Hong Kong - the City Where Dreams Come True • 360° Aerial Panorama
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On the way from the romantic Bali Islands to Moscow, Dima decided to make a one-day stopover in Hong Kong. He was traveling with his girlfriend, Alina. After an enjoyable evening stroll through the city, they returned back to the hotel. As they got out of the taxi, Dima asked his girlfriend what she was dreaming of - "It would be wonderful to stay here for another week!" said Alina.
Hong Kong is known to be the city where dreams come true.
The taxi left, carrying away Dima's backpack with the telephone, credit cards and the passport on its back seat. It was Friday night, their plane was leaving on Saturday, and the Embassy was going to be opened only on Monday... This is how Dima and Alina have stayed in Hong Kong for another week.
Surveillance video cameras at the hotel's entrance captured the license plate of the taxi, but the backpack was no longer there. The driver said that he didn't see anything and that the next passengers must have taken the backpack.
While a friend from Moscow was sending his new foreign passport to Hong Kong, Dima had a lot of spare time. He shot these panoramic photos when the sky was especially beautiful, decorated with magnificent clouds.
Alina's wish helped to stay in Hong Kong for another week
Editor's note:
Actually, I also wanted Dima to stay in Hong Kong and shoot the panoramas. And as we know, Hong Kong is the city where dreams come true...
Now, a few words about Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is both a city and a state, and (more precisely), a special administrative area of the People's Republic of China. It is truly "special" in all regards.
Hong Kong is one of the worldwide financial centers, and this mere fact places certain obligations on its residents and determines the city's architectural appearance (the first skyscrapers in China were built here). Additionally, a special administrative status allows Hong Kong to have its own laws, and it takes full advantage of those.
For example, the notorious one-child Chinese birth restriction policy does not apply to Hong Kong: its citizens may have as many children as they like. Frequently, Hong Kong residents do not think of themselves as Chinese. They speak fluent English, which is the second national language here. Those who were born prior to 1997 have "open passports", which means they can travel without a visa to the countries that otherwise require an entrance visa from Chinese citizens.
So, where does "prior to 1997" come from? It is the year when the former British colony became a part of China. Prior to that, Britain has leased this land from China for 99 years, developing it and spreading its culture. Nevertheless, this lease agreement was not renewed upon expiration.
Rumors say that the British were unable to keep their overseas territory because Hong Kong does not have drinking water sources of their own. Historically, drinking water was delivered to the islands from the Chinese mainland, which imposed a strict condition - a renewal of lease agreement would bring the water supply to an end. As a compromise, Hong Kong was promised a full autonomy and preservation of their lifestyle. Nowadays, Hong Kong is an incredible mix of all achievements of the West with unique appearance of the East.
Charming colonial-style mansions co-exist in harmony with high-rise buildings erected due to the limited territory. Architects of Hong Kong are guided by modern technical knowledge, and at the same time they follow Feng Shui tradition. Hence, many buildings have mirror tiles on their front side to prevent evil spirits from getting inside. The corners of buildings can be slanted or rounded - it is a Feng Shui symbol of friendship and protection from all negative influence.
The name of the city, "Hong Kong" is translated as "fragrant harbor". Thus, water and plants become an equally important part of the local landscape. Actually, there is a lot of greenery around: both in the city, and in the famous Victoria Park - home of the Victoria Peak, the highest (552 meters) point of the Hong Kong Island.
By the way, Hong Kong has a total of 262 islands in the South China Sea, most of which are really small. The largest island of the archipelago is the Lantau Island, famous for its airport, Disneyland and the gigantic Buddha statue. Curiously enough, fairly small territory of Hong Kong has over 600 shrines that are spread all over the islands.
"The Hong Kong Skyscrapers" and "The Hong Kong Lights" are the two names of the second-largest Island. It is this very island that you can see on this panoramic photo.
Photo by Dmitry Moiseenko
Comments
5 from 5"3D Panarama view"
Allwyn Chao, USA
5 from 5"Last time I've been there the weather didn't do much to help me enjoy the Peak...Must come back there again...Thanx for the clear sky pictures!"
Sotiris Alexiou, Greece
Anastasia, AirPano: Dear Sotiris, thank you for your words!
5 from 5"This is an amazing panorama. I have lived here for almost 18 years now - and I've never seen the city looking so beautiful. Great web site. Thanks."
