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Happy Valley Located east of Wan Chai and south of Causeway Bay, Happy Valley is one of the oldest settlements on Hong Kong Island. Initially, Happy Valley was a remote area with little merits. After 1840, when a settlement was built, the area's reputation became famous with the existence of the world-famous Happy Valley Racecourse. During the October-to-May racing season, it can attract up to 75,000 punters a race during weeknights and weekends. Night races are particularly interesting, with bright lights, a frantic atmosphere, and the winnings for picking the right horse can be rather huge. An enormous 20x5.8 meter video screen surrounding the racecourse displays the races in progress, as well as all racing forms, manners of betting, and other relevant details. The total amount wagered every season is staggering. They are considered the highest among other racing establishment in the world, but most of the course profits are donated to charitable causes. Hong Kong Race Museum Open Tuesdays to Saturdays (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sundays (1 to 5 p.m.), the museum is a tribute to one of Hong Kong's favorite pastimes. Constructed in 1996 at the Happy Valley Stand inside the racecourse, it comes with 8 galleries and a video presentation that sums up the history of horseracing in the colony, thus providing a background on the obsession that racing has become in Hong Kong. Aw Boon Haw Gardens This garden is an amusement park that somewhat resembles a Chinese Disneyland. The 45,000 sq. km park stands in celestial splendor, with terraced grottos littered with bizarre sculptures and ornamented relief from Chinese mythology. Built by the late altruist Aw Boon Haw, the park opens daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Causeway Bay
Noon Day Gun
Cross-Harbour Tunnel The harbor, which was built in 1973, is one of the largest underwater tunnels in Asia. It connects Hong Kong Island to Kowloon across two kilometers, with four lanes available. This is one of the busiest tunnels in Hong Kong, even though there are now three cross-harbor freeways. The tunnel has brought about a rapid development to Causeway Bay deluxe hotels, such as the Park Lane and the Excelsior. The World Trade Centre offers 42 stories of offices, restaurants, bars, and shops.
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Causeway
Bay is to Hong Kong what Times Square is to New York - vibrant, exciting,
neon-lit, and swamped with people. The area is famous for its shopping
extravaganza. It is home to large Japanese department stores and hot entertainment
spots. There are large department stores such as Daimaru, Matsuzakaya,
and Sogo. Retail rents are said to be the highest in the world, and the
streets are packed, even by Hong Kong's standard. Cinemas and hundreds
of electronic and camera shops are swamped along Hennessy Road right down
to Canal Road. Windsor House has two floors of shops devoted to the latest
technology in computers and accessories. Times Square, south of the main
crossroads of Causeway Bay, is a gigantic modern building with restaurants,
shops, and movie theaters.
Based
on a historical legend, a Jardine opium boat sailed into the harbor one
day in the mid-1800s, and a willing minion gave the boat a 21-gun salutation.
Since then, it has become a tradition for a gun to be fired at noon to
pay tribute to that event.