Facing the , the 12-storey high building resides in a gross area of 9,400 plus a floor area of 33,800 sq. metres. The construction cost was 690 million. The Library's collections include around 2.3 million items. It is the main library facility along with the Hong Kong Public Libraries System, which has collections of over 12.1 million items.
The arch-shaped doorway at the facade altitude of the Hong Kong Central Library symbolizes the Gate to Knowledge, while the graphics in the silhouette of triangle, square and circle signify different meanings. The circle stands for the sky, the square for the land and the triangle for the accretion of knowledge.
Services
Opened in May 2001, the Hong Kong Central Library provides a complete variety of library services including:
* inclusive reference and information services
* self-charging terminals
* Bookdrop service
* information kiosks
* Multimedia Information System .
Online Public Access Catalogue
The enables readers to rummage around the whole Chinese and English collections of the Hong Kong Public Libraries. Over and above a wide assortment of search options, such as author, title, subject, etc.
Readers do not have the choice at the start to narrow their search to books only, to audio-visual materials only or to some other categories or materials.
From any OPAC terminal, readers will know instantaneously whether the item they need is available on the shelf, on loan or being reserved. If it is on loan, readers will also know the date the item is due for return.
In case readers wish to know library related activities that are being held or forthcoming; or wish to check their own borrowing record, like how many books readers have borrowed, which item is overdue, etc., merely follow the menu options and readers will find them all. Readers may also carry out renewal and reservation at any OPAC terminal.
Multimedia Information System
is an example of all-embracing use of information technology and computer application in the Hong Kong Central Library. A three level audio-on-demand and video-on-demand system has been set up:
*1st level: built upon the high quality video-audio s. Users can access the system in sync.
*2nd level: consists of s and jukeboxes. It is a more economical channel for the public to search for less frequently used /video materials.
*3rd level: a conventional video/audio distribution network is used. Users can access media of most formats using LD, VCD, DVD, CD player and player.
In order to enable more public to use the first level video and third level audio and video of the AOD/VOD system, about 90 Asynchronous Transfer Mode terminals are installed in the Hong Kong Central Library. Meanwhile, the public can also utilize the AOD system by using the over 400 LAN workstations in the Central Library.
In addition, the Hong Kong Central Library provides document imaging materials, such as drawings, manuscripts, microfilms, clippings, reports, posters, house programmes, newspapers, photos, maps, pictures, black-and-white document images etc. After clearance of the relevant copyright/licensing terms, the materials are digitised and stored in the multimedia databases for all set access of users.
Comparing with the traditional library services, the digital library can provide better services in the way that:
*user can search information once there are networked workstations;
*multiple users can search for and use the same library materials concurrently;
*research and accessing information becomes more effective, efficient and in-depth;
*research means are of a greater variety, such as searching by colour format, style and structure, etc.
The Multimedia Information Services have already been extended to other . Depending on user demand, the Hong Kong Central Library may also make more workstations available for use.
Legal Deposit Library
The Hong Kong Central Library is an intelligent building, built on a network flooring system to offer litheness for the supply of power, telecommunication and further alteration and extension. Hong Kong Central Library has been designated as the legal depository library in Hong Kong for nine global organizations:
*Asian Development Bank
*European Union
*International Labour Organization
*International Maritime Organization
*United Nations
*
*
*World Trade Organization
*World Food Programme
Materials published by these organisations will have copies sent to this library. These materials are accessible to the public via a variety of methods.
Reading tables are all provided with separate power points and dataline outlets through which library patrons can use their own portable computers to access the library network and the Internet. Readers can also retrieve a wide range of multimedia databases on CD-ROMs and the Internet through the / workstations.
Discussion Rooms
Several floors of the Hong Kong Central Library have discussion rooms available for rental at a fixed charge on an hourly basis, and on a 30-minute basis thereafter.
Café
The library houses a Délifrance café outside the library area on the first floor behind the bookshop.
Floor plan
The Hong Kong Central Library has 11 storeys, each with its theme purpose.
G/F: Special Rooms
*Activities Room*
*Exhibition Gallery
*Lecture Theatre*
*User Education Hall
1/F: Reception
*Main Library Entrance
*Cloakroom
*Book and Gift Shop
*Book Drop
*Cafeteria
*Book circulation counters
*Self-charging terminals
2/F: Children's Library
*Children's Lending Library
*Children's Reference Library
*Picture Book Corner
*Children's Multimedia Room
*Children's Activity Room
*Toy Library
3/F: Adult Lending Library
*Adult Lending Library
*Self-charging terminals
*Adult's World
4/F: Special Reading Area
*Newspapers and Periodicals Stack
*Back Issues of Newspapers and Periodicals Reading Area
*Microform Production Room**
*Book Repair / Conservation Room**
5/F: Special Reading Area
*Current Newspapers and Periodicals Reading Area
*Microform Reading Area
*Computer and Information Centre
*Map Library
6/F: Young Adult Library
*Young Adult Library
*Audio-visual Library
*Discussion Room*
*Language Learning Centre
*Self-charging terminals
7/F: Exhibition Area
*Exhibition Area
*Central Book Stack**
*Rare Book Stack**
8/F: Central Reference Library
*General Reference Department
*Hong Kong Studies Department
*Hong Kong Literature Room
*United Nations Collection
*Depository Collections
9/F: Central Reference Library
*Social Sciences Department
*Humanities Department
*Science and Technology Department
*Business and Finance Department
*Discussion Room*
10/F: Arts Resource Centre
*Arts Library / Arts Resource Centre
*Music Practice Room*
*Discussion Room*
*Pornographic Section*
*Hong Kong Central Library Office**
11/F: Offices
*Hong Kong Public Library Offices**
Notes:
#*In-advance booking required for usage
#**Not open to public
In addition, male, female and toilets for the disabled, as well as information counters are available on every floor except 7/F and 11/F.
Anecdote
There existed some memorial plaques dedicated to famous modern Chinese writers in the library, one of them was for the witty and erudite scholar-novelist Qian Zhongshu . When the library was first opened, it was found that the second word of Qian's name 鍾 was mis-represented as 鐘. The mistake drew some criticism against the new library, which contains the greatest number of reference books among the public libraries in Hong Kong.
Highcliff
Highcliff is a 252.4-metre tall skyscraper located on a south slope of on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The 75 storey building's construction began in and was completed in under a design by DLN Architects & Engineers. It was the Silver Winner of the 2003 Emporis Skyscraper Award, coming in second to 30 St Mary Axe in London.
The tower is the tallest all-residential building in Hong Kong and the 95th tallest building in the world when measured to the highest architectural feature.
Highcliff is remarkably thin for such a tall building. Because of this, a passive was fitted to the top. This wind damper was the first of its kind for a residential building anywhere in the world. This was installed because of the number of typhoons which affect Hong Kong in the late summer.
Due to the visual effect of its proximity to The Summit, another very thin and tall building, the two together are often referred to as "The Chopsticks".
The tower is the tallest all-residential building in Hong Kong and the 95th tallest building in the world when measured to the highest architectural feature.
Highcliff is remarkably thin for such a tall building. Because of this, a passive was fitted to the top. This wind damper was the first of its kind for a residential building anywhere in the world. This was installed because of the number of typhoons which affect Hong Kong in the late summer.
Due to the visual effect of its proximity to The Summit, another very thin and tall building, the two together are often referred to as "The Chopsticks".
High Court Building
The High Court Building of Hong Kong is located on 38 and home to the High Court. It was built in 1985 as the home of the then Supreme Court of Hong Kong, which was renamed in 1997.
The structure is a white clad tower and has a water fountain outside its front door.
The structure is a white clad tower and has a water fountain outside its front door.
Happy Valley Racecourse
Happy Valley Horse Racing Track is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in on Hong Kong Island, surrounded by Wong Nai Chung Road and Morrison Hill Road.
It was first built in 1845 to provide horse racing for the British people in Hong Kong. Before it was built, the area was a swampland, but also the only flat ground suitable for horse racing on Hong Kong Island. To make way for the racecourse, Hong Kong Government prohibited rice growing by villages in the surrounding area. The first race ran in December 1846. Over the years, horse racing became more and more popular among the Chinese residents.
On 26 February, 1918, there was a fire and at least 590 people died. By the next day as many as 576 definite deaths were reported by the Hong Kong Telegraph. It is a fire with one of the highest casualties in Hong Kong history.
The track was rebuilt in 1995, and became a world-class horse racing facility. Several , and fields are encircled by the horseracing track.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Archive and Museum was set up in 1995 and opened on 18 October 1996. It is now located on the second floor of the Happy Valley Stand of the racecourse.
There are four galleries in the museum:
* The Origin of Our Horses: Shows the migration route horses travelled in the early days from the northern part of China to Hong Kong.
* Shaping Sha Tin: Exhibits the history of construction of Sha Tin Racecourse.
* Understanding Horses: Exhibits the skeleton of the three-time Hong Kong Champion ''Silver Lining''
* Thematic Exhibitions: The history of the Jockey Club is exhibited. Selected charitable organizations and community projects supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust are also displayed in this gallery.
There is also a cinema and a souvenir shop in the museum.
History
It was first built in 1845 to provide horse racing for the British people in Hong Kong. Before it was built, the area was a swampland, but also the only flat ground suitable for horse racing on Hong Kong Island. To make way for the racecourse, Hong Kong Government prohibited rice growing by villages in the surrounding area. The first race ran in December 1846. Over the years, horse racing became more and more popular among the Chinese residents.
On 26 February, 1918, there was a fire and at least 590 people died. By the next day as many as 576 definite deaths were reported by the Hong Kong Telegraph. It is a fire with one of the highest casualties in Hong Kong history.
The track was rebuilt in 1995, and became a world-class horse racing facility. Several , and fields are encircled by the horseracing track.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Archive and Museum
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Archive and Museum was set up in 1995 and opened on 18 October 1996. It is now located on the second floor of the Happy Valley Stand of the racecourse.
There are four galleries in the museum:
* The Origin of Our Horses: Shows the migration route horses travelled in the early days from the northern part of China to Hong Kong.
* Shaping Sha Tin: Exhibits the history of construction of Sha Tin Racecourse.
