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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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

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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.

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