Hong Kong is such a vibrant city --
ever-changing and constantly expanding -- that it's hard to feel
like you've "been there, done that" no matter how many times you
visit. The city keeps transforming itself, regularly introducing
new developments and attractions intended to serve both residents
and overseas visitors. By design or by happenstance, this also
fosters an ongoing fusion of Chinese heritage and British influence
that is of interest to tourists.
With this knack
for natural progression, Hong Kong doesn't show any signs of
plateauing as a dynamic destination.
Newly
seen on the scene
The Hong Kong
Tourism Board is in overdrive with the promotion of new,
large-scale attractions in the city for this year's marketing
campaign, Hong Kong Salutes the World: Discover Hong Kong 2006.
Officials aim to increase last year's 23 million visitors to 27
million for 2006.
This June marked
the opening of Ngong Ping 360 on Lantau, the biggest of Hong Kong's
250 islands and home of several recent and upcoming
developments.
Ideally situated
next to Lantau's 86-foot-high Tian Tan Buddha and the Po Lin
Monastery, Ngong Ping 360: Journey to Enlightenment seems destined
to become an iconic tourist attraction, mainly for the family
travel market.
Sprawled across
more than three acres in a mock village are shops and entertainment
housed in traditional Chinese architecture, typified by buildings
with blue-tiled roofs and wooden columns.
For both locals
and visitors, the park is a calming retreat from the city's
schizophrenic bustle. In terms of entertainment offerings, its
"Walking With Buddha" is an interactive show where guests are
guided through seven scenes of the path to enlightenment followed
by Siddhartha Gautama, the ancient Indian prince-turned-ascetic
who, as "the Buddha," founded Buddhism.
Nearby, a short,
computer-animated show at the Monkey's Tale Theatre retells a
classic tale of Chinese Buddhist folklore on a large screen framed
by stone murals.
For the peckish,
the Ngong Ping Tea House serves traditional teas and cakes with
regular demonstrations of tea ceremonies.
The simple act of
getting to Ngong Ping 360 soon will be part of the experience, with
a 20-minute, 3.5-mile Skyrail cable car ride from Tung Chung
terminal at Hong Kong Airport that will offer up commanding views
of North Lantau Country Park; the launch date of the service was,
at press time, still unannounced.
Ngong Ping 360 is
open Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays and
Sundays 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is $20 for the Journey of
Enlightenment Package, which includes roundtrip Skyrail and
entrance to both theater attractions.
For more, visit
www.np360.com.hk.
Also on Lantau,
the still new-ish Hong Kong Airport plans on developing SkyCity, to
be unveiled this fall.
SkyCity will
comprise SkyPlaza, an office, retail and business complex
integrated with the airport passenger terminal; the Asia-World Expo
exhibition center; the existing SkyPier high-speed ferry terminal;
and a nine-hole golf course, all of which will be linked to the
airport.
Airport officials
hope the development's location will serve as an economic engine
for growth in the region. Investments for the project are
ambitious, with SkyPlaza alone costing approximately $256
million.
Still
going strong
Hong Kong
Disneyland remains popular since its opening last September. In
celebration of its first summer, the park is offering Summer
Passes, priced at $58 per ticket for unlimited visits through Sept.
28.
Three attractions
were unveiled in July: 
the Autopia mini-racetrack; UFO
Zone, a water-park-style, alien-themed feature; and the Stitch
Encounter, based on the hero of the 2002 animated film "Lilo &
Stitch."
North of Lantau,
the new Hong Kong Wetland Park offers travelers a strong reason to
explore the New Territories, which bridges Hong Kong and mainland
China. Designed by the government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, this ecotourism playground in Tin Shui Wai
aims to foster public awareness and knowledge of the inherent
values of wetlands.
The visitor
center includes interactive exhibits designed to educate and
promote wetland conservation, and the outdoor, 150-acre wetland
reserve highlights the wetland ecosystem, including streams,
floating plants, mudflats and bird hides, most viewable along a
mangrove boardwalk.
On a gastronomic
note, the organic dim sum in the park cafe is delightful. The
wetland park is open daily except Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $4. For more, visit www.wetlandpark.com/en.
While this year's
newest attractions explore areas outside of Kowloon and Hong Kong
island, smaller-scale draws are more centrally located.
For example, the
Aqua Luna is a 92-foot replica of a traditional Chinese junk that
traverses Victoria Harbor eight times a day. The $20 price for a
45-minute sail includes a cocktail. Evening sailings are popular,
as the illuminated harborfront skyline makes for an impressive
display.
In fact, the
city's nightly Symphony of Lights is an orchestration of lasers,
music and decorative lights designed to celebrate what officials
term the spirit and diversity of Hong Kong.
Pack your
(shopping) bags
Shopping has
always been a big draw for overseas visitors to Hong Kong, although many more Japanese
than Americans have traditionally flooded its stores.
"Hong Kong offers
a unique shopping experience, offering visitors a sophisticated
diversity that's not found in other cities in the region," said
Lillibeth Bishop, publicity and promotions manager of the
HKTB.
That's thanks to
the wide variety of venues, from open-air markets and authentic
Chinese specialties to high-end malls and designer
boutiques.
The HKTB
regularly has organized an annual Shopping Festival to promote the
city's shopping reputation. For a two-month period each summer --
this year through Aug. 31 -- more than 7,800 outlets participate in
the retail festival, offering discounts and extended business
hours.
For more on the
latest in Hong Kong tourism, visit www.discoverhongkong.com or call the HKTB in Los
Angeles at (310) 208-4582; San Francisco, at (415) 781-4587; or New
York, at (212) 421-3382.
To contact the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail
to [email protected].