Hong Kong: Global and Local Culture
Hong Kong is mainly known as a dynamic shopping and business city. It is a place which is said to have a distinctive blend of East and West. Here you could experience what is diversity. Shoppers and businessmen alike of different nationalities flood the city. There is just so much to do and see in and around Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is not a very big city and is therefore compact – people can easily get from one place to another. Most of the major establishments and shopping districts are within walking distance from each other. The city also has an excellent transportation system so that visitors can easily go to other areas of the city.
Hong Kong is without a doubt the most important point of contact today between China and the Western world; it is also one of the great commercial service centers for the Far East, and as such it performs functions that make its well-being of major significance both to postwar Asia and to the West. At present, tourists that come to Hong Kong are made up of many nationalities.
Walking around the city, one could see buildings rise in solid tiers up to about the 300-foot contour; and above that, almost to the summit of the 1,800-foot ridge-like Peak, dispersed European-style houses and apartments hang precariously on steep slopes scarred by a network of winding and precipitous roads. From many a Peak residence it is possible to look northward over the harbor toward Kowloon and the hills of the New Territories, and southward over the less-developed parts of Hong Kong Island toward distant islands that are part of China itself. In any direction that I look, the vista is one of almost unparalleled beauty.
The next day I was walking around Central, and it was raining lightly. I stopped by a shopping mall in Central while waiting for the rain to subside. Since it is still August, having rain is just normal. Most of the annual rainfall of 85 inches normally comes between April and September, when temperatures average in the low 80's; the three winter months may yield as little as 4 inches of rain. Rainfall is also erratic: there are years of summer drought and local winter floods; in one year as much as 120 inches may fall, in another only/ 46 inches.
The name of the shopping mall that I have chosen to pass time while it is raining outside is the Landmark in Central. This mall is equipped with all the high-end brand name shops. I strolled around the mall and found myself in a Chinese fast food where I was able to eat and observe people come and go and the surrounding at the same time. While I was sitting and slurping my noodles, I couldn’t help but notice the people around me. The people in the mall are a mix of colors. Most of them are probably tourists who come to see the sights and shops in Hong Kong. Lots of foreign tourists usually come to Central and its shopping malls to restock and update their wardrobe.
When the rain subsided, I went out and took a stroll around Central. For a relatively compact city, Hong Kong has an incredible variety of attractions to tempt you into lingering in the area longer than you may have anticipated. For this very same reason, I have been strolling around Central for an hour and I didn’t even notice the time pass. I noticed the sun dip behind the skyline and the neon lights take their cue and blaze from every tower block as far as the eye could see.
You can also see the lights reflecting off the still waters of the bay. Indeed, you could see the Central district is the bustling, business heart of the city with neon lights blazing from every brick. Colonial buildings nestle between the soaring glass and metal towers and this skyline is exceptionally beautiful when seen from the harbor. Even at night, people are still strolling around and are also a mix of colors and nationalities.
At night, Hong Kong is still a sight to see with its neon lights and myriad of people. Tall and short, dark and light skinned, slim and fat, these people are a sight to see. The people are dressed in extremes. You could see some in casual attires- relaxed jeans and shirt – while you could also see others who look like they are going to the Oscars or something. You could see different fashion statements here. Some are shocking and some are conservative. You can clearly see that Hong Kong is a city of contradiction, not only between Asian and Western element, but in virtually almost everything.
The next day, I went out late in the afternoon to continue exploring. I took a bus and went to Kowloon, which houses traditional markets. The public transport in Hong Kong is cheap, efficient and extensive. Trains, trams, buses and ferries are some forms of transportation that often give sightseers magnificent views of the city while one is traveling from place to place within Hong Kong.
During the ride, I continued to survey the surroundings and the beauty that is Hong Kong. My first stop was the Ladies Market in Kowloon. This market is open daily from noon to 10:30 in the evening. The market sells everything from fake designer accessories and clothing to cheap cosmetics and toys. Here, you can see mostly tourists and the majority are ladies. This place is also popular for late night snacks.
After I had my fill of browsing, shopping and observing in the Ladies Market, I went to another market. My next stop was the Night Market in Shanghai Street. After dusk into late night a browse through this market is really fascinating. Not only do they offer inexpensive things but there's everything from fortune-tellers to open air restaurants here.
Anyone could see that Hong Kong is a mix of things. It is a city with a mix of Western and Asian cultures. Quaint old traditional markets and peddler stalls provide the vivid contrast to the shiny new skyscrapers which houses the many designer boutiques. In Hong Kong you can find the cheapest and the most expensive. Various restaurants and food chains are present in Hong Kong which caters to the different tastes of foreign and local tourists in Hong Kong. When it comes to people, Hong Kong is also a mixture of colors and nationalities from all parts of the planet. Indeed, Hong Kong is rich in different cultures and it is very difficult to pinpoint which is exactly the dominating culture within the area. But although it is a highly diverse area when it comes to culture, that doesn’t seem to be a problem at all. In fact, most businesses within Hong Kong continue to prosper for that very reason.
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