ISYS100-VIDEO-THE FUTURE OF IT & SOCIETY

This video talks about the future of it and society!
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Hong Kong Gambling

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Horse Racing

Horse racing became a fixture in Hong Kong in 1841 but enjoyment of this sport was originally confined to the city’s elite. Today, a trip to one of the city’s world-class tracks – Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island or Sha Tin in the New Territories – will confirm that horse racing has very much gone mainstream in Hong Kong.
Join the Come Horse Racing Tour to enjoy the action on the turf from the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Member’s Enclosure, which has optimal views of the track. Tour Guides will provide you with betting information and assistance.

The racing season starts in September and runs to July of the following year. Any meeting will provide a taste of the local passion for racing, with hundreds of fans armed with racing guides intently listening to radio commentary, gripping their betting sheets and cheering on their favourites. To experience all the real glamour and spectacle of the sport, try to see the Hong Kong Derby, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup or the ‘turf world championship’ Hong Kong International Races, when some of the richest racing purses in the sport attract horses and jockeys from all over the world and the competition is intense.

Hong Kong healthy activities

Cycling, Tai Wai to Tai Mei Tuk

People are getting really into the cycling lifestyle, and I'm not referring to those ah-baks cycling around in the middle of the city delivering take-out food or giant canisters of gas. Cycling is a growing movement in the city, manifesting through cycling-devoted groups (ranging from government-sponsored bodies dedicated to cycle racing, mountain bike enthusiasts, and an NGO seeking to raise awareness towards the concerns of HK cyclists. For the latter, check out the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance website and facebook. They offer comprehensive info on carrying your bikes on public transport, safety tips, and more.) If you live in the New Territories like I do, you'll see die-hard cyclists in their lycra cycling outfits pedalling around on their racing bikes every evening. (There is also the amusing sight of lycra-wearing cyclists...on a tiny urban fold-up bike.) But for most people, the sport itself is a weekend activity for socializing. 

My friend and I chose to do the Tai Wai to Tai Mei Tuk route on a Saturday, which has been covered by CNN.go and HK Magazine. It is the longest, and one of the most popular cycling routes in Hong Kong, offering paths through some of the nicest scenery. The routes are well paved, and are generally wide and spacious. (Because of the construction near the site of Providence Bay after passing the Science Park, there are barriers erected on the left side of the cycle path. It doesn't obstruct the path itself, but many cyclists bottleneck themselves along this stretch because they all swerve to the middle to avoid colliding with the wall.) 


The signposting is fairly consistent throughout the first leg of the journey, though it seems to be sparse upon reaching Tai Po. There was no sign pointing towards Tai Mei Tuk when we reached a fork after exiting a subway tunnel, and we had to ask another cyclist for directions. As a marker, if you pass by the Tai Po Industrial Estate on your right side, you are heading in the right direction. 

While the bike route is mostly self-contained (not having to share it with pedestrians or cars), there are certain sections where you will intersect with a pedestrian pavement or traffic crossing. In the latter case, even if it seems as though there is no car approaching, just wait until it is your light to cross. Cars have that uncanny ability to suddenly show up when least expected, and safety should always come first. As some would say, a car is 鐵包人 (person encased in iron), whereas a cycle is just 人包鐵 (iron encased by a person.) Upon impact, it isn't hard to guess who would come out with fewer injuries. 

The cycle shop we rented our bikes from in Tai Wai. We went with this one one because it was situated very close to the East Rail station, though you can ask locals for cycle shop recommendations if you need to. 

We were charged 80HKD/each for bike rentals, and that is for the entire day ('day' being defined as until daylight fades: returns must be made by 7pm.) I'm sure we got suckered since both my friend and I look like out-of-towners, but it wasn't an outrageous price so we went along with it. In regards with bike returns, most shops will have a drop-off point in Tai Mei Tuk (though if you choose to bring the bike back to Tai Wai, you might earn a bit of a refund with the bike rental fee, around 10HKD in this case), but you should ask explicitly where they are in Tai Mei Tuk. We learnt this the hard way; the drop-off point for this bike rental shop was actually a 5 minute bike ride (15 minute walk) outside of Tai Mei Tuk, on a small village road full of cargo containers. It took some luck to even spot the shop banner hanging from the mesh fence. It looked like something straight from the deserted streets of downtown Los Angeles.  

