ENG-2009 — Page 368

296 Travel and Tourism

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland has received over 19 million visitors since it opened in September 2005. More rides and attractions were added to the park in 2008, including the iconic 'it's a small world'. Since its opening, Hong Kong Disneyland has received 79 awards in recognition of its world-class assets, design and technical achievements, distinctive guest services, and appeal to families.

In 2009, the Government and The Walt Disney Company reached agreement on an expansion for Hong Kong Disneyland, to be completed in phases by mid-2014. Three new themed areas will be added to the park, providing more than 30 new attractions and entertainment elements and bringing the total number of attractions in the park to over 100.

Wetland Park

The Hong Kong Wetland Park is a world-class eco-tourism facility, and is home to a wide assortment of wildlife, including birds, dragonflies, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish. The park comprises 60 hectares of re-created wetland, exhibition galleries, a visitor centre, a theatre and other facilities all of which underline the importance of wetlands to biodiversity, civilisation and conservation. More than 440 000 people visited the park during the year.

In October, a painting entitled 'Birds and Wetlands' created by 2 041 students and citizens during the park's bird watching festival was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the longest painting.

Ngong Ping 360

The Ngong Ping 360 cableway takes visitors on a scenic 25-minute ride above sea and land between Tung Chung and a Lantau Island mountaintop where a Buddhist-themed village is located. It also provides a link to other famous tourist attractions such as the Tian Tan Buddha, commonly known as the 'Big Buddha', the Po Lin Monastery, the Wisdom Path, the traditional fishing village of Tai O and enticing beaches on the southern part of the island. New 'crystal cabins' fitted with full-width transparent glass bottom were introduced in 2009. Adding fun and a thrilling new experience to the journey, they proved hugely popular.

Projects in the Pipeline

The Government is working on making tourist spots across Hong Kong more attractive. Work on a piazza and garden in Ngong Ping is expected to be completed in mid-2010, and will link Ngong Ping Village to Po Lin Monastery and the site of the Tian Tan Buddha.

Plans are also in hand for a promenade to be built on the waterfront at Lei Yue Mun with landing steps for people disembarking there from sight-seeing vessels. Lei Yue Mun is a former fishing village famous for its seafood restaurants, well patronised by local and overseas visitors.

Another project being planned is a piazza to be built at the waterfront site adjacent to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier. It will link the various attractions,