The
Hong
Kong
Special
Administrative
Region
of
the
People’s
Republic
of
China
is
much
more
than
a
harbour
city.
The
traveller
weary
of
its
crowded
streets
may
be
tempted
to
describe
it
as
“Hong
Kongcrete”.
Yet,
this
SAR
with
its
cloudy
mountains
and
rocky
islands
is
mostly
a
rural
landscape.
Much
of
the
countryside
is
classified
as
Country
Park
and,
although
7
million
people
are
never
far
away,
it
is
possible
to
find
pockets
of
wilderness
that
will
reward
the
more
intrepid
tourist.
Hong
Kong
has
the
big
city
specials
like
smog,
odour,
14
million
elbows
and
an
insane
love
of
clatter.
But
it's
also
efficient,
hushed
and
peaceful:
the
transport
network
is
excellent,
the
shopping
centres
are
sublime,
and
the
temples
and
quiet
corners
of
parks
are
contemplative
oases.
The
best
thing
about
being
in
Hong
Kong
is
getting
flummoxed
and
fired
by
the
confluences
and
contradictions
of a
Chinese
city
with
multi-Asian
and
Western
elements.
It's
about
savouring
new
tastes,
weaving
through
a
human
gridlock
and
humming
some
dumb
Cantopop
tune
while
slurping
your
noodles.
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Sites
