Many of us are wondering: "Hong Kong - the country or the capital of a state?"What is it?The beautiful city and a great territorial area?If you ask the residents themselves in Hong Kong, they will answer with confidence: "Capital!"After all, Hong Kong - the capital of the Asian culture and cinema, Asian fashion, the economy and general European metropolis in the heart of Asia.
However, Hong Kong has never been the capital of any state.In general, until 1842, is not this amazing place chosen by the British, it was not actually anything.It was a group of islands, which huddled a small fishing village.One of them was called "Hong Kong."The country on whose territory it was - the Great Chinese Empire.However, England had to be a convenient place for the opium trade with China.And this is where the British decided to build a commercial port.They rented the entire Hong Kong and around the adjacent mainland China.Thus, the former fishing village has become a real jewel of the British Empire.
China is growing rapidly, and the UK remained the possibility to renew the lease of Hong Kong.However, its return to China caused the sheer imbalance - thoroughly imbued with communism and capitalist Hong Kong, China is absolutely not come to each other.China demanded complete control over the media, politics and the minds of the citizens and the city used to live freely and in a European democratic, acting only by their standards.So the idea of a transition principle.Since 1997 and up to now Hong Kong on a map and in the world community became a Special Administrative Region of China.At the same time, having the relative domestic economic and political freedom, he lost a foreign policy.
Many people mistakenly still believe that Hong Kong - a city.But it is not.Hong Kong - is an association of regions of China.Therefore, the question of Hong Kong - a country or city is absolutely incorrect.It is like neither that nor another, and all together.It is unique and unrepeatable.
Today Hong Kong - is a striking mix of all the achievements of the West and the unique flavor of the East.There charming colonial mansions coexist with towering skyscrapers skyward.During the construction of many buildings might and main principles used in the teachings of Feng Shui.For example, the facades are faced with a mirror coating to ward off evil spirits.Or corners of buildings: they are bevelled or rounded mean friendliness and protection from bad influences.
Incidentally, the name «Hong Kong» means "fragrant harbor".In this regard, the main motive of the urban landscape - water and greenery.Hong Kong is really green and fragrant.Plants are all around, both in the city and in the well-known Victoria Park.It is here that is Victoria Peak - the highest point in all of Hong Kong Island (552 meters above sea level).
Hong Kong - a country of contrasts.It combines a wide variety of culture, spirituality, beliefs and architectural styles.Hong Kong - "Asian New York", a former colony of Britain, but above all, it is the legacy of the great Chinese civilization that holds its deep traditions that are passed down from generation to generation.
