Hong+Kong

Official name of the country: China Geographic orientation (site & situation): Situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea Neighboring nations: Korea, Mongolia, Kazakhstan Population: 1,325,639,982 (2008) Official languages: Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese Races/cultures of people: Chinese Religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism = =
 * __Part A: The Essential Guide to the Nation__**

= = **Culture:** Chinese culture is so diverse and unique, yet harmoniously blended, and presents itself an invaluable asset to the world.
 * __ Part B: The Essential Guide to the City __**
 * Food:** Food has a special meaning to the Chinese people. The "waste not, want not" ethos means that a surprising range and variety of plants and animals, and every part of a plant or animal is used.
 * Drink:** Tea has an extremely close relationship to Chinese culture, and its study covers a wide field and has very rich content. The main varieties of Chinese tea are classified as green tea, red tea (black tea), Wulong tea, white tea, yellow tea, and reprocessed tea.
 * Clothing:** Traditional Chinese clothing are crafted from brightly coloured silk and embroidery. They’re tightly stitched, and they excel in the art of mixing threads in a gradual-to-increasing fashion so as to seemingly effortlessly transition from one solid color to another. The main pattern are representations of the natural world (typical motifs are plants, animals, fishes, birds and landscapes).

== Currency and Exchange Rates:  1 Hong Kong dollar = 0.132597333 Canadian dollars == **Tips for travelers: ** Hong Kong is known for its unique energetic vibe, wonderful food, and beautiful skylines. It's best to always bring a camera when roaming around the city, so travelers can capture the essence of this place, and will always have a memento of their visit. The best way to get around Hong Kong is to purchase an Octopus payment card. This card takes you everywhere. It can also be used on any public transportation system, except taxis. It can even be used in vending machines, restaurants, and convenient stores, fast food places, etc. Hong Kong offers many great upscale shopping districts that rival the high end streets of: Shanghai, London and Paris. But the best places to shop here are small shops that line the roads, and street markets that exhibit the charm and uniqueness of the locality. It is wise to look around at the various stores to compare prices before buying anything. The best part of all is that sales tax is exempted on everything in Hong Kong.



= =

**__ Part C: Itinerary __**
**Optional: ** you may purchase an On-loan Octopus Payment Card for easy payment if you are not familiar with Hong Kong money. Places where Octopus cards are available: MTR Customer Service Centres: All stations (except Racecourse station)

Light Rail Customer Service Centres:
Ferry Pier Terminus, Leung King, Town Centre, Yuen Long Terminus, Tin Yat, Siu Hong and Tin Shui Wai stations

KMB Customer Service Centre:
Sha Tin Central Bus Terminus

New World First Ferry Octopus Service Centres:
Piers of Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Peng Chau, Central Piers 5 & 6

New World First Bus Customer Service Centre:
Admiralty (East) Bus Terminus

Or any 7/11 convenience stores.

=** __Flight Description:__ **= Flight 3305 operated by COLGAN AIR DBA CONTINENTAL CONNECTION (on De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8-400) Depart: 11:20am Toronto, ON Canada (YYZ) to Arrive: 12:58pm at Newark, NJ (EWR) Flight 99 (on Boeing 777) Connection Time: 2 hrs 17 mins Depart: 03:15pm Newark, NJ (EWR) to Arrive: 07:05pm Hong Kong, Hong Kong (HKG) Next day
 * Fri, Jul 2, 2010 **
 * Toronto Lester B Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) **
 * Continental Airlines **
 * 1 Stop ** – change planes in Newark, NJ (EWR)
 * Continental Airlines **

Total Travel Time: 19 hrs 45 mins Flight 98 (on Boeing 777) Depart: 10:25am Hong Kong, Hong Kong (HKG) to Arrive: 01:55pm at Newark, NJ (EWR) Connection Time: 2 hrs 20 mins Flight 3306 operated by COLGAN AIR DBA CONTINENTAL CONNECTION (on De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8-400) Depart: 04:15pm Newark, NJ (EWR) to Arrive: 05:57pm at Toronto, ON Canada (YYZ)  Total Travel Time: 19 hrs 32 mins
 * Fri, Jul 9, 2010 **
 * Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Toronto Lester B Pearson International Airport (YYZ) **
 * Continental Airlines **
 * 1 Stop ** – change planes in Newark, NJ (EWR)
 * Continental Airlines **

= **__7 Day Trip__** =


 * July 2nd**

On flight

Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport at 7:05pm Take the Airport Express Line (AEL) to Hong Kong Station where there is a free hotel shuttle bus to Cosmopolitan Hotel Check in by 7:50pm Look around hotel and rest until 9:20pm Get to the departure point, Pier 9, Central, Hong Kong Island by 9:45 by taxi (20min drive) Go on the Hong Kong Harbour Night Cruise ($40.41 CAD/person) (Approx. 90min) Get back to hotel by 10:40 approx. Tour Highlights (Night Cruise)
 * July 3rd**
 * Cruise through Hong Kong harbour aboard a traditional Chinese junk boat
 * Enjoy unlimited beverages

Get picked up at 8:00am for the Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip ($94.07 CAD/person) (approx. 8hrs) Get back to hotel by 4:00pm approx. Rest until 5:50pm and get to Pier 9, Central by 6:15pm for Hong Kong Harbor Night Cruise and Dinner at Lei Yue Mun Seafood Village ($67.41 CAD/person) (approx. 3hrs) Get back to hotel by 9:30pm approx. Tour highlights (Lantau Island)
 * July 4th **
 * Eight-hour day trip to Lantau Island
 * Giant Buddha Exhibition Hall
 * Guided tour of Po Lin Monastery
 * Vegetarian lunch at the monastery
 * Express ferry trip across Hong Kong's harbour to Lantau Island
 * Tai O fishing village and its traditional houses on stilts
 * A 25-minute cable car journey from Ngong Ping Village to Tung Chung town.

