A Day at the Races : Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has two race courses, Happy Valley and Sha Tin and offers a chance for visitors to mix with locals enjoying top quality horse racing.
Sha Tin was built-in the New Territories district on reclaimed land, originally built with capacity for 35,000 and one grandstand, it now has capacity for 85,000 and two grandstands.
Arriving at Sha Tin, you will join the throng of racegoers making their way to the course. On racedays, the train from Hong Kong stops directly opposite the course. Overseas visitors can join the many locals in the main stand or pay extra for a guest badge which gives you more access to different parts of the course.
If possible it is well worth going to one of the main racedays especially the Season Opening meeting which includes plenty of entertainment including ringing gongs for good luck and Lion dances.
Sha Tin holds a number of prestigious Group One races including the Hong Kong Derby, Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Champions Mile and many other International Races.
The main event on the Season’s Opening Meeting on September 3rd 2017 was the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap which was won by Seasons Bloom ridden by top jockey Joao Moreira. and trainer Danny Shum.
The day’s turnover of HK1.294 billion was a new record for an opening day fixture with a crowd of 66,000 enjoying the action.
Taking a trip to Sha Tin provides an interesting day’s racing and visitors can also include taking time to enjoy some of the attractions in the New Territories.
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
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The Peak Tram in Hong Kong
The Peak Tram is a funicular railway in Hong Kong, which carries passengers to the upper levels of the Peak which is the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island. The Peak Tram runs from Garden Road Lower Terminus to Victoria Peak.
The Peak Tram’s route covers a distance of about 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) and an elevation of just under 400 metres (1,312 ft). The line has two curves, it is a single track route with a passing loop.
The story of how the Tram was developed is tied into Hong Kong’s colonial past, the privileged 19th century residents of the Peak found it the perfect retreat from Hong Kong from the summer heat, however the only way to the top was by walking or being carried in a sedan chair.
Alexander Findlay Smith in 1881 proposed the Peak Railway project, approval was given and construction began in 1885, the line was officially opened in 1888. It was at first used only for residents of Victoria Peak, on its first day it carried 800 passengers and around 150,000 in its first year.
When the tramway was first built, the line used a static steam engine to power the haulage cable, The system was rebuilt in 1989 with new track, a computerized control system, and two new two-car trams with a capacity of 120 passengers per tram. None of original and other generation trams survives except a 1956 fourth generation aluminum car which is displayed at the upper terminal.
Today, the Peak Tram is as popular as ever with 7 million people taking the ride every year, many of the travellers are tourists who visit the top of the Peak and the Peak Tower shopping and leisure complex which has been built near to the top.
Passengers waiting at the lower terminus station can look in The Peak Tram Historical Gallery where over 200 pieces of memorabilia of the Tram and Hong Kong are exhibited. The stations comprise a single track, with platforms on both sides. One platform is used for boarding, the other for exiting the tram.
One of the strange aspects of the Tram ride is ‘The Peak Tram illusion’, passengers riding on the Tram experience a spectacular visual illusion; when going uphill, the high rises of Hong Kong on the right ride of the tram appear to fall toward The Peak. This illusion is due to the tilt of the tram and the reclining body position of passengers inside the tram.
The Peak Tram provides the quickest and most direct route and offers wonderful views over the harbour and skyscrapers of Hong Kong.
The Peak Tram is one of Hong Kong’s iconic attractions and has been featured in films and television and carried many dignitaries and celebrities.
You can buy a single or return on the Peak Tram or pay extra for a Peak Tram Sky Pass which allows you access to the Sky Terrace on top of the shopping complex.
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on most of China’s major cities and popular attractions. We also cover Chinese History, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Travel tips and much more.
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A Walk around the Peak in Hong Kong
Many visitors who visit the Peak, take the famous Peak Tram and shop or eat at the Peak Tower complex and return to the lower station. However the Peak has much more to offer visitors especially if you take one of the many walks around the summit.
The Peak which is also known as Victoria Peak is a mountain on Hong Kong Island, at 552 m (1,811 ft), it is the highest mountain on the island.
In the 19th century, the Peak attracted European residents who enjoyed the panoramic views over the city and its coolness especially in the searing heat of the summer.
Residential development increased with the opening of the Peak Tram in 1888. For many decades, residents were European, however since the handover of Hong Kong it has been wealthy Chinese who have paid large amounts of money to buy property on Peak. The properties at the top of the Peak are some of the most expensive in the world.
One popular walk is to the Victoria Peak Garden which is located on the site of Mountain Lodge, the Governor’s old summer residence. However perhaps the most popular walk is the generally level loop along Lugard Road and Harlech Road which takes you on a circuit around the summit.
On the walk you can enjoy
strange tree foundations
Lugard waterfall
Views of Pok Fu Lam reservoir,
Views of the outlying islands
Different views of Kowloon and New Territories.
Wonderful views of the harbour.
Finish with a different view of the Peak Tower.