* Understanding Horses: Exhibits the skeleton of the three-time Hong Kong Champion ''Silver Lining''
* Thematic Exhibitions: The history of the Jockey Club is exhibited. Selected charitable organizations and community projects supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust are also displayed in this gallery.
There is also a cinema and a souvenir shop in the museum.
HSBC Main Building, Hong Kong
The HSBC Main Building is the headquarters building of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in , Hong Kong. It is located along the southern side of Statue Square at the location of the old City Hall, Hong Kong . The previous HSBC building was built in 1935 and pulled down to make way for the current building. The address remains as ''1 Queen's Road Central, Central''. The building can be reached by a 5-minute walk from Exit K of and facing Statue Square.
The first HSBC building was Wardley House, used as HSBC office between 1865 to 1882 on the present site. In 1864 the lease cost $500 a month. After raising a capital of HKD $5 million, the bank opened its door in 1865. It was demolished in 1886 and rebuilt in the same year.
The main feature of the second building design was the division of the structure into two almost separate buildings. The building on Queen's Road Central was in Victorian style with a verandah, colonnades and an octagonal dome, whereas the arcade which harmonized with the adjacent buildings was constructed on Des Voeux Road.
In 1935, the second building was demolished and a third design was erected. The third design used part of the land of the old , and was built with the style. This third building had, for a period of time after completion, been the tallest building between San Francisco and Cairo. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the building served as the government headquarters. Locally, it was the first building in Hong Kong to be fully .
By the 1970s the bank had outgrown its headquarters; departments were scattered into offices all over Central Hong Kong, and it was obvious that such a "solution" to the space limitations could not continue indefinitely. In 1978 the bank decided to tear down its headquarters and rebuild it again. The building was finished on November 18, 1985. At the time, it was the most expensive building in the world .
The first major addition to the building, designed by Hong Kong's One Space Ltd, was completed on November 23, 2006, in the form of a ground floor lobby that improves security access to the upper floors and creates a prestigious reception area. Its design and construction included the installation of the "Asian Story Wall", a multimedia installation comprised of twin banks of 30 seamless plasma screens displaying archived bank heritage and artworks.
The new building was designed by the British architect and engineers Arup and was constructed by . From the concept to completion, it took 6 years . The building is 180-metres high with 47 storeys and four basement levels. The building has a module design consisting of five steel modules prefabricated in the UK by near Glasgow, and shipped to Hong Kong. 30,000 tonnes of steel and 4,500 tonnes of aluminium were used. It is rumoured that the building's modular design enables it to be dismantled and moved, if there was any possibility of a disrupted to the People's Republic of China.
The new Lobby and its 2-part Asian Story Wall were designed by Greg Pearce, of One Space Limited. Pearce was also the Principal Architect of the Hong Kong Airport Express station. Conceived as a minimalist glass envelope, the new lobby is designed to be deferential to Foster's structure and appears almost to be part of the original.
The building is also one of the few to not have elevators as the primary carrier of building traffic. Instead, elevators only stop every few floors, and floors are interconnected by escalators.
The main characteristic of HSBC Hong Kong headquarters is its absence of internal supporting structure.
Another notable feature is that natural sunlight is the major source of lighting inside the building. There is a bank of giant mirrors at the top of the atrium, which can reflect natural sunlight into the atrium and hence down into the plaza. Through the use of natural sunlight, this design helps to conserve energy. Additionally, sun shades are provided on the external facades to block direct sunlight going into the building and to reduce heat gain. Instead of fresh water, sea water is used as coolant for the air-conditioning system.
All flooring is made from lightweight movable panels, under which lies a comprehensive network of power, telecommunication, and air-conditioning systems. This design allows equipment such as computer terminals to be installed quickly and easily.
Because of the urgency to finish the project, the construction of the building relied heavily on off-site prefabrication; components were manufactured all over the world. For example, the structural steel came from ; the glass, aluminium cladding and flooring came from the United States while the service modules came from Japan.
The inverted ‘va’ segments of the suspension trusses spanning the construction at double-height levels is the most obvious characteristic of the building. It consists of eight groups of four aluminium-clad steel columns which ascend from the foundations up through the core structure, and five levels of triangular suspension trusses which are locked into these masts.
The early British settlers in Hong Kong had an interest in Feng Shui; thus, most of the earliest buildings in Hong Kong, and many buildings constructed thereafter, were built with the philosophies of Feng Shui in mind. The Chinese and even the British believe that those who have a direct view of a body of water--whether it is a river, a sea, or an ocean--are more likely to prosper than those who do not . The HSBC building has a wide open area in front of it, with no other buildings blocking its view of Victoria Harbour; thus, it is considered to have "good feng shui."
Even though the Hong Kong Government is proposing extending the existing coastline further out into the harbour in its latest land reclamation project, it will still set aside space so that no new developments will block the HSBC Building's view of the harbour.
Two bronze lion statues are located in front of the building. The statues were cast in Shanghai in 1935 and brought to Hong Kong. Like the other statues of Statue Square, the two lion statues were displaced to Japan for melting by the then Japanese administration during World War II. They were rediscovered at the end of the war there, and brought back to their original location. Bullet impacts from the Battle of Hong Kong in WWII are still visible on the statues. One of the lion statues had a small explosive embedded in it; it remained undiscovered until the early 1990s, when it was removed by police's explosive unit.
From a "Feng Shui" point of view, the two bronze lion statues in front of the HSBC headquarter are believed to contribute to the steady revenue of the bank. Although even in Asia, not every architect believes in Feng Shui, most of their customers do.
The original pair of lions are kept at a museum in Shanghai. The lions at HSBC Hong Kong Headquarters are the second pair. A third pair is kept in in London, and a fourth pair is located at its in Shanghai.
The left lion is named Stephen, after the general manager of Hong Kong branch A. G. Stephen; and the right is named Stitt, after the general manager of Shanghai branch at the time.
Rumour has it that Stitt used to have its mouth open as well, but this would allow it to "breathe in" the eastern wind, giving it life at night and became a menace to the public. Thus Stitt was recast with its mouth closed.
''See also: Imperial guardian lions''
In 2003, the Hong Kong Tourism Board developed a harbour lighting plan called "A Symphony of Lights" , a large-scale multimedia show featuring lighting, laser, music, and occasionally special pyrotechnics effects during festivals, in order to promote tourism in Hong Kong. The show is based on the illumination of key buildings on the Hong Kong Island side, and is best viewed from the Kowloon side across the Victoria Harbour. The HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building is one of the participating buildings in the show. The building has been installed with 716 intelligent lighting units, including 450 Martin Professional Cyclo 03 colour changing fluorescent fixtures in the glass stairwells, Martin Professional Exterior 600's and Exterior 200 fixtures on five levels, 8 search lights, and over one kilometre of LED lighting around the top. Completed by mid-December 2003, the cost of installation is estimated to be HK$5.5 million.
Intelligent lighting is distributed across six sections of the building:
#Vertical Ladder Trusses
#Exoskeleton: Inner + Outer
#Refuge Floors
#Northwest Stairwell
#Eastern Stairwells
#Roof Building Maintenance Units
HSBC has always aimed to adopt a new lighting scheme because Foster did not pay much attention to the illumination of the building at nighttime.
History
The first HSBC building was Wardley House, used as HSBC office between 1865 to 1882 on the present site. In 1864 the lease cost $500 a month. After raising a capital of HKD $5 million, the bank opened its door in 1865. It was demolished in 1886 and rebuilt in the same year.
The main feature of the second building design was the division of the structure into two almost separate buildings. The building on Queen's Road Central was in Victorian style with a verandah, colonnades and an octagonal dome, whereas the arcade which harmonized with the adjacent buildings was constructed on Des Voeux Road.
In 1935, the second building was demolished and a third design was erected. The third design used part of the land of the old , and was built with the style. This third building had, for a period of time after completion, been the tallest building between San Francisco and Cairo. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the building served as the government headquarters. Locally, it was the first building in Hong Kong to be fully .
By the 1970s the bank had outgrown its headquarters; departments were scattered into offices all over Central Hong Kong, and it was obvious that such a "solution" to the space limitations could not continue indefinitely. In 1978 the bank decided to tear down its headquarters and rebuild it again. The building was finished on November 18, 1985. At the time, it was the most expensive building in the world .
The first major addition to the building, designed by Hong Kong's One Space Ltd, was completed on November 23, 2006, in the form of a ground floor lobby that improves security access to the upper floors and creates a prestigious reception area. Its design and construction included the installation of the "Asian Story Wall", a multimedia installation comprised of twin banks of 30 seamless plasma screens displaying archived bank heritage and artworks.
Design
The new building was designed by the British architect and engineers Arup and was constructed by . From the concept to completion, it took 6 years . The building is 180-metres high with 47 storeys and four basement levels. The building has a module design consisting of five steel modules prefabricated in the UK by near Glasgow, and shipped to Hong Kong. 30,000 tonnes of steel and 4,500 tonnes of aluminium were used. It is rumoured that the building's modular design enables it to be dismantled and moved, if there was any possibility of a disrupted to the People's Republic of China.
The new Lobby and its 2-part Asian Story Wall were designed by Greg Pearce, of One Space Limited. Pearce was also the Principal Architect of the Hong Kong Airport Express station. Conceived as a minimalist glass envelope, the new lobby is designed to be deferential to Foster's structure and appears almost to be part of the original.
The building is also one of the few to not have elevators as the primary carrier of building traffic. Instead, elevators only stop every few floors, and floors are interconnected by escalators.
Characteristics
The main characteristic of HSBC Hong Kong headquarters is its absence of internal supporting structure.
Another notable feature is that natural sunlight is the major source of lighting inside the building. There is a bank of giant mirrors at the top of the atrium, which can reflect natural sunlight into the atrium and hence down into the plaza. Through the use of natural sunlight, this design helps to conserve energy. Additionally, sun shades are provided on the external facades to block direct sunlight going into the building and to reduce heat gain. Instead of fresh water, sea water is used as coolant for the air-conditioning system.
All flooring is made from lightweight movable panels, under which lies a comprehensive network of power, telecommunication, and air-conditioning systems. This design allows equipment such as computer terminals to be installed quickly and easily.
Because of the urgency to finish the project, the construction of the building relied heavily on off-site prefabrication; components were manufactured all over the world. For example, the structural steel came from ; the glass, aluminium cladding and flooring came from the United States while the service modules came from Japan.