Tour highlights (Seafood Village)
 * Evening sightseeing cruise on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour and dinner at Lei Yue Mun Seafood Village
 * Watching Hong Kong light up and you cruise the harbor aboard a traditional Chinese sightseeing boat
 * Unlimited drinks served from the open bar during the cruise
 * A nine-course Chinese dinner
 * Stunning evening view of Hong Kong and the harbor

Get ready by 8:50am and get picked up at 9:00am to go to the Ocean Park ($59.79 CAD/person) (approx. 8hrs) Get back to hotel by 5:00pm Rest until 5:30pm Get to Pier 9, Central by 5:55pm for Hong Kong Sunset Cruise and Dinner at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant ($110.97 CAD/person) (approx. 4hrs) Return to hotel at 10:00pm approx.
 * July 5th **

Tour highlights (Ocean Park)
 * Entry into Ocean Park Hong Kong, the worlds largest marine theatre
 * 8-minute breathtaking cable car ride
 * Enjoy the amusement park with it's many thrilling rides
 * Photo opportunities
 * Fun-filled day for the whole family
 * Hotel pickup and drop off



Tour highlights (Sunset Cruise)
 * Evening sightseeing cruise on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour and dinner aboard the Jumbo Floating Restaurant at Aberdeen
 * Watching Hong Kong light up on your cruise aboard a traditional Chinese sightseeing boat
 * Unlimited drinks served from the open bar during your cruise
 * Nine-course Chinese dinner on board the famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant
 * Stunning evening views of Hong Kong and Kowloon from the Midlevels lookout, halfway up Victoria Peak

Get to City Hall, Central by 8:20am for New Territories of Hong Kong "The Land Between" Tour ($68.73 CAD/person) (approx. 6hrs) Get back to hotel by 2:30pm approx. Rest until 5:00pm and get picked up at the hotel at 5:10pm for Dinner on Lamma Island ($74.20 CAD/person) (approx. 4hrs 30min) Come back to hotel by 8:50pm approx. Take a walk around the town, and shop at Stanley Market to experience Hong Kong streets and return to hotel. Tour highlights (“The Land Between” tour) Tour highlights (Lamma Island)
 * July 6th**
 * Explore New Territories and it's rural beauty on this full-day tour from Hong Kong
 * Discover Hong Kong's rural beauty away from the bustling streets, neon lights and the skyscrapers
 * Visit a Fishing Village
 * Stroll through the colourful rural markets filled with dry fish, herbs, vegetables, fruit and flowers
 * English-speaking guided tour
 * Seafood dinner at Sok Kwu Wan fishing village on Lamma Island
 * Evening ferry ride from Hong Kong to Lamma Island
 * Eight-course seafood dinner
 * Hong Kong's evening lights from the Mid-Levels Lookout
 * Pickup and drop off from selected central Hong Kong hotels
 * Informative and friendly guide

Get ready by 7:30am to be picked up at the hotel for Macau Day Trip ($114.13 CAD/person) (approx. 11hrs) Return to hotel by 6:30pm approx. Rest until 7:00pm and get to Pier 9, Central by 7:30pm for Symphony of Lights Hong Kong Harbor Night Cruise ($49.52 CAD/person) (approx. 1hr 30min) Get back to hotel by 9:00pm approx.
 * July 7th**

Tour highlights (Macau)
 * Day trip to Macau from Hong Kong by catamaran or jetfoil
 * Tour of Macau's World Heritage listed historic center
 * Evocative ruins of the Old Fort and St Paul's church
 * Lunch in Macau
 * Visit to Macau Casino
 * Air-conditioned transport and transfers included
 * Pickup and drop off from selected central Hong Kong hotels



Tour highlights (night cruise)
 * 1.5-hour evening sightseeing cruise and Symphony of Lights laser show on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour
 * Watching Hong Kong light up for the evening aboard a traditional Chinese junk
 * 20-minute Symphony of Lights skyscraper laser show
 * Unlimited drinks served from the open bar during the cruise
 * Music and commentary
 * Stunning evening views of Hong Kong and the harbor



Get on the shuttle bus provided by hotel to shop at Times Square Mega Shopping Mall for all the designer labels and brand name products for cheaper (spend up to $850 CAD/person) Go to Pier 9, Central by 3:00pm for Western Shoreline of Hong Kong and Tsing Ma Bridge Cruise ($32.79 CAD/person) (approx. 2hrs 30min) Return to hotel at 5:50pm approx. Visit Hong Kong Cultural Centre to see shows and other attractions that are on for the night (spend up to $45 CAD/person) Return to hotel and pack up
 * July 8th**

Take the free shuttle bus to Hong Kong Station and get on the Airport Express Line also provided by the hotel Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport by 8:00pm at least Depart airport at 10:25am Arrive at Toronto by 6:00pm
 * July 9th**