The walk is generally not too busy, therefore it makes a pleasant change from the frantic pace of the city. It takes around one hour and a half and is quite level on good paths which makes it accessible for everyone. There are a number of vantage spots along the way to enjoy the fantastic views and information boards that give information about trees and wildlife.
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on most of China’s major cities and popular attractions. We also cover Chinese History, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Travel tips and much more.
On the website, there are hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
To find out more visit the website here
The Star Ferry in Hong Kong
The Star Ferry is the operator of a number of passenger ferries in Hong Kong. Its main routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
The Star Fleet fleet carry thousands of passengers a day and has become one of Hong Kong’s tourist attractions.
The important crossing between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon has seen a number of different boats used over the centuries, however in the late 19th century, a regular steam ferry service was began that became the “Star Ferry Co Ltd” in 1898. Piers were built on both sides of Victoria Harbour to handle the growing numbers of people using the service.
Over the last hundred years or more, the iconic green ferries have become a symbol of Hong Kong.
The Star Ferry operates on the cross-harbour routes between Central to Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui, the Star Ferry also run a Harbour Tour tourist cruise which takes a circular route to all the Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and Wan Chai stops.
Cash is not accepted on the ferries, passengers may use an Octopus Card (pre-paid card) or buy tokens to pay for the ride. Tokens are available in the vending machines at the piers. The fare is very inexpensive but varies according to different days and holidays.
For centuries, ferries were the only way to make the crossing between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon but now Victoria Harbour is crossed by railway and road tunnels. However the romance of the Star Ferry still carries on with tourists and commuters making the short journey and enjoying the wonderful views of the harbour.
Video available here
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
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Chinese Navy ships Huanggang and Yangzhou arrive in London
Two Chinese Navy ships have arrived at West India Dock in London. The frigates Huanggang and Yangzhou are part of the Chinese Fleet which are rare visitors to UK shores and especially London.
Both of the new frigates are part of the East China Sea Fleet and belong to the Type 054A missile frigate family developed and built by China. Its hull number is 578.
The frigates are 135 meters long and 16 meters wide and were built in the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
The Type 054 A frigate can be used to attack surface ships and submarines with long-range surveillance and air defense capabilities.
Both the Huanggang and Yangzhou were recently at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium on a friendly visit, and the trip to London is part of a tour of European ports.
Beijing’s 1st medium-low speed Maglev Line S1 due to open in 2017
Beijing’s first medium-low speed maglev Line S1, which connects the city’s western district of Mentougou to the Pingguoyuan subway station in Shijingshan district, is expected to open this year.
China is the only country that has developed a commercial railway based on magnetic levitation, or maglev system technology. The first system in Shanghai developed by a joint German – Chinese enterprise was joined by the Changsha Maglev Express in central China’s Hunan province which began in May.
It is estimated that China’s first 160 kilometre-an-hour magnetic levitation trains will be delivered this year－part of strategy to develop a medium-to-low speed series of maglev trains. A production line with state of the art manufacturing systems will be launched by the end of 2018.
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on most of China’s major cities and popular attractions. We also cover Chinese History, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Travel tips and much more.
On the website, there are hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
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China prepares for Gaokao exams with strict penalties for cheating
In many countries, this is the period for exams and China is not any different. However one major difference is that millions of Chinese high school students take the 2017 national college entrance examination, known as the Gaokao at the same time. This year the exams start on Wednesday 7th June and last for two or three days.
It is estimated that 9.4 million Chinese students will sit the 2017 examination and around 3.72 million of these students are expected to enrol in undergraduate degrees following the examination.
Education departments and other agencies take the exams very seriously with emergency plans in place for extreme weather conditions, natural disasters and disease outbreaks that could take place during the exams.
Measures are also taken to reduce noise around exam halls and Chinese transport services lay on special trains to get the students to their designated place to sit the exam.
In central China’s Henan Province, Zhengzhou Emergency Medical Rescue Center allocates 120 doctors and nurses and 89 ambulances to exam venues during the test.
With the rise in digital devices, many exam halls operate searches for possible cheating devices. The authorities take cheating very seriously with courts defining organized cheating in national examinations as illegal trade in state secrets. This year for the first time cheating will be treated as a criminal offense, punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The gaokao is considered an important and fair way to select higher-education candidates and any proven allegations of cheating are dealt with severely.
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on most of China’s major cities and popular attractions. We also cover Chinese History, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Travel tips and much more.
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PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai at the Shanghai Exhibition Center – 8th to 10th September 2017
This September, PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai returns to China for the fourth year to celebrate the art of the photographic medium. Taking place at the Shanghai Exhibition Center from 8th To 10th September 2017, the fair is widely recognised as one of Asia Pacific’s most prestigious show for cutting-edge photography and highlights some of the new talents in Chinese photography.
© KAREN KNORR, Finding Refuge courtesy of Tasveer Gallery, Bangalore
Ambitious, museum-quality presentations throughout the 2017 edition will bring together emerging and established artists who push the boundaries of the photographic medium, and challenge the notion of what photography can be. PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai provides collectors, curators and visitors with a close view of vintage and contemporary photography. from across the Asia Pacific region an unparalleled site of discovery. PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai since its launch in 2014 have greatly supported the development of the photographic medium in China, now the world’s largest art market.