The inverted ‘va’ segments of the suspension trusses spanning the construction at double-height levels is the most obvious characteristic of the building. It consists of eight groups of four aluminium-clad steel columns which ascend from the foundations up through the core structure, and five levels of triangular suspension trusses which are locked into these masts.
Feng Shui
The early British settlers in Hong Kong had an interest in Feng Shui; thus, most of the earliest buildings in Hong Kong, and many buildings constructed thereafter, were built with the philosophies of Feng Shui in mind. The Chinese and even the British believe that those who have a direct view of a body of water--whether it is a river, a sea, or an ocean--are more likely to prosper than those who do not . The HSBC building has a wide open area in front of it, with no other buildings blocking its view of Victoria Harbour; thus, it is considered to have "good feng shui."
Even though the Hong Kong Government is proposing extending the existing coastline further out into the harbour in its latest land reclamation project, it will still set aside space so that no new developments will block the HSBC Building's view of the harbour.
Lion statues
Two bronze lion statues are located in front of the building. The statues were cast in Shanghai in 1935 and brought to Hong Kong. Like the other statues of Statue Square, the two lion statues were displaced to Japan for melting by the then Japanese administration during World War II. They were rediscovered at the end of the war there, and brought back to their original location. Bullet impacts from the Battle of Hong Kong in WWII are still visible on the statues. One of the lion statues had a small explosive embedded in it; it remained undiscovered until the early 1990s, when it was removed by police's explosive unit.
From a "Feng Shui" point of view, the two bronze lion statues in front of the HSBC headquarter are believed to contribute to the steady revenue of the bank. Although even in Asia, not every architect believes in Feng Shui, most of their customers do.
The original pair of lions are kept at a museum in Shanghai. The lions at HSBC Hong Kong Headquarters are the second pair. A third pair is kept in in London, and a fourth pair is located at its in Shanghai.
The left lion is named Stephen, after the general manager of Hong Kong branch A. G. Stephen; and the right is named Stitt, after the general manager of Shanghai branch at the time.
Rumour has it that Stitt used to have its mouth open as well, but this would allow it to "breathe in" the eastern wind, giving it life at night and became a menace to the public. Thus Stitt was recast with its mouth closed.
''See also: Imperial guardian lions''
Lighting scheme
In 2003, the Hong Kong Tourism Board developed a harbour lighting plan called "A Symphony of Lights" , a large-scale multimedia show featuring lighting, laser, music, and occasionally special pyrotechnics effects during festivals, in order to promote tourism in Hong Kong. The show is based on the illumination of key buildings on the Hong Kong Island side, and is best viewed from the Kowloon side across the Victoria Harbour. The HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building is one of the participating buildings in the show. The building has been installed with 716 intelligent lighting units, including 450 Martin Professional Cyclo 03 colour changing fluorescent fixtures in the glass stairwells, Martin Professional Exterior 600's and Exterior 200 fixtures on five levels, 8 search lights, and over one kilometre of LED lighting around the top. Completed by mid-December 2003, the cost of installation is estimated to be HK$5.5 million.
Intelligent lighting is distributed across six sections of the building:
#Vertical Ladder Trusses
#Exoskeleton: Inner + Outer
#Refuge Floors
#Northwest Stairwell
#Eastern Stairwells
#Roof Building Maintenance Units
HSBC has always aimed to adopt a new lighting scheme because Foster did not pay much attention to the illumination of the building at nighttime.
Flagstaff House
The Flagstaff House is the oldest colonial-style building remaining in Hong Kong, China. It is located in 10 Cotton Tree Drive, - within the Hong Kong Park.
It has been a longtime residence of the Commander of the British forces in Hong Kong during . Today Flagstaff House houses the Museum of Tea Ware. The building is a popular setting for wedding photography.
Flagstaff House, which was called Headquarter House until 1932. There is some disagreement as to who designed it, but it was completed in 1846 and initially served as the military headquarters office and residence of the . The site chosen was a small buff above and above Queen's Road, then at the waterfront.
The building was created in . Historians suspect it was designed either by Murdoch Bruce, a Scotsman who was inspector of buildings, or by Lieutenant Bernard Collinson of the . The first occupant was Major-General George Charles D'Aguilar, General Officer Commanding from 1844 to 1846 who also held the post of Lieutenant Governor.
The west and east wings were shelled when the , and it suffered bomb damage. The Japanese repaired it and the Commandant took the building as his residence during .
After the , Flagstaff House was again the Commander's residence until 1978, when the Commander moved to a purpose built house on Barker Road. It was handed over by the military to the civilian Hong Kong Government as part of the surrender of . The Government put it under the responsibility of the in 1981.
The building was in 1989. It was restored as far as possible to its original mid-19th-century appearance, structurally reinforced, and the interior was to be modified so that it could be used as a museum.
In 1984, the Flagstaff House was converted into the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, a branch museum of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The museum specializes in the collection, study and display of teaware, including many examples of the Yixing teapot, from China's Jiangsu Province.
A new wing, the K.S. Lo Gallery, was added in 1995. It is named after a local collector, which made a donation to the city in the 1970s. This donation now constitutes the core of the museum's collection. The new gallery contains a collection of and Chinese seals.
It has been a longtime residence of the Commander of the British forces in Hong Kong during . Today Flagstaff House houses the Museum of Tea Ware. The building is a popular setting for wedding photography.
History
Flagstaff House, which was called Headquarter House until 1932. There is some disagreement as to who designed it, but it was completed in 1846 and initially served as the military headquarters office and residence of the . The site chosen was a small buff above and above Queen's Road, then at the waterfront.
The building was created in . Historians suspect it was designed either by Murdoch Bruce, a Scotsman who was inspector of buildings, or by Lieutenant Bernard Collinson of the . The first occupant was Major-General George Charles D'Aguilar, General Officer Commanding from 1844 to 1846 who also held the post of Lieutenant Governor.
The west and east wings were shelled when the , and it suffered bomb damage. The Japanese repaired it and the Commandant took the building as his residence during .
After the , Flagstaff House was again the Commander's residence until 1978, when the Commander moved to a purpose built house on Barker Road. It was handed over by the military to the civilian Hong Kong Government as part of the surrender of . The Government put it under the responsibility of the in 1981.
The building was in 1989. It was restored as far as possible to its original mid-19th-century appearance, structurally reinforced, and the interior was to be modified so that it could be used as a museum.
Museum of Tea Ware
In 1984, the Flagstaff House was converted into the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, a branch museum of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The museum specializes in the collection, study and display of teaware, including many examples of the Yixing teapot, from China's Jiangsu Province.
A new wing, the K.S. Lo Gallery, was added in 1995. It is named after a local collector, which made a donation to the city in the 1970s. This donation now constitutes the core of the museum's collection. The new gallery contains a collection of and Chinese seals.
Clock Tower, Hong Kong
The Clock Tower is a landmark in Hong Kong. It is located on the southern shore of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It is the only remnant of the original site of the former on the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Officially named Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower , it is usually referred to as the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower for its location.
Built out of red bricks and granite, the Clock Tower peaks at 44 metres, and is topped by a 7-metre lightning rod. The top of the tower can be reached by a wooden staircase located within. The interior of Clock Tower had previously been open for visit, but is currently closed for maintenance. The clock tower is located near Victoria Harbour at the foot of . Another landmark, the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, is located nearby.
The tower has been listed as a in Hong Kong since 1990.
The plan of Kowloon-Canton Railway was realised in 1904 with its terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui. The railway was inaugurated on 1 October 1910; however, construction of the station did not begin until 1913. Because of World War I, the British materials required for the construction could not be shipped on time, and construction was halted for some time. The part of the station, together with Clock Tower, was completed in 1915, and the whole station 28 March 1916.
The Clock Tower reused the clock from the demolished Pedder Street Clock Tower. However, only one side had a clock, and it was not until 1920 that the remaining three sides of the Clock Tower were installed. They began operation in the afternoon of 22 March 1921, and have run ever since except during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War I.
In 1975, Kowloon Station was moved to the present-day Hung Hom Station on the newly reclaimed Hung Hom Bay. The building of the station was demolished in 1977 despite the protest and petitioning from the Heritage Society and other pressure groups. However, as a compromise it was decided that the Clock Tower was to be preserved, and is now accompanied by the Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Cultural Centre, all built on former station grounds.
The bell inside the Clock Tower is currently in the railway depot in Ho Tung Lau.
Built out of red bricks and granite, the Clock Tower peaks at 44 metres, and is topped by a 7-metre lightning rod. The top of the tower can be reached by a wooden staircase located within. The interior of Clock Tower had previously been open for visit, but is currently closed for maintenance. The clock tower is located near Victoria Harbour at the foot of . Another landmark, the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, is located nearby.
The tower has been listed as a in Hong Kong since 1990.
History
The plan of Kowloon-Canton Railway was realised in 1904 with its terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui. The railway was inaugurated on 1 October 1910; however, construction of the station did not begin until 1913. Because of World War I, the British materials required for the construction could not be shipped on time, and construction was halted for some time. The part of the station, together with Clock Tower, was completed in 1915, and the whole station 28 March 1916.
The Clock Tower reused the clock from the demolished Pedder Street Clock Tower. However, only one side had a clock, and it was not until 1920 that the remaining three sides of the Clock Tower were installed. They began operation in the afternoon of 22 March 1921, and have run ever since except during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War I.
In 1975, Kowloon Station was moved to the present-day Hung Hom Station on the newly reclaimed Hung Hom Bay. The building of the station was demolished in 1977 despite the protest and petitioning from the Heritage Society and other pressure groups. However, as a compromise it was decided that the Clock Tower was to be preserved, and is now accompanied by the Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Cultural Centre, all built on former station grounds.
The bell inside the Clock Tower is currently in the railway depot in Ho Tung Lau.
Gallery
Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong
The Bank of China Tower is one of the most recognized skyscrapers in , Hong Kong. It houses the headquarters for the Bank of China Limited. The building is located at 1 Garden Road, in Central and Western District on Hong Kong Island.
Designed by I. M. Pei, the building is high with two masts reaching high. It was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, and it was the first building outside the United States to break the 305 m mark. It is now the third tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after and Central Plaza.