Do check the bike before leaving the shop, making sure the wheels are inflated, the front and back brakes are functional, the grips aren't worn down, and the height of the bike seat is appropriate (normally, I prefer the seat to be high enough so that my toe barely touches the ground when I'm standing straight. If the seat is any lower than that, my knees hurt during cycling because they are forced to bend too far.) Have the shop adjust these things for you, and don't be scared to ask for a different bike if you are not satisfied with the one provided by the shop staff. And if the cycle plan intends for stops at several locations for rest or sightseeing, ask about bike-lock rentals as well (or just bring your own.) 

The cycle path travels alongTolo Harbour, so there will be plenty of sights like this. This photo was taken a little off the cycle path (less than a minute away from it) just before entering Tai Po. 

No bike lock for us, so we were always keeping an eye out on our rides. It is worth stopping at Plover Cove for a bit of a sit and a think. There are some hipster-types by themselves, sitting on the rocks, looking into the distance, and writing in their Moleskin notebooks. It is a good place to contemplate the meaning of life, and have a bit of private angst...at least before the crowds arrive.  

Sitting at Plover Cove Reservoir. With such nice scenery, we brought our own snacks and lunched outdoors. (If anyone else plans to do so, please don't leave any rubbish behind.)  

The road at Plover Cover Reservoir. It isn't strictly a cycle path, but park authorities driving in their van are fairly patient (didn't even use their klaxon once) and will give cyclists time to move aside for them. But beware of the pedestrians along this stretch, and also at either end of the roundabouts! There are plenty of people who come up here to fly kites, and their kite strings can entangle an unwary cyclist.

View from the reservoir, people enjoying the watersports facility in Tai Mei Tuk. Windsurfing is another big thing in the Hong Kong sports mindset.  

Tai Mei Tuk is a great destination for cyclists, thanks to its scenery and its good selection of restaurants and places for refreshments. However, because the location has been on the tourist radar for quite some time, the prices and food venues have 'upgraded' itself. (Though it was good to see that the Thai restaurant I went to back in 2006 was still pretty much the same.)  If the price range of an indoor eatery is a little over one's budget, head to the waterfront area and there will be some cheaper outdoor eats, such as curry fishballs and noodles. Alternatively, if you are willing to lug a bag of coal, raw foods, and other BBQ equipment on your bike, Tai Mei Tuk has plenty of BBQ hearths for public use.  

Since a large part of Tai Mei Tuk is devoted for BBQ-ing visitors, so prepare for a lot of smoke and noise near these sites. There are quiet spots away from the Tai Mei Tuk crowds, such as this little bit of coast. There isn't any 'official' access to this stretch of rocky shore, but someone did gouge an earthy path from the road that leads to it. There were only several other people there picking up shells. 

If you return your bike in Tai Mei Tuk, you can catch the 75K bus at the bus terminus (close to the big BBQ site) back to Tai Po Market station, which will link you up with the rest of the MTR system. 

Note: If you are not sports-inclined, I would recommend cycling up to Tai Po, since the entire length of the route from Tai Wai to Tai Mei Tuk can reach around 20km. It might not sound like a great distance, but under the sun and wind, it adds up to quite a bit of physical exertion. There is a great Waterfront Park in Tai Po to explore, not to mention that Tai Po is interesting in itself. 

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Tips:

Tip 1: Start your journey early to avoid the post-lunch afternoon rush! We started around 10am, and arrived in Tai Mei Tuk a little before 1pm. By the time we left the area at 4pm, the crowds were starting to cycle in by the dozen...including those cyclists with the loud boombox (literally a boombox, not just any music player) strapped to the back of their bikes. They would make for an interesting anthropological study...the culture of boomboxing bikes. 

Tip 2: If you are cycling on the weekends, keep an eye out on the cycle path. Like the phenomenon of 'weekend drivers', those who only take their cars out for a spin on the weekends, there is such a thing as 'weekend cyclists'. They tend to be a bit unpredictable with their turns, and are prone to braking suddenly, so it would be ideal to overtake them when you can. (Unless said 'weekend cyclist' is your mate, in which case, there isn't much you can do short of making new friends.)