©Yang Yongliang Endless Streams_2017 courtesy of Mathew Liu Fine Arts (Shanghai)
PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai 2017 will feature the new Chinese talent of Fan Xi , Peng Yun, Chen Wei, Chen Qiulin and Wu Ding. It will also recognise the talent of established Chinese artists including Yang Yongliang and Zeng Fanzhi.
© HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON. Courtesy of Time Space Gallery (Beijing)
Historically important presentations at the fair will include: Henri Cartier Bresson (Time Space Gallery, Beijing), Zhang Hai’er (Blindspot Gallery, Hong Kong), Robert Mapplethorpe (Timeless Gallery, Beijing), Alexander Rodchenko (Books and Photographs, Paris) and Marc Riboud (Magnum Photos, London & Paris).
© Jeff Brouws FPH grid, Daly City, CA 1991 Courtesy of Robert Mann Gallery (San Francisco)
Staged is a unique and experimental platform that will showcase large-scale works that transcend the boundaries of photography from artists who approach the medium in new ways using installation art, video and performance.
The program will include a range of works, from renowned contemporary artistic duo Birdhead (ShanghART Gallery, Shanghai, Beijing & Singapore) who will present ‘Welcome to Birdhead’ a 13 x 3 m photographic installation through to a special exhibition of key South Korean artists including Won Seoung-Won and Han Sungpil held in the private collection of the Museum of Photography Seoul.
© Chen Quilin, Unknown Courtesy of A Thousand Plateaus, Chengdu. jpg
For the first time, a special exhibition will offer a curated insight into the private acquisitions of powerful art collectors David Chau (Cc Foundation), Adrian Cheng (K11 Art Foundation), Thomas Shao (Modern Media Group), and Jenny Wang (Fosun Foundation).
Ranked among the top collectors in China, the carefully curated exhibition from the collectors’ archives highlights the active interest, energy and commitment to buying photography and moving image.
The exhibition will feature works by Wolfgang Tillmans, Cindy Sherman, Araki Nobuyoshi, Yang Fudong and Geng Jianyi amongst others.
A Colour Explosion is a curated exhibition of museum-quality works for private sale. The exhibition will trace the influence of pioneering artists such as William Eggleston (CAMERA WORK, Berlin) and Harry Callahan (Robert Mann Gallery, New York) on the next generation of contemporary artists including Jiang Pengyi (Blindspot Gallery, Hong Kong), Andrea Good (Galerie Stephan Witschi, Zurich), Shen Wei (Flowers Gallery, London & New York) and Robert Zhao (ShanghART Gallery, Shanghai, Beijing & Singapore).
For more information about PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai, visit the website here
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
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Maiden Flight for China’s first domestically-produced large passenger plane on May 5th 2017
The maiden flight for C919, China’s first domestically-produced large passenger plane, is scheduled for May 5, The maiden flight will take place in the Shanghai Pudong International Airport unless weather conditions force the maiden flight to be rescheduled.
The C919, with over 150 seats and a standard range of 4,075 kilometres, is expected to compete with the Airbus 320 and Boeing’s new-generation 737.
By the end of 2016, 21 customers had placed orders for more than 500 C919 aircraft, and COMAC expects to sell at least 2,000.
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on most of China’s major cities and popular attractions. We also cover Chinese History, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Travel tips and much more.
On the website, there are hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
To find out more visit the website here
China begins Maglev train production
China is the only country that has developed a commercial railway based on magnetic levitation, or maglev system technology. The first system in Shanghai developed by a joint German – Chinese enterprise was joined by the Changsha Maglev Express in central China’s Hunan province which began in May 2016.
The Changsha Maglev Express is China’s first domestically built maglev line that uses Chinese technology and allows passengers to travel 18.55 kms and in just under 20 mins.
It is a sign that China is serious about developing the technology with the news that China’s first 160 kilometre-an-hour magnetic levitation trains will be delivered this year, part of strategy to develop a medium-to-low speed series of maglev trains. A production line with state of the art manufacturing systems will be launched by the end of 2018.
The new trains will be used in Central China’s Hunan province, where the nation’s first 100 km/h maglev rail line has been operating since 2016.
Officials have said that trains would mainly target domestic markets with several cities showing strong interest.
It is estimated that more than 10 cities in China are currently planning maglev railways. These cities include Changsha, home to China’s first home-grown maglev line, Qingdao and Beijing.
China has 142 cities with more than 1 million population, but only around 30 cities have metro systems. Many of the these cities without metro systems may consider a future low-speed maglev project as an ideal solution to link large cities with their suburbs and satellite cities.
The Visit China blog is the official blog for the Visiting China Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice, provide interesting articles and the latest up to date news and reviews of events in China.
We officially launched in January 2017 with the aim of attracting thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on most of China’s major cities and popular attractions. We also cover Chinese History, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Travel tips and much more.
On the website, there are hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
To find out more visit the website here
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