The 6,700 site on which the building is constructed was formerly the location of Murray House. After its brick-by-brick relocation to , the site was sold by the Government for "only HK$1 billion" in August 1982 amidst growing concern over the future of Hong Kong in the run-up to the .
Once developed, gross floor area was expected to be 100,000 m?. The original project was intended for completion on the date of August 8, 1988. However, owing to project delays, groundbreaking took place in March 1989, almost two years late. It was topped out in 1989, and occupied in May 1990.
The building was initially built by the Hong Kong Branch of the Bank of China; its Garden Road entrance continues to display the name "Bank of China", rather than BOCHK. The top four and the bottom 19 stories are used by the Bank, whilst the other floors are leased out. Ownership has since been transferred to BOCHK, although the Bank of China has leased back several floors for use by its own operations in Hong Kong.
The Government had apparently given preferential treatment to Chinese companies, and was again criticised for the apparent preferential treatment to the BOCHK.
The price paid was half the amount of the 6,250 m? Admiralty II plot, for which the MTR Corporation paid HK$1.82 billion in cash. The BOC would make initial payment of $60 million, with the rest payable over 13 years at 6% interest. The announcement of the sale was also poorly handled, and a dive in business confidence ensued. The Hang Seng Index fell 80 points, and the lost 1.5% of its value the next day.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect I. M. Pei, the building is 305.0 metres high with two masts reaching 367.4 metres high. The 72 story building is located near . This was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, the first building outside the United States to break the 305 m mark, and the first composite space frame high-rise building. That also means it was the tallest outside from its completion year, 1990. It is now the third tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after Two International Finance Center and Central Plaza.
A small observation deck on the 43rd floor of the building is open to the public; visits to the main observation deck on the 70th floor are by appointment only.
The structural expressionism adopted in the design of this building resembles growing bamboo shoots, symbolising livelihood and prosperity. The whole structure is supported by the five steel columns at the corners of the building, with the triangular frameworks transferring the weight of the structure onto these five columns. It is covered with glass curtain walls. While its distinctive look makes it one of Hong Kong's most identifiable landmarks today, it was the source of some controversy at one time, as the bank is the only major building in Hong Kong to have bypassed the convention of consulting with feng shui masters on matters of design prior to construction.
The building has been criticised by some practitioners of Feng Shui for its sharp edges and its negative symbolism by the numerous 'X' shapes in its original design, though Pei modified the design to some degree before construction following this feedback. The building's profile from some angles resembles that of a . In Feng Shui, this is described as a ''cleaver building'' and it is not difficult to observe that it is facing the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building in this guise.
The BOC Tower's bold futuristic design has made it into popular culture. It is the only Hong Kong landmark included in the city-building/simulation computer games ''SimCity 3000'' and ''SimCity 4''. The digitally modified facade of the building is featured in the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Voyager'' as the Starfleet "Communications Research Center".
Designed by I. M. Pei, the building is high with two masts reaching high. It was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, and it was the first building outside the United States to break the 305 m mark. It is now the third tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after and Central Plaza.
Plot history
The 6,700 site on which the building is constructed was formerly the location of Murray House. After its brick-by-brick relocation to , the site was sold by the Government for "only HK$1 billion" in August 1982 amidst growing concern over the future of Hong Kong in the run-up to the .
Once developed, gross floor area was expected to be 100,000 m?. The original project was intended for completion on the date of August 8, 1988. However, owing to project delays, groundbreaking took place in March 1989, almost two years late. It was topped out in 1989, and occupied in May 1990.
The building was initially built by the Hong Kong Branch of the Bank of China; its Garden Road entrance continues to display the name "Bank of China", rather than BOCHK. The top four and the bottom 19 stories are used by the Bank, whilst the other floors are leased out. Ownership has since been transferred to BOCHK, although the Bank of China has leased back several floors for use by its own operations in Hong Kong.
Favoritism controversy
The Government had apparently given preferential treatment to Chinese companies, and was again criticised for the apparent preferential treatment to the BOCHK.
The price paid was half the amount of the 6,250 m? Admiralty II plot, for which the MTR Corporation paid HK$1.82 billion in cash. The BOC would make initial payment of $60 million, with the rest payable over 13 years at 6% interest. The announcement of the sale was also poorly handled, and a dive in business confidence ensued. The Hang Seng Index fell 80 points, and the lost 1.5% of its value the next day.
Design and feng shui
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect I. M. Pei, the building is 305.0 metres high with two masts reaching 367.4 metres high. The 72 story building is located near . This was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, the first building outside the United States to break the 305 m mark, and the first composite space frame high-rise building. That also means it was the tallest outside from its completion year, 1990. It is now the third tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after Two International Finance Center and Central Plaza.
A small observation deck on the 43rd floor of the building is open to the public; visits to the main observation deck on the 70th floor are by appointment only.
The structural expressionism adopted in the design of this building resembles growing bamboo shoots, symbolising livelihood and prosperity. The whole structure is supported by the five steel columns at the corners of the building, with the triangular frameworks transferring the weight of the structure onto these five columns. It is covered with glass curtain walls. While its distinctive look makes it one of Hong Kong's most identifiable landmarks today, it was the source of some controversy at one time, as the bank is the only major building in Hong Kong to have bypassed the convention of consulting with feng shui masters on matters of design prior to construction.
The building has been criticised by some practitioners of Feng Shui for its sharp edges and its negative symbolism by the numerous 'X' shapes in its original design, though Pei modified the design to some degree before construction following this feedback. The building's profile from some angles resembles that of a . In Feng Shui, this is described as a ''cleaver building'' and it is not difficult to observe that it is facing the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building in this guise.
Cultural references
The BOC Tower's bold futuristic design has made it into popular culture. It is the only Hong Kong landmark included in the city-building/simulation computer games ''SimCity 3000'' and ''SimCity 4''. The digitally modified facade of the building is featured in the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Voyager'' as the Starfleet "Communications Research Center".
Yuen Long Park
Yuen Long Park is one of the parks in Hong Kong. It is located in in the New Territories. It is managed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
The Park was a natural woodland in at Shui Ngau Ling, . The existing geographical pattern and trees was preserved as much as possible. The park was officially opened by Mr. Cheung Yan Lung, chairman of the to the public on 26 October 1991.
It occupies 7.5 hectares.
History/Background
The Park was a natural woodland in at Shui Ngau Ling, . The existing geographical pattern and trees was preserved as much as possible. The park was officially opened by Mr. Cheung Yan Lung, chairman of the to the public on 26 October 1991.
It occupies 7.5 hectares.
Gallery
Western Market
Western Market is one of the oldest structures in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is also the oldest surviving market building in the city.
On the Edwardian style structure, the brickwork on the 4 corner towers is bandaged.
Western Market originally consisted of 2 separate blocks.
The South Block at Queen's Road Central was built in 1858 and demolished in 1980.
The North Block, smaller and more compact in design, was preserved and renovated by . This Edwardian-style building was originally called the Harbour Office and was built in 1906. It operated as a food market until 1988. In 1990, it was declared a and the renovated market re-opened as the Western Market in 1991.
Current tenants include:
* Bavarian-style bakery
* dessert shop
* several curio shops
On the first floor there is a wide range of cloth and textile
for sale. The top floor is a restaurant with dancing
and live music. On the flyover next to Western Market are
a few old pictures with explanations from times long gone.
On the Edwardian style structure, the brickwork on the 4 corner towers is bandaged.
History
Western Market originally consisted of 2 separate blocks.
The South Block at Queen's Road Central was built in 1858 and demolished in 1980.
The North Block, smaller and more compact in design, was preserved and renovated by . This Edwardian-style building was originally called the Harbour Office and was built in 1906. It operated as a food market until 1988. In 1990, it was declared a and the renovated market re-opened as the Western Market in 1991.
Tenants
Current tenants include:
* Bavarian-style bakery
* dessert shop
* several curio shops
On the first floor there is a wide range of cloth and textile
for sale. The top floor is a restaurant with dancing
and live music. On the flyover next to Western Market are
a few old pictures with explanations from times long gone.
Gallery
Tsing Ma Bridge
Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong, . It is the world's suspension bridge. The bridge was named after two of the , namely and . It has two decks and carries both road and traffic, which also makes it the largest suspension bridge of this type. The bridge has a main span of and a height of . The span is the largest of all bridges in the world carrying rail traffic.
The wide bridge deck carries six lanes of automobile traffic, with three lanes in each direction. The lower level contains two rail tracks. There are also two sheltered carriageways on the lower deck for maintenance access and as backup for traffic when particularly severe typhoons strike Hong Kong. Though road traffic would need to be closed in that case, trains could still get through in either direction.
Construction of the bridge was carried out by a Costain / Mitsui / joint venture. Construction work of the bridge began in May 1992 and ended in May 1997. It cost HK$7.2 billion. The Lantau Link, of which the bridge is an integral part, was opened on April 27, 1997. The ceremony was inaugurated by the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The Tsing Ma Bridge links Tsing Yi Island on the east to Ma Wan island on the west over Ma Wan Channel. It is part of the Lantau Link, which, with two long span bridges links the New Territories and Lantau Island, and eventually leads to the Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok via North Lantau Highway. The other bridge is the Kap Shui Mun Bridge linking Ma Wan to Lantau Island over Kap Shui Mun. The two bridges are connected over Ma Wan by Ma Wan Viaduct.
The Tsing Ma Bridge has been an important gateway to Lantau Island. It will become part of the planned Route 8 expressway, which will connect the Lantau Link, the West Kowloon expressway, Cheung Sha Wan and Shatin. The rail line is part of MTR's Tung Chung Line and .
The bridge, together with other highway, bridge and tunnel connections in the area, are part of the Tsing Ma Control Area under the Tsing Ma Control Area Ordinance in Hong Kong Law. The control area has been managed by Tsing Ma Management Limited since opening. The control area's traffic management system was developed by Delcan Corporation of Toronto. Special regulations and by-laws are carried out in the area.
Along with the Ting Kau Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge, the bridge is closely monitored by the Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System . Surveillance cameras are also installed over the bridge to record traffic conditions. The video is available at the government website. It is updated every two minutes.
