Lantern Carnival

Lanterns are only played by children? If you visit the Mid-Autumn lantern carnival at Victoria Park, you must change your mind because of the beautiful arts. This year lantern carnival takes the simple life of chinese ethnic minority as a subject. Lanterns have been put on different ethnic minority clothings. In order to show chinese myth fable, totems equipped with woods and dragon are displayed.

After the dinner, family members sit on the Victoria Park lawn, enjoy the moon cake and admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon. Children grasps the lantern and the fluorescence stick to play, a piece of happy and warm atmosphere is fully filled on the Victoria Park.

A nice resort in the New Territories

It seems that most of the popular tourist spots are located on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, people always neglect many nice places in the New Territories, Hong Kong Gold Coast is an example. It is a large tourist resort located at Tuen Mun, near Castle Peak Bay. The main facilities include the resort hotel, shopping mall, restaurants, barbeque site, yacht and country club etc. Walking along the Continental-style buildings, you feel like staying in a European small town. Due to this special feature, many couples choose to take their wedding photos there. On every weekend and public holiday, you can find booths selling handicrafts and artists displaying their works on Art Promenade. The Gold Coast Montmartre and the new Dolphin Square are suitable for family day, but you can also enjoy an romantic moment on the long Golden Beach, the first and biggest artificial beach in Hong Kong. Don't miss the beautiful sunset, it will be an unforgettable memory in your mind.

The story behind Ocean Park

This year Ocean Park is celebrating its 30th years old birthday. Opened on January 1977, Ocean Park experienced its tough period from 1998 to 2004, the number of tourists dropped dramatically and the park had been suffering loss. Facing the challenge of Hong Kong Disney, repulsion of the old sites and recovery from SARS, people began to suspect the value of the park, some even suggested to shut it down. However, the HK government did not give up. In 2004, known as the father of Lan Kwai Fong, Allan Zeman was invited to be the president of the park, then Ocean Park began its new era, it was established a more prominent image as an ocean theme park in Southeast Asia. With the introduction of new animal species, brand new amusement rides and also the individual visit scheme from mainland China, the number of visitors reached the peak of 400 millions on the same year. It was the highest record since the park has opened and the figure kept rising afterwards. The renewal did not only attract new comers, but also brought the old visitors back to the park. The success of Ocean Park symbolized the Hong Kong spirit- aggressive, hard-working and adaptive. It is our treasure to share with all people around the world. Next time when you come to visit Ocean Park, try to think of the story behind, you may find more than what you see.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Autumn is my favorite season among the rest. It’s short and it makes even more cherished. I enjoy so much when the light breeze on your cheek. Some trees have turned yellow while others are waiting compose a beautiful scenery picture.

It’s close to Mid-Autumn Festival. Our traditional family-oriented culture will make use of this opportunity to get together, share some laughter and caring with each others. Our celebration brings lots of foods and activities. Mooncake is a must that you cannot miss during the Festival. While we are chasing the Harvest Moon, everyone is having fun at Lantern Celebration. A must-do is to challenge the lantern riddle brain-teaser!!

The Dragon's Back trail

Have you though that you can step from busy urban areas into peaceful countryside in minutes? The Dragon's Back trail, which Time magazine declared as the Best Urban Hike in Asia (22 Nov 2004 Asia issue), is the city's finest and most surprising ramble. "The glory of it all is that you're so close to the city, but could hardly feel farther away", the Time article says.

I have been walked this trial several times and it is very deserve to recommend it to tourists. From the ridge there are spectacular views eastwards to Clear Water Bay Peninsula and islands in the eastern sea approaches to Hong Kong. To the west there are views of Stanley Peninsula and the South China Sea. At the foot of the Dragon's Back is the popular village Shek O with its sandy beaches and alfresco restaurants.

You can start the trial in To Tei Wan and finish in Big Wave Bay. The total length is 8.5 km and normally takes 3.5 hours.

Transportation
The simple way is take MTR to Shau Kei Wan Station and then take Bus No. 9 to To Tei Wan.

What!? You didn't visit the Ocean Park during your stay in HK?

Yes, you’re seeing a panda. We ain’t at a zoo though. Rather we’re introducing to you one of the nicest places to visit in Hong Kong: the Ocean Park. You could hardly find another park that is so vibrant and offers such a variety of festivities as “Summer Water Fun”, “Halloween Bash”, and so forth. Don’t be fooled by the word “Ocean”. It’s not only about creatures like sea lions, dolphins, sharks, etc. You can also see our all-time-popular Panda buddies (you’ve just seen them in the picture haven’t you?), who bring in the park hundreds of thousands of fans every now and then. What make the Ocean Park so special are its ever-changing amusement attractions. Previously we had SkyFair, during which you could be taken up to the sky in a hot balloon. And now we’re looking forward to the Halloween Bash 2007! Believe me or not, you can pay a visit to the Ocean Park every day in a year and you’ll still be amused. That is why they are increasing the entrance fee by 10% starting Oct 1 2007. Despite this, I’d bet the number of visitors will just keep increasing!

Try to spend a whole day in the Ocean Park, have fun, and I promise you won’t be upset. Drop me a line or two to tell me what you think about it after your visit. I’d be very happy to hear from you.

emmmmmmm, there is one more thing………………. Don’t forget to take the Mine Train!

Yum Cha

"Yum cha" literally means "drinking tea" and it is one of the famous customs in traditional Chinese society. However, a different "drinking tea" culture has been developed in Hong Kong. "Drinking tea" not only means a cup of steaming fresh tea, also includes various types of delicious "dim sum". To feel and understand Hong Kong life, it is a must to go to "yum cha", to enjoy the tea and "dim sum". You will be easy to find a chinese "dim sum" restaurant along the roadside in Hong Kong.

Hiking Trail

Wanna try something new besides shopping and escape from the crowd? It is a wonderful experience to approach nature through hiking, one of the most attractive trails is from Siu Sai Wan to Big Wave Bay on eastern Hongkong Island. The whole trail takes around 2 hrs to finish. The path is quite gentle and paved, so it is suitable for family and small group. Although there are 500 stairsteps to walk up at the beginning, when you see the stunning scenery from the hill, all tiredness will disappear. To get there, take bus no.8p from Wan Chai or 118 from Kowloon side.