Tip 3: If you can't cycle uphill, walk it. There is no shame in doing so! Better be safe, than to struggle on your bike and zig-zag into someone else. (Notable uphill stretches; the subway tunnels near the Science Park; the road just before entering Tai Mei Tuk; and the path to Plover Cove Reservoir.) 

Tip 4: Some bike rental shops will require identification documents as a means of guarantee when renting their wares. Bring your ID card/passport with you. 

Shanghai EXPO-Crown of the Eastern

Crown of the Eastern; the idea subject, expresses the Chinese culture the spirit and the makings.The national hall comes between raises, the level folds selects, becomes condenses the Chinese element, symbolizes the Chinese spirit crown of sculpture feeling modelling main body - - East; The local hall level launches, stretches the platform base shape complementing country hall, becomes the opening, the flexibility, cherishes the people, the level rich city square; The two for the antithesis, mutually supplemented mutually that, composes the expression prosperous times great nation subject together the unified .






Take the harmony as the core, unfolded China ancient times the technical wisdom and the modern science and technology leap development, the Chinese city civilization advancement, demonstrated China grave detailed and national image. 



The country ancient times the technical wisdom and the modern science and technology leap development, the Chinese city civilization advancement, demonstrated China grave detailed and national image. 

Shanghai Museum

As a museum of ancient Chinese art, Shanghai Museum possesses a collection of 120,000 precious works of art. Its rich and high-quality collection of ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy is specially celebrated in the world. Founded and first open to the public in the building previously of the horseracing club at 325 W. Nanjing Road in 1952 and then moved into the former Zhonghui Building at 16 S. Henan Road in 1959, the museum developed very quickly in aspects of acquisition, conservation, research, exhibition, education and cultural exchanges with other institutes.

 In 1992, the Shanghai municipal government allocated to the Museum a piece of land at the very center of the city, the People's Square, as its new site. The whole construction took three years, from August 1993 to its inauguration on October 12th, 1996. The 29.5 meters high new building has a construction space of 39,200 square meters.



Its unique architectural form of a round top with a square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese philosophy that the square earth is under the round sky, is a distinguished architectural combination of traditional feature and modern spirit. The present Shanghai Museum has eleven galleries and three special temporary exhibition halls. It extends warm welcome to the visitors from all over the world.

Hong Kong Airport

Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is located on the island of Chek Lap Kok, which is largely reclaimed for the construction of the airport itself. The airport is also colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.
The airport has been commercially operational since 1998, replacing the former Kai Tak Airport, and is an important regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and gateway for destinations in Mainland China (with over 40 destinations) and the rest of Asia. The airport is currently the world's busiest cargo gateway and one of the world's busiest passenger airports.
The Hong Kong International Airport is also home to one of the world's largest passenger terminal buildings (the largest when opened in 1998). It is operated by the Airport Authority Hong Kong, 24 hours a day, and is the primary hub for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Hong Kong airline, Hong Kong Express Airways and Air Hong Kong (cargo). The airport is one of the hubs of Oneworld alliance, and it is also one of the hubs of Asian-Pacific cargo hubs for UPS airlines. It is a focus city for many airlines, including China Airline and China Eastern Airlines, which serves 18 flights to Hong Kong per day (one direction) from 15 cities. Virgin Atlantic, United and Air India use Hong Kong as a stopover point for flights respectively from London to Sydney, from Tokyo to Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City as well as from India to Osaka and Seoul.
HKIA is an important contributor to Hong Kong's economy, with approximately 60,000 employees. About 90 airlines operate flights from the airport to over 150 cities across the globe. In 2012 HKIA handled 56,057,751 passengers, making it the 12th busiest airport worldwide by passenger traffic. It also surpassed Memphis International Airport to become the world's busiest airport by cargo traffic.

