Postcard 40 shows
one of the oldest and best preserved Pre-Romanesque buildings in the Iberian
Peninsula.
We are referring
to a gem of a church, A Capela de San Miguel (Saint Michael’s Chapel), located
in the gardens of the Monastery of San Salvador in Celanova. Hope Antonia, our
friend from Hong Kong, will like it!
Remember that Hong
Kong, more than 10000km away, has already been described on a previous post.
If
you want to learn about the history and style of Saint Michael’s Chapel, visit
DISCOVER OURENSE. Thank you, Andrea!
Our Very Young
Postcrossers have made their second contribution to this project!
5-year old students have chosen a very beautiful postcard designed by an ESO student,
Manuela.
As you can see,
Manuela’s card represents Xinzo de Limia’s famous “Pantalla”, a carnival figure
that was described in DISCOVER OURENSE. Before our Very Young Postcrossers
started to write the card, Manuela explained to them why she had chosen the Pantalla
for her illustration.
Thanks a lot,
Manuela!!
The destination of
card 26 is a faraway city: Hong Kong, China, which our Very Young Postcrossers
can now locate on a world map thanks to the help of teacher Eva.
Hope our friend
Kevin will like it!
One of the
administrators of this blog, Ana, visited Hong Kong a few years ago. She has
told us many interesting things about this exotic city and has helped us select
useful information which you can find in EXPLORING PLACES. Thanks, Ana!
Postcard 26 was headed for Hong Kong or Fragrant City! One of the administrators of this blog, Ana Losada, visited this city a few years ago. She has told us many
interesting things about HK which have helped us select useful information in order to write this entry. Hope you like it!
WHERE
IS HONG KONG?
Hong Kong, officially Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is an autonomous territory on the southern coast of China at the Pearl River Estuary and the South China Sea.
Hong Kong is known for its skyline and deep natural
harbour. It has a land area of 1104 km2 and shares its northern border with
Guangdong Province of Mainland China. With around 7.2 million inhabitants of
various nationalities. Hong Kong is one of the world's most densely populated
metropolises.
… being the place where “East Meets West”, reflecting the influence of
the British during its time as a colony (1841-1997). Hong Kong handover
ceremony took place on July 1st , 1997. Hong Kong belongs to China but has political autonomy in all matters except foreign relations and military defence.
A street in HK island that conmemorates 1997 transfer of sovereignity. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
…being the "Cantonese Speaking Capital of the
World."
… being the world's most vertical city, with two
hundred and ninety-three buildings higher than five hundred feet -- sixty more
than second-place New York City.
HK skyscrapers. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
… And last but not least, Hong Kong stands as the 3rd
most important financial center, after London and New York City. The Hong Kong
dollar is the eighth most traded currency in the world.
Night view of HK harbour from The Peak. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
HK
has the world’s largest fleet of ferries and double-deck trams. Taking the
ferry is very cheap, the Star Ferry Route connects HK Island with Kowloon
District for less than 1 euro.
The
Peak
The Peak Tram. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
The Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island,
which has been the city’s most exclusive neighbourhood since colonial times –
back then it was the cooler air that attracted the rich and famous; in the post
air-conditioning era, the views of one of the world’s most spectacular
cityscapes keep them coming. That view is also what makes The Peak one of the
most popular attractions in Hong Kong.
Ladies’
Market
Ladies' Market. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
With over 100 stalls of bargain clothing, accessories
and souvenirs, the Ladies’ Market on Tung Choi Street provides a one-kilometre
stretch on which to practise your haggling skills. It gets its name from the
huge amount of clothing and accessories on sale for women of all ages; however,
with watches, cosmetics, bags, home furnishings, CDs and trinkets also up for
grabs, you don’t need to be just in the market for a pair of nylon stockings to
find something within its crowded aisles.
The old Clock Tower was erected in 1915 as part of the
Kowloon–Canton Railway terminus. The once-bustling station is long gone, but
this red brick and granite tower, now preserved as a Declared Monument,
survives as an elegant reminder of the Age of Steam. It has also been a
memorable landmark for the millions of Chinese immigrants who passed through
the terminus to begin new lives not just in Hong Kong, but in other parts of
the world via the city’s harbour.
Lantau Island and the Giant Buddha
Reached by a 25 minute ride by cable car,
Lantau
island includes wonderful sites like the Gnongs
Ping Village, Giant Buddha
(1993), Po Lin Monastery and Wisdom Path.
Giant Buddha. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
Giant Buddha. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
Po Lin Monastery. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
Po Lin Monastery. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
LIFESTYLE
Hong
Kong is a city where “East Meets West” and “Past times meet the present day”
While the city is full of ultra-modern buildings, remnants of old
Hong Kong remain apparent in its many historical buildings.
Hong Kong Park. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
Another popular tradition the city preserves is Dim
Sum: a typically Hong Kong breakfast that many restaurants start serving as 5am,
it’s a must!
Dim sum. Photo courtesy of Ana Losada
It is said that New York is the city that never
sleeps; well, the same can be said of Hong Kong: restaurants, supermarkets
and other types of shop are open 24/7.
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