Hong Kong

From designer goods to Asian treasures, the world's finest shopping is found in Hong Kong's boutiques, open-air markets and crowded alleys. Here, the mysteries of Asia are infused with the essence of Western capitalism. It is this contrast that gives Hong Kong its special character. While the city is one of the most important centers of international trade, finance and publishing, Hong Kong has a heart that is purely Chinese. The spirit of the old China lives on in the city's rickshaws and harbor junks, and in the dazzling variety and quality of Chinese cuisine, from Cantonese to Szechuan prepared here better than anywhere else in the world.