.gif) HONG KONG
Golfing in the "City of
Life"
 Good to know
Major International
Trading Centre
Hong Kong is the world's 9th largest trading economy, one of the world's four largest gold
markets, the world's 7th largest foreign exchange market, the world's 11th largest banking
centre, and Asia's 3rd biggest stock market. Hong Kong is one of the world's top exporters
of garments, watches and clocks, toys, games, electronic products and certain light
industrial products.
Bauhinia,
city flower
The official emblem of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong is a red flag with,
in the centre, a specific local flower, the Bauhinia which has an unusual story. It has
been discovered near Telegraph Bay by Fathers from a French Mission in the late 19th and
has been declared unique in the world in 1908 under the name of Bauhinia blakeana. It
belongs to the Pea family and has vivid orchid-like blossoms.
Red is
happiness
In the Chinese beliefs, the red color is significant of happiness and that's the reason
why all the "Têt" (Chinese New Year) decoration (ribbons, paper lights and all
Chinese lanterns) are deep red. It is also the color of the yang who is male, powerful and
victorious.
Yin and Yang
After 150 years of colonial and western influence, Hong Kong is steeped in its 5000 years
of Chinese heritage. Spiritual beliefs and practices are an intrinsic part of life. And
maintaining the balance between the vital forces of Yin and Yang is still the major goal
of traditional Chinese behaviour, methods and practices building harmony between body and
soul through a healthy diet cuisine to natural medicine and pharmacy based on animal,
mineral, vegetal and marine matter, roots and plants. Ginseng, deer antlers, snake gall
bladders, dried fish or insects and hundreds of herbs are openly displayed in day-lighted
shops and a "medicinal" tea can be prepared for every ill.
Religion
and temples
Hong Kong is very tolerant to any religion but, more than 600 temples are devoted to the
three main religion (Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism) and the residents are very proud
of the recent erection of the Giant Buddha statue atop Lantau mountains.
Tai Chi
Also part of the maintaining of the balance, Tai Chi is a graceful form of martial art
created in the 12th century. Sometimes referred to "shadow boxing", it is a
slow-motion aerobics class, everyone following the slow movements of the tai chi master
with amazing grace. In Hong Kong it has become a very popular way of keeping fit and
developing the famous balance between Yin and Yang and early birds visitors can see many
residents practicing regularly tai chi at early morning in public parks and garden.
(Continuation on next page)
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Bauhinia flower
Red, color of happiness
Chinese pharmacy
Old temple inside the modern city
Early morning taï chi
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