- Cheong Chak Chan
 

Terminal
 

Popular Snacks of Guangzhou

Guangzhou delicacies are the main representatives of Yue Cai (Cantonese Cuisine), which also includes Chaozhou dishes and Dongjiang dishes and enjoys great popularity all over the country. This kind of cuisine uses a wide range of ingredients from the sky, the earth, and the water. They also use seasonings sparingly. Compared with other Chinese cuisines, these local dishes use few thick spicy dressings in order to keep from masking the original taste of the food.

Bao Zai Fan is to steam the rice is a clay hot pot. It is the traditional Cantonese cate. The style of the hot pot rice can reached as much as more than twenty, such as Chinese sausage, ground pork, preserved pork etc. Bao Zai Fan is absolutely a traditional and authentic Cantonese cuisine. The rice is steamed in a clay hot pot will with fragrant foods on top. Frequently, on the top of the rice it is often put the different kinds of Chinese preserved meat, and as the rice being streamed, both the aroma of the preserved meats and the scent of the clay pot permeate the rice

Bao Zai Fan (Clay Hot Pot Rice)

Congee with Pig"s Liver and Kidneys

Guozheng Zongzi

Guangzhou people seem like have special fondness for rice noodles and noodles with great passion. It named as so as it originally came from Shahe Town. Shahe is a small town at east of Baiyun Mountain. There is a fountain in this mountain. The water of making Shahe Rice Noodles is from this fountain. Shahe Rice Noodles featuring white, bright, flexible, smooth and soft is about more than 100 year-old.



Yun Tun Mian
Yun Tun Mian is the local name called by Cantonese. Yun Tun Mian is wonton. It is said that in they had already had the habit of having wonton in Tang and Song Dynasties. Thin and nearly transparent skin covers much filings is one of the most important features. High quality wonton must satisfy three requests. One is the filling must be fresh and tasty. Second is the cover must be watery and flexible. Third is the soup must be clean and can not put into gourmet powder. Wonton though is a ordinary food in Guangzhou, it gains high reputation and is very popular.



Baomo Garden in Guangzhou

I love this place, hidden away in Panyu, a hour or so from city; Baomo garden is beautifully designed and built, hard to image it's a modern day creation, I am very impressive that old time craftsmanship have not been lost. The stock of garden fish is mind-boggling, there's literally thousand and thousand of them. I went during a weekday, it was not too crowded. There are a number of impressive collection of traditional Chinese antique and arts. Zhao Tailai's antique and ceramic collection is a must visit.

So if you are in Guangzhou and like Chinese arts and garden, this is good place to enjoy half a day of fine arts and scenery - Baomo Yuan literary mean "Garden of Treasure Ink"  

The orient Pearl TV Tower

The orient Pearl TV Tower is 468 meters high, the tallest in Asia and third tallest in the world. It faces the bund across the Huangpu River. When viewed from the bund, the tower and the Nanpu and Yangpu bridges create a vivid imagery known as "two dragons playing with a pearl." 

The sphere at the top has a diameter of 45 meters and is 263 meters above ground. The observation deck in the sphere offers a sweeping view of the city. The revolving restaurant is set at 267 meters above Pudong New Area. The dance ball, piano bar and 20 karaoke rooms, at 271 meters, are also opened to the public. The penthouse, which sits at 350 meters, has an observation deck, meeting room, and coffee shop. 

The tower integrates broadcasting technologies with sightseeing, catering, shopping, amusement, and accommodations. It has become the symbol of the city and a major tourist attraction in Shanghai.

Guangzhou Pearl River Cruise

Guangzhou Pearl River Cruise

The river cruise in Pearl river especially at night is one of the famous attractions in Guangzhou, China. Some people might say that if you don’t do a river cruise in Pearl river, means that you’ve never been to Guangzhou … Lol

The city has set everything beautiful for this river night cruise. They’ve set the light on the buildings, and on the bridges.

One thing that people wants to see during this river night cruise is Canton Tower! Canton Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in China, and the fourth tallest freestanding structure in the world.

Lan Kwai Fong

Lan Kwai Fong is a small square of streets in Central, Hong Kong. The area was dedicated to hawkers before the Second World War, but underwent a renaissance in the mid-1980s. It is now a popular expatriate haunt in Hong Kong for drinking, clubbing and dining. 

