Hong Kong is a place of contrasts. Sleek, glassy skyscrapers shine above Old World markets where chicken feet and dried squid are displayed for sale. Archaic wooden boats bob past sleek cruise liners. Subway stations and expressway interchanges dot a landscape cluttered with Rolls Royces and rickshaws. Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in 1842 when those serving the British crown attacked the island. Though it was deeded back to China in 1997, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy, especially in its economy and municipal government. Hong Kong is one of the most unique Chinese cities in the world. The 417-square mile island off the coast of China offers visitors a slice of authentic Chinese culture with all the amenities of home. A modern metropolis teeming with eastern and western influences, Hong Kong is the world's third-largest financial center, the so-called “Wall Street of Asia,” and a shopping gold mine. Shopping? Yes indeed. Hong Kong is a duty-free port and the world's leading exporter of toys, garments, watches, and electronics. As a result, the vast majority of the 10 million annual visitors come with an empty suitcase that they fill up after visiting the malls, street bazaars (Stanley Market is world famous), textile and tailor shops, and jade and electronic stores. Those willing to look beyond the bargain-basement prices will find that Hong Kong is more than the world’s largest department store – it’s a cultural Mecca with wining and dining, museums, and historic attractions. Be sure to ride the world famous Star Ferry across the harbor to Hong Kong Island, admire the mansions on Repulse Bay, drop in to see the temples on Cat Street, visit the fishing boats and villages in Aberdeen, and take a tram ride up to Victoria Peak (the island’s highest peak sitting 1,308-feet above the city) for a stunning panoramic view. If you have time to go further, travel to Macau, a former Portuguese colony with a casino, and the New Territories of China, a Hong Kong bedroom community that “sleeps” near China’s border.