Hong Kong travel Guide

Hong Kong is a city and also a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, which covers an area of ​​about 1,000 km2 in the southeast coast. Is a major economic and financial centers of the world, and its port is one of the most active in Asia. Geographically it consists of a small archipelago which highlights Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula.
Hong Kong Island was conquered by the British during the Opium War and used as a free port for trade with mainland China. After the Second Opium War in 1898 the Qing Dynasty ceded the New Territories to Britain for a period of 100 years. As the end of the assignment, in 1984 signed a treaty to restore China's sovereignty over Hong Kong. On July 1, 1997 all British territories that were Hong Kong became part of the special administrative region depending on the People's Republic of China. So have some freedoms, economy and living standards different from the rest of China.
Today, the island of Hong Kong has become one of the world capitals of modern architecture. After New York City, Hong Kong is the second city in the world with the largest number of skyscrapers. Four of the 15 tallest buildings in the world are in Hong Kong.
By contrast, the Kowloon Peninsula, opposite Hong Kong Island, has fewer skyscrapers. Until 1998 the peninsula had severe Kownloon headroom restrictions for the construction of skyscrapers and buildings. These restrictions was motivated by the location of Kai Tak Airport within the peninsula itself. That same year, after the inauguration of the new Hong Kong International Airport, also known as Chep Lap Kok, and the subsequent closure of the former Kai Tak Airport, these restrictions were lifted high. Are currently raising several new skyscrapers in Kowloon, including the International Commerce Centre which, when completed in 2010, will become the fourth tallest skyscraper in the world with 484 meters high.