The double tolls of the Lantau Link for motor cycle, private car, public double-decked bus and heavy goods vehicle are HK$20, $30, $60 and $80 respectively. The maximum speed limit on the bridge is usually 80 km/h for automobiles. Such speed limit may be lowered upon roadwork or under strong wind. Traffic may also be directed to the sheltered carriageways on the lower deck when there are very strong winds. There is no sidewalk on the Bridge. Parking is also prohibited on the bridge.
The bridge was designed by Mott MacDonald.
The objectives of the wind tunnel studies were to demonstrate the safety of the structure under construction and once completed, both with respect to aerodynamic stability as well as the possible effects of extreme typhoon wind speeds. A further objective was to provide dynamic response data at several key locations to compare with full scale data from the ongoing monitoring program, conducted by the Highways Department of Hong Kong.
A 1 to 80 scale section model of the deck in the erection stage, and a 1 to 400 scale full aeroelastic model of the entire bridge were constructed. It is a simulation of the typhoon wind climate. The full model was tested in different stages of construction in turbulent boundary layer flow, complete with the local topography in order to model the wind conditions at the site. The model tests identified critical stages of erection that allowed the construction schedule of the bridge to be tailored to avoid the typhoon season. The comparison of model test results and the full scale monitoring will assist engineers to better understand the behaviour of long span bridges in wind and to improve current design methods.
# Bridge tower foundations - one tower located on Wok Tai Wan of Tsing Yi side and the other on a man-made island 120 m from the coast of Ma Wan Island. Both towers are 206m above sea level and founded on relatively shallow bedrock. The towers are two-legged with trusses at intervals, in the form of portal beam design. The legs were constructed with high-strength concrete of 50 MPa strength, using a slipform system in a continuous operation.
# Anchorages - the pulling forces in the main suspension cables is taken up by large gravity anchorages located at both ends of the bridge. They are massive concrete structures deeply seated on bedrock on the landside of Tsing Yi and Ma Wan island. The total weight of concrete used in the Tsing Yi anchorage is 200,000 tonnes and Ma Wan Anchorage is 250,000 tonnes.
# Main cables - The cables were constructed by an aerial spinning process. The process involved drawing wires from a constant-tension supply, and pulling loops of these wires from one anchorage to the other, passing a 500-tonne cast-iron saddle on top of each bridge tower seating the cable. A total of 70,000 nos. galvanised wires of 5.38 mm diameter were placed and adjusted to form the 2 nos. of 1.1 m diameter main cables.
# Suspended deck - The steelwork for the deck structure was fabricated in and Japan. After delivery, they were further processed and assembled in Dongguan of China into standard deck modules. A total of 96 modules, each 18 m long and about 480 tonnes in weight, were prepared. These deck modules were brought to the site by specially designed barges and raised into the deck position by a pair of strand jack gantries that could manoeuvre along the main cable.
# Approach span on Tsing Yi side - similar in form and cross-section to the suspended deck, but the approach span was supported on piers instead of cable-support. The first span was assembled on the ground and raised into position using strand jacks. Further erection then proceeded in cantilever in smaller sections, using derrick cranes stationed on the deck level. An expansion joint which allowed for a maximum thermal movement of ± 835 mm was also provided and located inside the approach span section.
Tsing Ma Bridge has become a favourite scenic spot as well as a famous landmark. In order to watch and get further information about it, one can go to the which is located at the northwest corner of Tsing Yi Island, just next to the Bridge's Tsing Yi end. Pictures and the structure of the Lantau Link and Ting Kau Bridge are on display at the Centre. The Visitors Centre is opened from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays ; from 10:00 am to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and most of the public holidays. From the Scenery Viewing Platform, one can also see the Ting Kau Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge. They are the other two bridges listed in the world's "Three Mosts" as well. Visitors can also have a different spot at the Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre located about 2 north of the Bridge.
There are several ways to travel along the upper deck of the Bridge. The cheapest way is to take a bus running between the Hong Kong International Airport and the city. These and Long Win Bus routes have the route number prefixes "A" and "E".
Only cars, taxis, green minibus and private coaches can reach the Visitor Centre.
can be caught at the nearest MTR station, , which cost around HK$30-40. There are parking places for cars and coaches.
Drivers approaching from the south along the Cheung Tsing Highway should turn off at Exit 5A towards the Tsing Ma Bridge Administration Building. Take extra care not to end up in the second-most-left lane, which leads to the Tsing Ma Bridge - otherwise any opportunity to U-turn thereafter will not be until Ma Wan, after crossing the entire span of the bridge.
Drivers approaching from the west along Tsing Ma Bridge should turn off at Exit 4B, then taking care to make a 360-degree circle to the "View Point" parking area .
Drivers approaching from the north along Ting Kau Bridge should turn off at Exit 5, then follow the signs to "View Point" .
Drivers approaching from the east along Tsing Yi North Coastal Road should also take care in following the signs to "View Point" after passing the Cheung Shue Tau off-ramp.
Apart from taxis, the only other mode of public transport available is green minibus route 308M, between Tsing Yi MTR Station and Sea Crest Villa in Sham Tseng. It stops via the Visitor Centre on a one-hour frequency during limited hours: from Tsing Yi Station, 10:00-16:00 on weekdays, 09:30-18:30 on weekends & public holidays; from Sea Crest Villa, 10:30-16:30 on weekdays, 10:00-19:00 on weekends & public holidays. The fare is HK$6.50.
The wide bridge deck carries six lanes of automobile traffic, with three lanes in each direction. The lower level contains two rail tracks. There are also two sheltered carriageways on the lower deck for maintenance access and as backup for traffic when particularly severe typhoons strike Hong Kong. Though road traffic would need to be closed in that case, trains could still get through in either direction.
History
Construction of the bridge was carried out by a Costain / Mitsui / joint venture. Construction work of the bridge began in May 1992 and ended in May 1997. It cost HK$7.2 billion. The Lantau Link, of which the bridge is an integral part, was opened on April 27, 1997. The ceremony was inaugurated by the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Operation
The Tsing Ma Bridge links Tsing Yi Island on the east to Ma Wan island on the west over Ma Wan Channel. It is part of the Lantau Link, which, with two long span bridges links the New Territories and Lantau Island, and eventually leads to the Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok via North Lantau Highway. The other bridge is the Kap Shui Mun Bridge linking Ma Wan to Lantau Island over Kap Shui Mun. The two bridges are connected over Ma Wan by Ma Wan Viaduct.
The Tsing Ma Bridge has been an important gateway to Lantau Island. It will become part of the planned Route 8 expressway, which will connect the Lantau Link, the West Kowloon expressway, Cheung Sha Wan and Shatin. The rail line is part of MTR's Tung Chung Line and .
The bridge, together with other highway, bridge and tunnel connections in the area, are part of the Tsing Ma Control Area under the Tsing Ma Control Area Ordinance in Hong Kong Law. The control area has been managed by Tsing Ma Management Limited since opening. The control area's traffic management system was developed by Delcan Corporation of Toronto. Special regulations and by-laws are carried out in the area.
Along with the Ting Kau Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge, the bridge is closely monitored by the Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System . Surveillance cameras are also installed over the bridge to record traffic conditions. The video is available at the government website. It is updated every two minutes.
The double tolls of the Lantau Link for motor cycle, private car, public double-decked bus and heavy goods vehicle are HK$20, $30, $60 and $80 respectively. The maximum speed limit on the bridge is usually 80 km/h for automobiles. Such speed limit may be lowered upon roadwork or under strong wind. Traffic may also be directed to the sheltered carriageways on the lower deck when there are very strong winds. There is no sidewalk on the Bridge. Parking is also prohibited on the bridge.
Design
The bridge was designed by Mott MacDonald.
Wind tunnel testing
The objectives of the wind tunnel studies were to demonstrate the safety of the structure under construction and once completed, both with respect to aerodynamic stability as well as the possible effects of extreme typhoon wind speeds. A further objective was to provide dynamic response data at several key locations to compare with full scale data from the ongoing monitoring program, conducted by the Highways Department of Hong Kong.
A 1 to 80 scale section model of the deck in the erection stage, and a 1 to 400 scale full aeroelastic model of the entire bridge were constructed. It is a simulation of the typhoon wind climate. The full model was tested in different stages of construction in turbulent boundary layer flow, complete with the local topography in order to model the wind conditions at the site. The model tests identified critical stages of erection that allowed the construction schedule of the bridge to be tailored to avoid the typhoon season. The comparison of model test results and the full scale monitoring will assist engineers to better understand the behaviour of long span bridges in wind and to improve current design methods.
Major components
# Bridge tower foundations - one tower located on Wok Tai Wan of Tsing Yi side and the other on a man-made island 120 m from the coast of Ma Wan Island. Both towers are 206m above sea level and founded on relatively shallow bedrock. The towers are two-legged with trusses at intervals, in the form of portal beam design. The legs were constructed with high-strength concrete of 50 MPa strength, using a slipform system in a continuous operation.
# Anchorages - the pulling forces in the main suspension cables is taken up by large gravity anchorages located at both ends of the bridge. They are massive concrete structures deeply seated on bedrock on the landside of Tsing Yi and Ma Wan island. The total weight of concrete used in the Tsing Yi anchorage is 200,000 tonnes and Ma Wan Anchorage is 250,000 tonnes.
# Main cables - The cables were constructed by an aerial spinning process. The process involved drawing wires from a constant-tension supply, and pulling loops of these wires from one anchorage to the other, passing a 500-tonne cast-iron saddle on top of each bridge tower seating the cable. A total of 70,000 nos. galvanised wires of 5.38 mm diameter were placed and adjusted to form the 2 nos. of 1.1 m diameter main cables.
# Suspended deck - The steelwork for the deck structure was fabricated in and Japan. After delivery, they were further processed and assembled in Dongguan of China into standard deck modules. A total of 96 modules, each 18 m long and about 480 tonnes in weight, were prepared. These deck modules were brought to the site by specially designed barges and raised into the deck position by a pair of strand jack gantries that could manoeuvre along the main cable.
# Approach span on Tsing Yi side - similar in form and cross-section to the suspended deck, but the approach span was supported on piers instead of cable-support. The first span was assembled on the ground and raised into position using strand jacks. Further erection then proceeded in cantilever in smaller sections, using derrick cranes stationed on the deck level. An expansion joint which allowed for a maximum thermal movement of ± 835 mm was also provided and located inside the approach span section.
