Hong Kong (Kowloon)

Hong Kong's dynamism is unforgettable. From the vantage point of Victoria Peak, overlooking the world's busiest deep water port, you can see a city geared not only to making money but feeling good about it. At night, it's like looking down into a volcano. Despite its British colonial past, Hong Kong has always stuck to its roots and the culture beneath the glitz is pure Chinese. That didn't stop locals from feeling apprehensive about being reunited with the motherland when the British handed the colony back to China in 1997, but their unease has largely evaporated. Visitors often find it takes a few days in Hong Kong to get accustomed to the whirlwind pace.

Hong Kong with a population of 6.06 million, consists of more than 230 islands and islets and a portion of the mainland east of the Pearl River estuary adjoining the Chinese province of Guangdong. Hong Kong, a compact place with area of 1,084 sq.km, is known to be a city of vibrant and bustle, modern and historic.

Developing from a small fishing village, Hong Kong has grown to be the eighth largest trading economy in the world. It is regarded as the leading finance and business centre in the world. Hong Kong is not just an economic record-breaker! It is also a modern, thriving cosmopolitan Chinese city that is a unique blend of East and West!

Hong Kong is a treasure-trove of fascinating sights and experiences, from the glittering towers of Central to the rural tranquillity of the New Territories. And few destinations yield their treasures so readily; all of Hong Kong's attractions are easily accessible. Because the territory is so compact, you can see and do a great deal in very little time. Explore a wildlife sanctuary by day, and attend the theatre at night. Visit an ancient temple, a traditional fishing village and a modern shopping complex all in the same day. Hong Kong's transportation system is inexpensive and easy to use, making it a simple matter to plan your own unforgettable adventures.

The name Kowloon is thought to have originated when the last emperor of the Song dynasty passed through the area during his flight from the Mongols. He is said to have counted eight p~ on the peninsula and commented that there must therefore be eight dragons there - but was reminded that since he himself was present there must be nine. Kowloon is thus derived from the Can- tonese words gau, meaning nine, and long, for dragon.

It covers a mere 12 sq km of high-rise buildings extending from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to Boundary St. Apart from a few notable exceptions, Kowloon is architee- turally unexciting. Height restrictions for buildings (because aircraft bound for Kai Tak airport had to skim Kowloon rooftops) give the district a much lower skyline than in Central. Central is also I-long Kong's finan- cial heart, shown off as its most prized asset, while Kowloon is more a crowded province of mercantile mayhem. There is none of the slickness of Central (except the pockets of glamour in top-end hotel shopping arcades), and for the most part Kowloon is a riot of tourist commerce set to a gritty backdrop of crumbling tencinent blocks.

There are impressive buildings, none the less, supported by intriguing sights. Love or hate its design, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is a bold stab at turning Hong Kong into something more than a city obsessed with wealth. The Peninsula is one of Hong Kong's great colonial buildings and, at night, the Promenade along Victoria Harbour is a stunning technicolour vista of Central and Wan Chai - the subject of countless post cards. Kowloon Park is a blessed haven for the tired denizens of Nathan Rd and the Hong Kong History Museum is a must-see for those who want a coloudul and imaginative guide through the Hong Kong of yesterday. Kowloon's districts are best seen on foot.

Unlike on Hong Kong Island, there's no tram to ferry you around; but areas of interest are not spaced too far apart, and these are the areas with the highest concentration of hotels, restaurants and amenities.

Hong Kong is perched on the south-cast coast of China just south of the tropic of Cancer, on much the same latitude as Hawaii or Calcutta. The climate is subtropical, but tends toward temperate for nearly half the year. This is because the huge land mass of Asia generates powerful blasts of frigid wind that blow from the north during winter. In summer, the seasonal wind reverses and blows from the south bringing hot, humid tropical air.

Late October to December usually sees sunny, dry weather with cool breezes, though for most of November it's still warm enough to go swimming. January and February are more cloudy and see occasional cold fronts. Temperatures can drop as low as 10'C in the New Territories, but snow and frost are quite rare. Not much rain falls, but when it does, it's usually a chilly, depressing drizzle that lasts for days. The mountains are often shrouded in mist, which can spoil visits to Victoria Peak and other scenic outlooks. Winter weather usually continues into March and often ends abruptly when the cold wind stops blowing. Even during winter, there are windless days when the weather becomes balmy.

March to April/May are usually pleasant months, as the scorching summer heat often doesn't arrive until June. But there's a higher chance of rain and humidity than in autumn.