A deep natural harbor, which divides the city into the Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island, made Hong Kong the most important port for the British in the Far East for 150 years. After negotiations that started already 1980, the United Kingdom returned Hong Kong to China in 1997. Despite this transfer, Hong Kong continues its very liberal and competitive economic system that differs from China. Hong Kong's impressive iconic skyscraper skyline represents nothing but money. Today Hong Kong is among the world's most important financial centers. Hong Kong is one of the largest, busiest, and most fierce tourism cities in the world. There are good reasons for this. Superb selection of different cuisine, almost everyone understands English, Asia's events capital, traditional religious celebrations, sports events, and world-class cultural performances make Hong Kong a tourist hot spot. Hong Kong's dual past as a vibrant colonial hub and the home of vast numbers of migrant Cantonese has ensured various sights of interest to tourists. Hongkongers are keen on every sort of gambling. World-famous Happy Valley Racecourse is the hottest horse gambling Mecca. It was founded by the Tai-pans of the Hong Kong shipping and trading companies soon after the island became a British colony. The racing season lasts from September to July. The record revenue, 12 billion USD, was generated in 2013. Fortunately, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a charity organization dedicated to social projects.

Macao travel photography

Guangzhou, historically Canton, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong Province in China. Guangzhou has an excellent location on the Pearl River mouth, about 120 km north-northwest of Hong Kong and 145 km north of Macau. Its location made it a central terminus of the Maritime Silk Road, and today it serves as an important commercial port and transportation hub. There has been a direct land route from Persia through India to Guangzhou for ages. In the 7th century, Guangzhou had 200 000 foreign residents, including Arabs, Persians, Turks, Indians, and Africans. Portuguese were the first Europeans to use seaway to Canton in the 16th century. British broke their trade monopoly 17th century. The major event was the Opium War, which opened the city to foreign trade. Chinese gave the Pearl River island of Shamian to the French and British for commerce and residential purpose. It formed a secure, prosperous foreign enclave with consulates, cultural buildings, churches, schools, and commercial buildings like banks and firms. Today the island is an exciting tourist attraction and a historical area that reminds about European colonialism with quiet pedestrian avenues, gardens, and elegant colonial-style buildings.