Andrew Orme, Hong Kong
"hi, hong kong like now me ask"
dexter lumanog, Philippines
"I was born in Hong Kong in 1929 & moved between Hong Kong & Shanghai - The change to HK is unbelievable. I left for the UK just before the Japanese invaded & my doctor from the Peak hospital was murdered by the japanese when he tried to protect the patients. I have been back but can hardly recognise the place"
Robert Ramage, United Kingdom
5 from 5"Lived in HK 1966 to 1968 in North Point area. Husband part of the British Forces. My son was born in the BMH in Kowloon. Fond, fond memories of every day I spent in HK. Visited again the year before before china reclaimed the island. No rickshaws about then but my old skyscraper home was still standing up in the hills of North Point - happy days."
ENID CADMAN, Hong Kong
5 from 5"The panorama is so good! I am a Hong Kong-nese, I love how people appreciate Hong Kong these days. However, it is not that perfect. I'm just 16 years old, but I know more about Hong Kong through studying and of course everyday's living. I love living in Hong Kong myself, despite it having social issues that many other places have and some very unique issues..."
Toby Ng, Hong Kong
"I am stay in hk 8 year and...hongkong very nice country"
Wali Yanti, Indonesia
5 from 5"Superb and inspiring! My wife is a local and we're in Hong Kong every year for a few weeks. Your panoramas help dispel 'HK nostalgia' when we're back in Geneva....."
Markus Schmidt, Switzerland
5 from 5"Excellent photographic work, I miss Hong Kong, when I have visited Hong Kong was more advance then London England in few things. When I have visited Hong Kong was under British-England. I went there on a business tour and stayed with my brother Mr. Pravin D. Mehta. Now its like a dream. Beautiful-lovely city."
kaushik mehta, India
5 from 5""'Beautiful Scenery'. Our Whole famaily lived/worked there 1983/88 loved it...Our two children schooled there and made dozens of friends. Coming back soon to visit again. Wonderful Camera work. Thank You very much" Cecily Flavell, USA"
Jemin Son, Korea
5 from 5"'Beautiful Stimulating'. We lived/worked there 1964/87 loved it...Our children were born there schooled there and made dozens of friends. Coming back soon to visit. Wonderful Camera work. Thank You"
Cecily Flavell, USA
4 from 5"I've been most places, it's a pleasure to see them again"
John McRae, Australia
5 from 5"Estupendo trabajo Fantastico"
titto ferreira, Spain
5 from 5"I have no contacts in Russia, but I will ensure that everyone I know sees your work - absolutely breathtaking. Thank you for sharing it."
William Lewis, United Kingdom
Alina, AirPano: Thank you for appreciation, William!
5 from 5"We had a stop-over there in 2011 on our way to the UK - found the hotel we stayed in! WoW!!! What an awesome panorama of a truly magical city! Congratulations!"
Jenelle Morgan, Australia
5 from 5"Hong kong the greatest city skyline in the world, a magical place to visit, I love it."
NEIL JOSEPH, Portugal
5 from 5"I feel as if I have passed on to the other side and am flying over Hong Kong in an altered state. It must be what Heaven is like.... Thank you"
Paulette Kraljic, USA
5 from 5"I have been to Hong Kong many times and have many friends there. In the 1970's and 1980's I was a tour director there as well as other cities and countries in the Orient and SE Asia. thanks for this beautifully put together aerial tour."
Merrill Rosenberger, USA
5 from 5"The very first comment says is best. "Marvellous educative and entertaining also." One can only emulate whats been said so they don't sound redundant. Which is also something not found in all thats been written. What an incredible adventure it must be to travel to all the wonderful and unique places in the world we live in!"
Abel Niteroad, USA
5 from 5"Marvellous educative and entertaining also."
venkatasai srinivasa, India
5 from 5"C'est incroyable ce qu'Internet peut faire aujourd'hui. Fйlicitations а ceux qui ont conзu ce travail. Splendide Rod."
Rodrigue Mayrand, Canada
"Hi,I want to appreciate for your fantastic web site,your pictures are really unique and wonderful,Good Luck..."
Ali Kermanshahy, Iran
5 from 5Lea Wegleitner, Canada
5 from 5"I was there in June 1969 and it sure has changed. I look at my old pictures and have to match the mountains in the background to the present pictures to orient myself."
Robert Dick, USA
"It's wonderful.I hope I go there soon"
asal jassur, Iran
"Parabйns ao governo e ao povo da cidade de Hong Kong por sua fantastica cidade, linda, cosmopolita, futurista uma verdadeira jуia rara, um diamante para ser admirada por toda humanidade.Nilton Angelo"
Nilton Angelo, Brazil
5 from 5"Absolutely Magnificent..Congratulations to all those involved in producing these extraordinary wonderful photographic,panoramic views of major locations from around the world.. Truly delightful to see and behold... Robert Brooks, Manhattan, New York,"
Robert Brooks, USA
Alina, AirPano: Robert, thanks!
