There are countless stories waiting to be written about Hong Kong. Writers and editors interested in any of the following story ideas, or who wish to develop their own ideas, are invited to contact the HK Tourism Board's Toronto Office at: klui@hktb.com.
Shopping
It's no secret that Hong Kong is a shopper's paradise. Plan to be in Hong Kong during the summer when, over the course of ten wonderful weeks, the much-anticipated annual Hong Kong Shopping Festival takes place. This is the time when all that Hong Kong has to offer shoppers is highlighted: from state-of-the-art designer retailers to popular budget markets. This Festival highlights fashion and beauty brands, top-of-the-line watches and jewellery creations, cutting edge electronics and unique Chinese cultural traditions. There are stories here that will appeal to almost every interest. And throughout the Festival, in addition to the lucky draw featuring fabulous prizes, merchants and restaurants offer exclusive visitor privileges that are detailed in the Passport to Special Offers.
Dining
Calling all food writers! Dining in Hong Kong is always a delight and an adventure all year long. But the excitement - and appetites - are heightened in Hong Kong every fall as the Best of the Best (BOB) Culinary Awards competition approaches. This popular culinary event promotes and strengthens Hong Kong's reputation as the Culinary Capital of Asia. Designed to highlight the delicious local classic dishes, BOB attracts many visitors to Hong Kong. Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite dish during the competition and to sample winning dishes at the winning restaurants.
Heritage/Culture
It's no cliché ... East most definitely meets West in Hong Kong, where 5,000 years of Chinese tradition and 150 years of colonial influence converge in a kaleidoscope of heritage attractions and cultural events. Winter brings the Chinese New Year Festival, when Hong Kong waits with great anticipation for the start of the dazzling Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade. What a story! Imagine the photographs! This is most definitely an international spectacle, with many local performing groups being joined by international groups from about a dozen countries. For the past two years Toronto's Caribana troupe, with their spectacular costumes, lithe dance routines and the pulsating rhythms of their incomparable Caribbean music, have represented Canada. Who knows what next year's parade has in store?

When May arrives, it's time for one of Hong Kong's most colourful festivals: the week-long Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Held on quaint, and normally quiet, Cheung Chau island around the centuries-old Pak Tai Temple, this festival features a parade where children dressed in costumes representing mythological figures and modern Chinese heroes appear to float above the crowd on an intricate system of stilts, rods and wires. Beneath them, colourful floats, folk dancers, martial arts teams, musicians and other performers add excitement to the parade. The festival culminates in front of the Temple, where a trio of huge bamboo towers are erected and studded with sweet buns and the effigies of the three gods that the buns are designed to placate. This festival always provides lots of colourful stories and unique photo ops!

When mid-May comes around, it's time to honour Lord Buddha's Birthday. Every year, celebrations are held in Buddhist temples throughout Hong Kong, where worshippers bathe statues of the Buddha as a mark of their devotion. A popular pilgrimage site on this day is to the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha, which is over 26 metres high and weighs more than 200 tons, located at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. The ceremonies here provide an emotional spectacle for all and some touching stories for writers.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is another important date in the Chinese calendar. It is celebrated throughout Hong Kong by families gathering in public parks and other open spaces. They carry beautifully decorated lanterns and thus set the parks ablaze with light and colour. In addition to their lanterns, participants also carry, and enjoy, special mooncakes, baked to commemorate an uprising against the Mongols when rebels smuggled instructions to their compatriots by hiding them in cakes. It's a lovely family celebration which will appeal to readers everywhere.

As November draws to a close, excitement throughout Hong Kong mounts. That's because it's time for WinterFest, a much-loved and anticipated event that continues through the New Year. The magic of Christmas swirls around Asia's world city as Hong Kong WinterFest celebrates the season of love and care. Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, this enchanting festival is the perfect occasion for couples and families to celebrate the holidays. So plan now to join Santa in Hong Kong for Christmas. Throughout the city shops and restaurants will bring glad tidings for all with Christmas offers and tasty seasonal visitor menus. It's Christmas with an Asian twist at Hong Kong WinterFest!
The City, the Harbour and the green places
While Hong Kong is most certainly famous for its exciting city, fabulous festivals, delicious food and incomparable shopping, it must not be forgotten that the great outdoors is also worth writing about!

An exciting new story is the recent opening of the Hong Kong Wetland Park. Situated on more than 64 hectares of land near the Mai Po Marshes in the New Territories, the attraction will appeal to ecotourism enthusiasts and nature lovers. The Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve is already one of Asia's premier wildlife locations. It is home to more than 300 species of birds, many of them endangered, and in winter it sees literally thousands of migratory birds. Phase one of the park is now open and the second phase, which includes a 10,000 square metre Visitor Centre, will soon be completed. A great story awaits!

Also coming soon is a unique new tourist attraction that's sure to become one of Hong Kong's major destinations. It's Ngong Ping 360, an experience which combines a stunning 5.7 km cable car journey with a fascinating cultural-themed village and easy access to the Giant Buddha. The project is currently under construction and is due to open to the public in 2006. Be among the first to tell the story of one of the world's most spectacular cable car rides!

Searching for stories for children or those who are children-at-heart? Hong Kong Disneyland is sure to deliver! This world-class theme park and resort on Lantau Island promises magical experiences ranging from Broadway-style shows and Disney attractions to dazzling firework displays and parades. Experiencing the food here will be another thrill, as eight diverse restaurants are in the plans.

Get out and explore the wealth of outdoor opportunities in Hong Kong, for it truly is a 'green region'. From city parks and classical gardens to stunning coastal trails, islands and beautiful beaches, Hong Kong offers myriad outdoor experiences. Visitors and locals alike love to swim, exercise, walk and hike, watch birds and butterflies, go to the zoo, and take photographs. The list of places for all these outdoor activities is almost endless. A great way to experience Hong Kong's many attractions is to take one - or all - of the tours recommended by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. These range from island tours to excursions into the New Territories.
Sports
Spectator or participant? If sport is your thing, there's a wealth of activities in Hong Kong to enjoy. Horse racing is the local passion. The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens never fails to appeal and with Canadian teams always in the running for the silverware, this is the perfect sports event that is sure to delight hometown audiences. Other sports events include soccer, cricket and, of course, Hong Kong's unique dragon boat races. If your readers are looking for your personal experiences, you can play tennis or squash, go sailing, play golf or join the city's biggest sporting event - the Hong Kong Marathon which is comprised of a full marathon, a half marathon and a 10K run!
The above is only a sampling of all that Hong Kong has to offer. Here's a brief list of other attractions. Please contact us if any of these facets of Hong Kong appeal to you. Or if you would like to develop your own story ideas, we are here to help you share Hong Kong with the world.

Other stories waiting to be written:

  • Meet-the-People Programme (free): join the locals in tai chi, tea tasting and many other activities
  • Superb hotel and spas, from luxurious old favourites to the new and spectacular
  • Dozens of museums, from history and art to science and space and much more
  • Heritage houses and cultural 'villages'
  • Lively night life
  • Ocean Park for its 'over the sea' cable car, sea animals and thrilling rides
  • Getting around Hong Kong is almost a story in itself, with its ferries, buses, trams, cable cars, helicopter rides and the unique 'stairway to heaven' Central - Mid-Levels escalator system from the heart of the city into suburbia.


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