The street Lan Kwai Fong is L-shaped with two ends joining with D'Aguilar Street. The Lan Kwai Fong Association is a non-profit making business chamber which groups together over 100 restaurants, bars, clubs, retailers and service providers in Lan Kwai Fong to promote the unique Lan Kwai Fong culture and charms to locals and the world.

Lan Kwai Fong is one of Hong Kong’s most popular nightlife hot spots and home to over 90 restaurants and bars. The atmosphere ranges from stylish wine pairings to raucous jelly shots and the food on offer is as diverse as the clientele. 

Whether the intention of your trip is business or pleasure, Hong Kong has a host of drinking spots to knock you off course for hours, days or weeks. Below is a run-down of the main areas for drinking and nightlife in Hong Kong.

Lan Kwai Fong has become the home of the Hong Kong party and features a den of streets packed with bars, clubs and restaurants. Establishments run the gamut from spit and sawdust joints to chic wine bars and it's here that you'll find most of Hong Kong's more upmarket drinking spots. At the weekends the place bulges with expats and tourists who spill out onto the surrounding streets and the buzz is irresistible. Nightlife kicks into gear at around 9pm and carries on well into the morning.

Some essential spots to check out are Dublin Jack, a sleek Irish pub in which the owner knows his patrons by name; Hong Kong Brewhouse features some of the best local brews; Drop features a financially solvent crowd; while Stormies is the focal point for drunken antics. A must, if you are in the area, is a drink on the rooftop of the Fringe Club, which offers a peaceful pint in the middle of the chaos of Lan Kwai Fong.

Veteran drinkers often treat Lan Kwai Fong as an extended warm up before stumbling into the Wan Chai area later in the night. If it's clubbing your after, Lan Kwai Fong hosts the city's best.

By Melissa Man

The Peak

If there is only one thing you can do in Hong Kong, go to The Peak. If you have many things to do here, still go to The Peak. The highest point on Hong Kong Island, this has been the city’s most exclusive neighbourhood since colonial times – back then it was the cooler air that attracted the rich and famous; in the post air-conditioning era, the views of one of the world’s most spectacular cityscapes keep them coming.

That view is also what makes The Peak one of the most popular attractions in Hong Kong. By day your eyes stretch across sparkling skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour all the way to the green hills of the New Territories. In early evening this panorama melts into pink and orange before reincarnating as a dazzling galaxy of light, shimmering beneath you. And if you listen carefully enough, you can hear Asia’s world city humming below.

Vantage Points

The anvil-shaped The Peak Tower has a large viewing platform called Sky Terrace 428, in addition to dining and retail outlets. Nearby, The Peak Galleria has a free-entry observation deck, as well as shopping and dining options. More eye gulps of the views can be had at Lugard Road Lookout, Lions View Point Pavilion. For leisurely unfolding vistas, take the 3.5-kilometre Peak Circle Walk.


The Peak Tram

Riding the Peak Tram is a visual experience in its own right -- Hong Kong Island’s skyscrapers slide past your window at what appear to be impossible angles as you make the ascent to The Peak on the city’s historic, funicular railway.
Located at Lower Terminus, The Peak Tram Historical Gallery is a way of paying tribute to The Peak Tram, its heritage and the history of Hong Kong. Since 1888, The Peak Tram has served Hong Kong, quietly witnessing 120 years of the city's changes. The Gallery brings back many memories for local visitors and gives overseas visitors a glimpse of how the Pearl of the Orient has come to shine.

By Melissa Man 

China's unique night zoo in guangzhou

Guangzhou Changlong Wildlife Zoo and International Circus

 

This is one zoo that allows visitors to be in close proximity with the animals. The name says “wildlife” but most of these so-called “wildlife animals” aren’t people or camera-shy. In fact, we suspected the animals are retired-circus performers. 

 

 Later in the evening, It is mentioned on many travel websites that the Changlong International Circus outclassed Macau’s Cirque du Soleil’s ZAIA. Yes, the reviews are right! The 90-min show is a mixture of ZAIA, The House of Dancing Water and the typical animal circus. The acts took place on and off stage and over the audience. There were some elements of surprises. It was very entertaining, fun and spectacular. Certainly more lively and exciting     than ZAIA.