known as the name card of this magnificent global city. They include excellent sky scrapers, amusement parks and architectures both new and old. Victoria peak, otherwise referred to as Mount Austin is a mountain found at Hong Kong Island (Reiber 31). It is the top ranked tourist preferred place attracting more than 6 million visitors annually with a height of 522 m above sea level. The actual summit of Victoria peak has a radio telecommunication facility (Reiber 29). Visitors do not visit this actual summit but the area surrounding it, where they can enjoy the marvelous view of the city and the harbors (Reiber, 29). Repulse Bay, which is located in southern Hong Kong, is also a great tourist attraction in Hong Kong. Other than being a great beach resort that attracts both domestic and foreign tourists, it also brings a lot of foreign currency to the city. Ocean Park, which is one of the best and largest theme parks worldwide (Reiber, 32) is another great landmark in Hong Kong. It is one of the largest ocean areas worldwide with more than 170 hilly regions overlooking the blue watered sea (Reiber, 32). The park has won several prestigious awards including the world’s seventh most popular tourist attraction in the world by Forbes (Wing-kai Chiu 8) . Hong Kong Disney Land Park is another great landmark in Hong Kong as it is the first Disney land in china (Wing-kai Chiu 12). It is located on a reclaimed land in penny’s bay and covers an area of about hectares (Reiber, 32). Staff in this park can speak both English and Chinese for effective communication with visitors. The management prints its guide maps in traditional and simplified characters in Japanese and in English (Reiber, 32). An important landmark in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong International Commerce Centre located in West Kowloon with a height of 484 m. It is currently the world’s tallest building by height. In addition, it has a sightseeing platform of 100th floor where visitors can enjoy splendid sceneries of the vast city. Another prominent landmark in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong International Finance Centre facing Victoria harbor. It has a height of 415.8 m being the second highest building in Hong Kong and eighth globally. Hong Kong also has various monuments that are of great significance to the people. A good example is Man Mo Temple, which is the most important monument in Hong Kong. It is the oldest temple as it dates back from 1840s when it was build. Surrounding it are several antique shops designed in traditional architecture, it house two traditional gods. The Tsing Ma Bridge opened by the British prime minister in 1997 is a marvelous bridge globally in Hong Kong. At a length of 1,377m and a height of 676m, it is the longest combined road and rail bridge in the world. Besides having bridges, the city comprises of a number of routes used by motorists (Wing-kai Chiu 1). The most outstanding routes in Hong Kong are routes 1 to 3, which are cross-harbors north south routes in order in which the harbor tunnels were, opened. The most famous corridors in this global city include island eastern corridor, Hong Kong Shenzhen western corridor (Wing-kai Chiu 45). The best flyovers in the city include the canal road flyover and Connaught road west flyover. Given its mountainous and island topography, the city’s infrastructure is rich in tunnels. The most outstanding tunnels in the city include Lion rock tunnel, second lion rock tunnel and the discovery bay tunnel (Wing-kai Chiu 45). References Chan, Chak K. Social Security Policy in Hong Kong: From British Colony to China's Special Administrative Region. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2011. Print. Liu, Lihua. Interpersonal Rhetoric in the Editorials of China Daily: A Generic Perspective. Bern: Peter Lang, 2010. Print. Loise, Kam. Kong Culture: Word and Image: Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2010 print Reiber Beth, Frommer’s Hong Kong: New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2011 print. Roberts, David, and Jocelyn Kan. Live & Work in China: Includes Hong Kong. Richmond: Crimson, 2007. Print. Wing-kai, Chiu Stephen. Hong Kong: Becoming a Chinese Global City: Hong Kong: Routledge, 2009 print. Read More