Tourism
Tsing Ma Bridge has become a favourite scenic spot as well as a famous landmark. In order to watch and get further information about it, one can go to the which is located at the northwest corner of Tsing Yi Island, just next to the Bridge's Tsing Yi end. Pictures and the structure of the Lantau Link and Ting Kau Bridge are on display at the Centre. The Visitors Centre is opened from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays ; from 10:00 am to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and most of the public holidays. From the Scenery Viewing Platform, one can also see the Ting Kau Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge. They are the other two bridges listed in the world's "Three Mosts" as well. Visitors can also have a different spot at the Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre located about 2 north of the Bridge.
Ways to get there
To the bridge
There are several ways to travel along the upper deck of the Bridge. The cheapest way is to take a bus running between the Hong Kong International Airport and the city. These and Long Win Bus routes have the route number prefixes "A" and "E".
To the Visitor Centre and Viewing Platform
Only cars, taxis, green minibus and private coaches can reach the Visitor Centre.
can be caught at the nearest MTR station, , which cost around HK$30-40. There are parking places for cars and coaches.
Drivers approaching from the south along the Cheung Tsing Highway should turn off at Exit 5A towards the Tsing Ma Bridge Administration Building. Take extra care not to end up in the second-most-left lane, which leads to the Tsing Ma Bridge - otherwise any opportunity to U-turn thereafter will not be until Ma Wan, after crossing the entire span of the bridge.
Drivers approaching from the west along Tsing Ma Bridge should turn off at Exit 4B, then taking care to make a 360-degree circle to the "View Point" parking area .
Drivers approaching from the north along Ting Kau Bridge should turn off at Exit 5, then follow the signs to "View Point" .
Drivers approaching from the east along Tsing Yi North Coastal Road should also take care in following the signs to "View Point" after passing the Cheung Shue Tau off-ramp.
Apart from taxis, the only other mode of public transport available is green minibus route 308M, between Tsing Yi MTR Station and Sea Crest Villa in Sham Tseng. It stops via the Visitor Centre on a one-hour frequency during limited hours: from Tsing Yi Station, 10:00-16:00 on weekdays, 09:30-18:30 on weekends & public holidays; from Sea Crest Villa, 10:30-16:30 on weekdays, 10:00-19:00 on weekends & public holidays. The fare is HK$6.50.
Tian Tan Buddha
Tian Tan Buddha is a large bronze statue of the , completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. Also known as the Big Buddha, it is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. The statue is located near Po Lin Monastery and symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. It is a major center of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and is also a popular attraction.
The statue is named ''Tian Tan Buddha'' because its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. The Buddha statue sits on a throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by eight smaller bronze statues representing gods or s. Like the Daibutsu in Kamakura, Japan, the Tian Tan Buddha is a image of Buddha Amitabha.
The Buddha is 34 meters tall, weighs 250 tonnes, and was the world's tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha prior to 2007. It reputedly can even be seen from as far away as Macau on a clear day. Visitors have to climb 268 steps in order to reach the Buddha, though the site also features a small winding road to the Buddha for vehicles to accommodate the handicapped.
The Tian Tan Buddha appears serene and dignified. His right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction. His left hand rests on his lap in a gesture of giving ''dhana''. The Buddha faces north, which is unique among the great Buddha statues, as all others face south.
In addition, there are 3 floors beneath the Buddha statue: ''The Hall of Universe'', ''The Hall of Benevolent Merit'', and ''The Hall of Remembrance''. One of the most renowned features inside is a relic of Sakyamuni, consisting of some of his alleged cremated remains. There is a huge carved bell inscribed with images of Buddhas in the show room. It was designed to ring every seven minutes, 108 times a day, symbolizing the release of 108 kinds of human vexations.
The Tian Tan Buddha was constructed beginning in 1990, and was finished on December 29, 1993, the birthday of Sakyamuni, the historic Buddha. The construction costs of the giant Buddha were estimated to be up to $68 million. It was formed out of 202 separate pieces of bronze. In addition to the exterior components, there is a strong steel framework inside the statue to support the heavy load and wind pressure.
When the statue was completed, monks from around the world were invited to the opening ceremony. Distinguished visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United States all took part in the proceedings.
On October 18, 1999, the issued a stamp depicting the Tian Tan Buddha. The MTR corporation has also issued a tourist souvenir ticket featuring a photograph of the statue.
Po Lin Monastery and the Buddha are open to the public between 10:00 and 17:45. Access to the Buddha is free of charge.
Visitors may also see the nearby monastery, known as the "Buddhist Kingdom in the South," which serves as an international Buddhist retreat, and is one of the largest and most well known in Hong Kong. The monastery was built by three Zen masters in 1920. The main temples have painted vermilion interiors with and many other different Chinese mythical figures on the walls and ceilings. Visitors often spend time in the attached tea garden, the only tea garden in the territory. A five minute walk past the tea garden leads to the "Wisdom Path" - a very large wooden inscription of the Heart Sutra set within a figure 8 to symbolize infinity.
One of the main attractions of this Buddha statue is climbing 268 steps and circling the platform where the Buddha sits.
Also nearby is Lantau Peak, the second highest mountain in Hong Kong.
Visitors can reach the site by bus or taxi, travelling first to Mui Wo via ferry from the Outlying Islands piers in , or to via the MTR. Visitors may then travel to and from and Buddha via the following bus routes:
*Mui Wo ? Ngong Ping — No. 2
*Tung Chung ? Ngong Ping — NLB No. 23
Visitors to Hong Kong who are staying for more than a day should consider buying an on their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport - there is a stand just after customs - the card can be topped up, at machines located at every MTR station with HK$50 or HK$100 and can be used on the MTR, buses, Hong Kong Tramways, some ferries, to pay for meals at many restaurants and also at the many 7 Eleven stores - it is painless and avoids the need to track down or carry change .
A gondola lift, the Ngong Ping Skyrail between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping, provides another means of access. Round-trip fare : $88 HKD Mon-Sat, $98 HKD Sun/Holidays - entrance to performances at the centre by the top of the Skyrail are extra but the staff are very good at explaining the options and do not push for the most expensive. The entrance to the Skyrail is the other side of the bus station from the MTR station and signs at the site indicate that it opens at 10.00 a.m. but normally they start selling tickets at 9.30 a.m.
Summary facts about other great Buddha statues are listed below.
Description
The statue is named ''Tian Tan Buddha'' because its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. The Buddha statue sits on a throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by eight smaller bronze statues representing gods or s. Like the Daibutsu in Kamakura, Japan, the Tian Tan Buddha is a image of Buddha Amitabha.
The Buddha is 34 meters tall, weighs 250 tonnes, and was the world's tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha prior to 2007. It reputedly can even be seen from as far away as Macau on a clear day. Visitors have to climb 268 steps in order to reach the Buddha, though the site also features a small winding road to the Buddha for vehicles to accommodate the handicapped.
The Tian Tan Buddha appears serene and dignified. His right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction. His left hand rests on his lap in a gesture of giving ''dhana''. The Buddha faces north, which is unique among the great Buddha statues, as all others face south.
In addition, there are 3 floors beneath the Buddha statue: ''The Hall of Universe'', ''The Hall of Benevolent Merit'', and ''The Hall of Remembrance''. One of the most renowned features inside is a relic of Sakyamuni, consisting of some of his alleged cremated remains. There is a huge carved bell inscribed with images of Buddhas in the show room. It was designed to ring every seven minutes, 108 times a day, symbolizing the release of 108 kinds of human vexations.
History
The Tian Tan Buddha was constructed beginning in 1990, and was finished on December 29, 1993, the birthday of Sakyamuni, the historic Buddha. The construction costs of the giant Buddha were estimated to be up to $68 million. It was formed out of 202 separate pieces of bronze. In addition to the exterior components, there is a strong steel framework inside the statue to support the heavy load and wind pressure.
When the statue was completed, monks from around the world were invited to the opening ceremony. Distinguished visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United States all took part in the proceedings.
On October 18, 1999, the issued a stamp depicting the Tian Tan Buddha. The MTR corporation has also issued a tourist souvenir ticket featuring a photograph of the statue.
Visiting and access
Po Lin Monastery and the Buddha are open to the public between 10:00 and 17:45. Access to the Buddha is free of charge.
Visitors may also see the nearby monastery, known as the "Buddhist Kingdom in the South," which serves as an international Buddhist retreat, and is one of the largest and most well known in Hong Kong. The monastery was built by three Zen masters in 1920. The main temples have painted vermilion interiors with and many other different Chinese mythical figures on the walls and ceilings. Visitors often spend time in the attached tea garden, the only tea garden in the territory. A five minute walk past the tea garden leads to the "Wisdom Path" - a very large wooden inscription of the Heart Sutra set within a figure 8 to symbolize infinity.
One of the main attractions of this Buddha statue is climbing 268 steps and circling the platform where the Buddha sits.
Also nearby is Lantau Peak, the second highest mountain in Hong Kong.
Public transport
Visitors can reach the site by bus or taxi, travelling first to Mui Wo via ferry from the Outlying Islands piers in , or to via the MTR. Visitors may then travel to and from and Buddha via the following bus routes:
*Mui Wo ? Ngong Ping — No. 2
*Tung Chung ? Ngong Ping — NLB No. 23
Visitors to Hong Kong who are staying for more than a day should consider buying an on their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport - there is a stand just after customs - the card can be topped up, at machines located at every MTR station with HK$50 or HK$100 and can be used on the MTR, buses, Hong Kong Tramways, some ferries, to pay for meals at many restaurants and also at the many 7 Eleven stores - it is painless and avoids the need to track down or carry change .
A gondola lift, the Ngong Ping Skyrail between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping, provides another means of access. Round-trip fare : $88 HKD Mon-Sat, $98 HKD Sun/Holidays - entrance to performances at the centre by the top of the Skyrail are extra but the staff are very good at explaining the options and do not push for the most expensive. The entrance to the Skyrail is the other side of the bus station from the MTR station and signs at the site indicate that it opens at 10.00 a.m. but normally they start selling tickets at 9.30 a.m.