5 from 5"excellent, I love it. My sister send this to me and I am sending this on to all my friends. It is so beautiful and may it touch others as it has touch me God richly bless Hong Kong Vilma Deane Rocke"
vilma deane rocke, Trinidad and Tobago
4 from 5"Before my inlaws relocated to Canada, my late husband and I used to visit Hong Kong almost every year, but did not see all the wonderful views that you showed. Thank you and hope to see some of the views in November when my TaiChi class goes there for a tournament."
Mari Chan, USA
5 from 5"very good"
hennry pavel, Ecuador
5 from 5"Hong Kong is sure where the dreams come true! (mostly because we are not controlled by china)"
Derek Leung, Hong Kong
5 from 5"I Loved HongKong, Wow IT's my dream. Really Fantastic developed site."
Pramod Ranpariya, India
5 from 5"Just amazing! Makes me feel positively home-sick!!"
John Leung, Australia
5 from 5"Fantastic..supper good idea"
Mrs Khalid Mahmood, Pakistan
"super view good idea"
Tewfik Guendouz, Algeria
"Beautiful. Thank you. I saw the hospital where my youngest was born, my office downtown, the island on which we lived - a flood of all the good memories returned with your gorgeous images. Congratulations on losing your passport! www.katehotchkisstaylor.com"
Kate Hotchkiss Taylor
5 from 5"~~~~~"
nancy Ma, China
5 from 5"CASI TODA LA GENTE QUE HA ESCRITO HA ESTADO ALLI...YA QUE ESCRIBISTE QUE HONG KONG ES LA CIUDAD DONDE LOS SUE?OS SE HACEN REALIDAD, ESPERO, YA QUE ES MI SUE?O PODER ESTAR UN D?A ALLI!!!"
VIDA LACOSTE, Argentina
Anna, AirPano: Deseamos que su sueno cumpla muy pronto. Saludos!
5 from 5"God bless Sir John Cowperthwaite for keeping taxes, spending and regulations low!"
Michael McDonald, USA
5 from 5"I lived in Hong Kong for 12 years and I never saw the air so clear! The high-res full screen images are astounding. Tank you."
Ian Hart, Australia
5 from 5"Served with the Australian Govt from 1965 to 1967 and lived at North Point. Can hardly recognise anything from those days except the Peak. Beautiful job to all of those involved on the project."
Tony Maden, Australia
5 from 5"These views are magnificent!"
Erling Syversrud, USA
5 from 5"wow ! keep it up !"
raul arquisola, Philippines
5 from 5"SIMPLY .....S T U N N I N G !!!!!!"
Jonathan Kirkpatrick, United Kingdom
5 from 5"A monumental work of art.Many happy memories revived.Thanks. Frank."
Frank Woods, Italy
5 from 5"Highly recommended!!!"
David Kwan, Hong Kong
5 from 5"Thanks for the memories. had many hppy times there"
Cliff Campbvell, Australia
4 from 5"None of these answers so far has it quite right.Hong Kong Island itelsf was ceded to the British after the First Opium War, in 1842 (the U.K. had occupied the island since 1841). Kowloon was ceded to the British after the Second Opium War, in 1860. The British were given a 99-year lease to the New Territories in 1898.Obviously, modern China was not interested in renewing the lease to the British. The Brits, in turn, realized that Hong Kong Island and Kowloon was not viable as a self-sustaining territory on its own, especially with a large, powerful neighbor that considered Hong Kong stolen land. So negotiations began to return the whole territory to China but in a way that would be as acceptable as possible to the governments and population.That's how the deal came about to make Hong Kong a special administrative region, a part of China but with many of Hong Kong's institutions remaining in place, including currency, freedoms, English as an official language , etc. These are guaranteed for 50 years after the handover. In other words, 37 years to go.China negotiated a similar deal with Portugal to get back Macau, which reverted to Chinese rule in 1999. China has offered Taiwan status as a special administrative region to come under Beijing's autonomy, but not surprisingly, the renegade province has declined."
Jhonatan Jhonata, Virgin Islands (British)
5 from 5"What an amazing work of art! Just awesome!! Thanks to the wonderful team of AirPano for their generosity and thoughtfulness in sharing this to the whole world!"
Sarla Gangadhar, Hong Kong
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