Comparisons
Summary facts about other great Buddha statues are listed below.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong opened in 1928 is Hong Kong's first hotel and is also one of the most internationally recognizable hotels in Hong Kong. It is located at the junction of Nathan Road and in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Founded by members of the Kadoorie family, the hotel today is part of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels group headed by Sir Michael Kadoorie. The Peninsula Hotel Group's flagship property has been voted as the world's best hotel on a couple of occasions and is widely regarded as one of the legendary properties.
It opened in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong in December of 1928, built with the idea that it would be "the finest hotel east of Suez." Passengers arriving in Hong Kong by ocean liner disembarked onto the quays of Kowloon plus, it was the last stop on the that brought travelers from Europe. As such, the Peninsula hotel was ideally situated to take advantage of the increasing number of wealthy visitors to the area.
From the moment the hotel opened its doors to the first guest, the Peninsula name has been synonymous with welcoming the rich, the famous, the titled and the titans of industry to a place of unsurpassed luxury and service. The hotel is also distinguished by its fleet of signature Rolls-Royces, which can be hired by guests. These cars are painted in a distinctive shade of green known as "Peninsula green".
On December 25, 1941, at the end of the Battle of Hong Kong, British colonial officials headed by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Aitchison Young, surrendered in person at the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of The Peninsula. The Hotel was then renamed "The Toa Hotel".
In 1994, an extension was added to the original hotel. The features of the existing hotel building was preserved; these include the forecourt, the lobby and the front facade. The hotel was in operation when the extension was in process.
In 1994, a 30-story tower was added in the same original style and the hotel installed a helipad for clients. It is one of only two private rooftop helipads in the territory, the other being located on top of the Shun Tak Centre. The helipads are being used for the transfer of the hotel's VIP clients with the flight duration to the Hong Kong International Airport being 7 minutes.
The total number of rooms in the hotel was increased to 300 as 132 rooms and suites were created. There are 10 floors of office space, shops and a series of hotel facilities added to the existing hotel buildings.
The Peninsula Hotel has a collection of highly acclaimed restaurants. They include the gourmet French restaurant Gaddi's, which has one of the first in Hong Kong, and the Philippe Starck-designed Felix. Other notable restaurants include Spring Moon and Chesa, which specialize in Cantonese and Swiss cuisine respectively.
The Lobby of the Peninsula serves traditional English-style Afternoon Tea, reminiscent of Hong Kong's colonial era.
Since December 2006, the hotel has had a fleet of 14 Long Wheelbase Rolls Royce Phantoms painted in the hotel's signature green. This was the largest order placed for Rolls Royce in the history of the company. It replaces a fleet of .
The Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong has been recognised as an internationally leading hotel in many areas. It has received awards from Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Travel + Leisure, and other industry organizations.
*
History
It opened in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong in December of 1928, built with the idea that it would be "the finest hotel east of Suez." Passengers arriving in Hong Kong by ocean liner disembarked onto the quays of Kowloon plus, it was the last stop on the that brought travelers from Europe. As such, the Peninsula hotel was ideally situated to take advantage of the increasing number of wealthy visitors to the area.
From the moment the hotel opened its doors to the first guest, the Peninsula name has been synonymous with welcoming the rich, the famous, the titled and the titans of industry to a place of unsurpassed luxury and service. The hotel is also distinguished by its fleet of signature Rolls-Royces, which can be hired by guests. These cars are painted in a distinctive shade of green known as "Peninsula green".
On December 25, 1941, at the end of the Battle of Hong Kong, British colonial officials headed by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Aitchison Young, surrendered in person at the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of The Peninsula. The Hotel was then renamed "The Toa Hotel".
In 1994, an extension was added to the original hotel. The features of the existing hotel building was preserved; these include the forecourt, the lobby and the front facade. The hotel was in operation when the extension was in process.
Features
In 1994, a 30-story tower was added in the same original style and the hotel installed a helipad for clients. It is one of only two private rooftop helipads in the territory, the other being located on top of the Shun Tak Centre. The helipads are being used for the transfer of the hotel's VIP clients with the flight duration to the Hong Kong International Airport being 7 minutes.
The total number of rooms in the hotel was increased to 300 as 132 rooms and suites were created. There are 10 floors of office space, shops and a series of hotel facilities added to the existing hotel buildings.
Restaurants and Bars
The Peninsula Hotel has a collection of highly acclaimed restaurants. They include the gourmet French restaurant Gaddi's, which has one of the first in Hong Kong, and the Philippe Starck-designed Felix. Other notable restaurants include Spring Moon and Chesa, which specialize in Cantonese and Swiss cuisine respectively.
The Lobby of the Peninsula serves traditional English-style Afternoon Tea, reminiscent of Hong Kong's colonial era.
Fleet
Since December 2006, the hotel has had a fleet of 14 Long Wheelbase Rolls Royce Phantoms painted in the hotel's signature green. This was the largest order placed for Rolls Royce in the history of the company. It replaces a fleet of .
Awards
The Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong has been recognised as an internationally leading hotel in many areas. It has received awards from Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Travel + Leisure, and other industry organizations.
Literature
*
The Harbourside
The Harbourside is a tall residential skyscraper located at 1 Austin Road West, in complex on Kowloon peninsula. The building is erected on the West Kowloon Reclamation west of Kwun Chung. Construction of the 74 storey building began in 2000 and was completed in 2003 under the design by P & T Architects & Engineers.
The building is, in fact, three towers joined at the base, middle and top however from a distance it appears as one wall of a building. The gaps between the towers help relieve the stress caused by the wind as the building has a large surface area which results in it acting as a sail. It was constructed as part of the Kowloon Station development and was the fourth phase. All floors are used for residential purposes.
The tower is the 91st tallest building in the world when measured up to the highest architectural point.
The building is, in fact, three towers joined at the base, middle and top however from a distance it appears as one wall of a building. The gaps between the towers help relieve the stress caused by the wind as the building has a large surface area which results in it acting as a sail. It was constructed as part of the Kowloon Station development and was the fourth phase. All floors are used for residential purposes.
The tower is the 91st tallest building in the world when measured up to the highest architectural point.
Gallery
Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Penfold Park is encircled by the track.
It was first built in 1978 on reclaimed land and is the larger of the two tracks in Hong Kong.
The course has 474 races per season including:
* Sha Tin Racecourse Silver Jubilee Cup
* Sha Tin Sprint Trophy
On September 9, 2007, Sha Tin race track opened with record 1-day crowd of about 60,000. Chief Secretary Henry Tang stroke the ceremonial gong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club collected US$106 million in bets . Children of horse owners were admitted amid protest of local anti-gambling groups. ''Sunny Power'', booted by Howard Cheng got the trophy in the 1,200 metre dash.
Originally built with capacity for 35,000 and one grandstand, it now has capacity for 85,000 and two grandstands. It also has 23 stables for a capacity of 1,260 horses.
Other features include:
* Equine Hospital
* Racing Laboratory
* Equine Swimming Pool
* Riverside Gallop
Track Specifications:
Turf
Straight: 430 metres
Circumference: 1899 metres
All Weather Track
Straight: 380 metres
Circumference: 1560 metres
Penfold Park is encircled by the track.
History
It was first built in 1978 on reclaimed land and is the larger of the two tracks in Hong Kong.
The course has 474 races per season including:
* Sha Tin Racecourse Silver Jubilee Cup
* Sha Tin Sprint Trophy
Grand opening
On September 9, 2007, Sha Tin race track opened with record 1-day crowd of about 60,000. Chief Secretary Henry Tang stroke the ceremonial gong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club collected US$106 million in bets . Children of horse owners were admitted amid protest of local anti-gambling groups. ''Sunny Power'', booted by Howard Cheng got the trophy in the 1,200 metre dash.
Features
Originally built with capacity for 35,000 and one grandstand, it now has capacity for 85,000 and two grandstands. It also has 23 stables for a capacity of 1,260 horses.
Other features include:
* Equine Hospital
* Racing Laboratory
* Equine Swimming Pool
* Riverside Gallop
Track Specifications:
Turf
Straight: 430 metres
Circumference: 1899 metres
All Weather Track
Straight: 380 metres
Circumference: 1560 metres
Peak Tower
The Peak Tower is a leisure and shopping complex located near the summit of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It also houses the upper terminal of the Peak Tram. Both the Peak Tower and the Peak Tram are owned by the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels group, the owner of Hong Kong's famous along with many other properties. The tower and tram are joinly promoted by the collective branding known as The Peak.
The Peak Tower is located at an elevation of 396 m, 156 m below the summit of Victoria Peak. Because the architects sought a design which would be prominent on the skyline but would not interrupt the natural line of the hills, they chose a site in a dip along the line of the hills, and restricted the tower's height to 428 m above sea level.
In 1881, Alexander Findlay Smith, who owned a hotel on the Peak, petitioned for the right to introduce a funicular railway to Hong Kong. The Peak Tram was opened for public service on May 28, 1888 by the then Governor .
The current Peak Tower was the work of the British architect , and was completed in 1997. It has seven floors with a total area of 10,400 m? with a ''wok'' shape at the top. A viewing platform was located on the third floor overlooking the world famous Victoria Harbour.
Apart from the Peak Tram terminal and gift shops, the Tower also included several attraction: ''Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium'', ''Hong Kong's Historical Adventure'' and the ''Peak Explorer Motion Simulator''.
In 2000, after the closure of ''Hong Kong's Historical Adventure'', ''Madame Tussauds Hong Kong'' moved in to occupy the former vacated premises to become the first Madame Tussaud's permanent outlet in the Asia-Pacific region.
After the latest refurbishment in 2006, the Peak Tower now has eight floors with viewing terrace relocated to the top of the building that overlook both Victoria Habour and ; however, severe air pollution normally hinders the outlook from this venue.
The Peak Tower is adjoined by a second leisure and shopping centre, the Peak Galleria, built atop the bus station used by the and that serve the Peak.
The Peak Tower is located at an elevation of 396 m, 156 m below the summit of Victoria Peak. Because the architects sought a design which would be prominent on the skyline but would not interrupt the natural line of the hills, they chose a site in a dip along the line of the hills, and restricted the tower's height to 428 m above sea level.
History
In 1881, Alexander Findlay Smith, who owned a hotel on the Peak, petitioned for the right to introduce a funicular railway to Hong Kong. The Peak Tram was opened for public service on May 28, 1888 by the then Governor .
The current Peak Tower was the work of the British architect , and was completed in 1997. It has seven floors with a total area of 10,400 m? with a ''wok'' shape at the top. A viewing platform was located on the third floor overlooking the world famous Victoria Harbour.
Attractions
Apart from the Peak Tram terminal and gift shops, the Tower also included several attraction: ''Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium'', ''Hong Kong's Historical Adventure'' and the ''Peak Explorer Motion Simulator''.
In 2000, after the closure of ''Hong Kong's Historical Adventure'', ''Madame Tussauds Hong Kong'' moved in to occupy the former vacated premises to become the first Madame Tussaud's permanent outlet in the Asia-Pacific region.
After the latest refurbishment in 2006, the Peak Tower now has eight floors with viewing terrace relocated to the top of the building that overlook both Victoria Habour and ; however, severe air pollution normally hinders the outlook from this venue.
The Peak Tower is adjoined by a second leisure and shopping centre, the Peak Galleria, built atop the bus station used by the and that serve the Peak.
Sha Tin Park
Sha Tin Park , formerly known as Sha Tin Central Park , is a in Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China. It is situated along the Shing Mun River in the , next to the New Town Plaza and the Sha Tin Town Hall.
The park occupies 8.05 hectares of land, and is managed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The opening hours are from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm.
The Park was opened on 24 August, 1988. It was then named as ''Shatin Central Park''.
There are Main Plaza, Amphitheatre, South Garden, North Garden, Artists' Corner, Walled Garden, Verandah, Azalea Garden, Scented Garden, Children Playgrounds , Light Refreshment Kiosks and Birds Conservation Area in the park.
In the Scented Garden, ''Michelia figo'' and ''Osmanthus fragrans'' are planted.
Artists' Corner is an open area for the artists exhibiting, displaying, sharing and selling their personal products with the public on every Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays.
There is a Wedding Garden in the Artists' Corner.
The park occupies 8.05 hectares of land, and is managed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The opening hours are from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm.
History
The Park was opened on 24 August, 1988. It was then named as ''Shatin Central Park''.
Facilities
There are Main Plaza, Amphitheatre, South Garden, North Garden, Artists' Corner, Walled Garden, Verandah, Azalea Garden, Scented Garden, Children Playgrounds , Light Refreshment Kiosks and Birds Conservation Area in the park.
In the Scented Garden, ''Michelia figo'' and ''Osmanthus fragrans'' are planted.
Artists' Corner is an open area for the artists exhibiting, displaying, sharing and selling their personal products with the public on every Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays.
There is a Wedding Garden in the Artists' Corner.
Gallery
Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong
Ocean Terminal , built in 1966, is a cruise terminal and shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. It is owned by The Wharf company. It was once a wharf pier on the west shore of Tsim Sha Tsui. The pier was later rebuilt and enlarged, and became a cruise terminal. Apart from a terminal, it is also a multi-story shopping centre and re-branded together with nearby buildings of the Wharf as Harbour City.
The annual berth utilisation rate of Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, which offers two berths accommodating vessels of up to 50,000 tonnes, rose to 76% last year from 71% in 2003. Between 2001 and 2005, some 11 cruise vessels had to berth mid-stream and at container terminals because Ocean Terminal could not meet market demand.
Heavy Load
The annual berth utilisation rate of Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, which offers two berths accommodating vessels of up to 50,000 tonnes, rose to 76% last year from 71% in 2003. Between 2001 and 2005, some 11 cruise vessels had to berth mid-stream and at container terminals because Ocean Terminal could not meet market demand.
Millennium City, Hong Kong
Millennium City is a group of skyscrapers in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong built along the southern side of Kwun Tong Road near station and developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties.
The Millennium City project currently consists of four buildings, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 5. The number 4 is widely regarded as throughout Asia and in both and it is a homophone for "death".
Millennium City 1 and 2 are connected and share a mall and a lobby on their ground floor. They host the headquarters of Standard Chartered Bank, a data center and various other offices. They have shiny blue glass walls and look modern compared to old factory buildings in the area.
Millennium City 6 and 7 are under planning, and both will be built in the Kwun Tong Industrial Area, farther from Kwun Tong Road.
The Millennium City project currently consists of four buildings, numbered 1, 2, 3 and 5. The number 4 is widely regarded as throughout Asia and in both and it is a homophone for "death".
Millennium City 1 and 2 are connected and share a mall and a lobby on their ground floor. They host the headquarters of Standard Chartered Bank, a data center and various other offices. They have shiny blue glass walls and look modern compared to old factory buildings in the area.
Millennium City 6 and 7 are under planning, and both will be built in the Kwun Tong Industrial Area, farther from Kwun Tong Road.
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
The Mandarin Oriental is a hotel in Hong Kong, the first and flagship hotel of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. It opened in September 1963 as The Mandarin, located at 5 Connaught Road Central in , Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong's financial and banking district. The hotel is the first in Hong Kong to feature in-hotel business facilities, catering to traveling business people.
The hotel, completed in 1963, was built on the site of the pre-war Queen's Building.
Although the hotel was criticised by Hong Kong and Macau residents during the early days of operation as it bore an extravagant character and identity, it quickly established itself as an award winning hotel. It has been rated the best hotel in Asia and it has been used by diplomats, politicians and celebrities such as Kate Moss, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, The Sultan of Brunei, the late Princess Diana, former , and George H. W. Bush.
After an extensive 9-month renovation, the Mandarin Oriental re-opened on 28 September, 2006. The renovated hotel features 502 guestrooms and suites, with guest-centred technology, nine restaurants and bars, a holistic spa, traditional barber, hair salon, sky-lit fitness facility with pool and banqueting facilities.
*M Bar
Stylish Bar on the top floor of the Hotel, serves Chinese Tapas from ''Man Wah'' alongside champagne and specialty .
*Mandarin Grill & Bar
One of the most famous steakhouses in Hong Kong. Originally named ''The Saddle & Sirloin''. During the renovation a new seafood serving Crustacean bar has been added.
*
A concept by 3-star Michelin Chef Pierre Gagnaire. Replacing ''Vong's'' , which replaced ''Pierrot'' , a classic .
*Man Wah
The hotel steeped with history. The new chef de cuisine, Ooi Soon Lok. Replaced ''The Button Supper Club'' in 1968.
*Clipper Lounge
A favorite place for high tea amongst local celebrities and socialites. Also known as "Hong Kong's Sitting Room".
*café causette
A relaxing café with open kitchens alongside The Mandarin Cake Shop. Formerly known as ''The Café''.
*The Chinnery Bar
The Chinnery Bar was originally opened as a in 1963 and was not opened to both men and women until 1990. Serves traditional colonial cuisine and whiskey.
*Krug Room
Hidden behind the Chinnery Bar, this bar serves Krug champagne and also serves dinner cooked by the hotel's executive chef.
*The Mandarin Cake Shop
Serves homemade chocolate, cakes and breads along with delicious hot chocolate and coffee.
*Captain's Bar
One of the favorite bars in for business professionals. Serves casual lunch during the day and cocktails at night with lively music provided by the Tony DeSare trio.
Leslie Cheung, a famous movie star in Asian cinemas committed suicide by jumping off the hotel building on 1 April 2003. The hotel site has now become a place where his fans pay their respects every year on 1 April.
Image:HK Connaught Garden Mandarin Oriental hotel.JPG|30 April, 2007
Image:HK Central Jackson Road n Charter Road.jpg|23 June, 2007
Image:HK Chater Road Mandarin Oriental hotel.JPG|A street level view of the Mandarin Oriental hotel from Chater Road, 6 July, 2007
Image:Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong 1.jpg|12 January, 2008
History
The hotel, completed in 1963, was built on the site of the pre-war Queen's Building.
Although the hotel was criticised by Hong Kong and Macau residents during the early days of operation as it bore an extravagant character and identity, it quickly established itself as an award winning hotel. It has been rated the best hotel in Asia and it has been used by diplomats, politicians and celebrities such as Kate Moss, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, The Sultan of Brunei, the late Princess Diana, former , and George H. W. Bush.
After an extensive 9-month renovation, the Mandarin Oriental re-opened on 28 September, 2006. The renovated hotel features 502 guestrooms and suites, with guest-centred technology, nine restaurants and bars, a holistic spa, traditional barber, hair salon, sky-lit fitness facility with pool and banqueting facilities.
Restaurants and Bars
*M Bar
Stylish Bar on the top floor of the Hotel, serves Chinese Tapas from ''Man Wah'' alongside champagne and specialty .
*Mandarin Grill & Bar
One of the most famous steakhouses in Hong Kong. Originally named ''The Saddle & Sirloin''. During the renovation a new seafood serving Crustacean bar has been added.
*
A concept by 3-star Michelin Chef Pierre Gagnaire. Replacing ''Vong's'' , which replaced ''Pierrot'' , a classic .
*Man Wah
The hotel steeped with history. The new chef de cuisine, Ooi Soon Lok. Replaced ''The Button Supper Club'' in 1968.
*Clipper Lounge
A favorite place for high tea amongst local celebrities and socialites. Also known as "Hong Kong's Sitting Room".
*café causette
A relaxing café with open kitchens alongside The Mandarin Cake Shop. Formerly known as ''The Café''.
*The Chinnery Bar
The Chinnery Bar was originally opened as a in 1963 and was not opened to both men and women until 1990. Serves traditional colonial cuisine and whiskey.
*Krug Room
Hidden behind the Chinnery Bar, this bar serves Krug champagne and also serves dinner cooked by the hotel's executive chef.
*The Mandarin Cake Shop
Serves homemade chocolate, cakes and breads along with delicious hot chocolate and coffee.
*Captain's Bar
One of the favorite bars in for business professionals. Serves casual lunch during the day and cocktails at night with lively music provided by the Tony DeSare trio.
Incidents
Leslie Cheung, a famous movie star in Asian cinemas committed suicide by jumping off the hotel building on 1 April 2003. The hotel site has now become a place where his fans pay their respects every year on 1 April.
Gallery
Image:HK Connaught Garden Mandarin Oriental hotel.JPG|30 April, 2007
Image:HK Central Jackson Road n Charter Road.jpg|23 June, 2007
Image:HK Chater Road Mandarin Oriental hotel.JPG|A street level view of the Mandarin Oriental hotel from Chater Road, 6 July, 2007
Image:Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong 1.jpg|12 January, 2008
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