Hoover Dam can be a concrete structure, built inside the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, situated on the border of Nevada and Arizona, within the United States. The dam measures 726.4 feet in height (it really is taller than the Washington Monument), 1,224 feet in length and is 660 feet thick at the base. At the time of its completion, in 1935, it was the largest concrete structure and the largest electric-power generating station within the world. However, in 1945, the record was taken over by the Grand Coulee Dam, built on Columbia River. Here are some of the interesting details about the Hoover Dam.

Facts about Hoover Dam

Can you imagine what must be the weight of Hoover Dam? Well! It really is 6.6 million tons. It was built with approximately 4,360,000 cubic yards of concrete. The concrete used to build Hoover dam, was cured with cooling tubes. If traditional methods had been used then, it would have taken at least 100 years for completion.

The main objective behind the Hoover Dam project was to regulate the Colorado River, which at times overflowed, posing a threat to the nearby community. The reservoir created behind the Hoover dam is called Lake Mead, named after Elwood Mead, the head of the Bureau of Reclamation during the time. Today, it truly is the largest reservoir of the world, with a surface area of 146,000 acres.

It was estimated that about 16,000 people were employed for the construction of Hoover Dam, with about 3,500 employed at a time. The overall construction cost of the Hoover Dam was $49,000,000.

Hoover Dam was built by the Bureau of Reclamation, United States. Hoover Dam was previously known as Boulder Dam, as it was to be built in Boulder Canyon. However, for better impoundment, the project was relocated to Canyon Dam.

In February 14, 1931, the name was officially changed to Hoover Dam under the Congressional Act. It was named in honor of Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st President of the United States and a mining engineer by profession, who made significant contributions to the construction of the dam.

In 1981, Hoover Dam was enlisted within the United States National Register of Historic Locations (NRHP). However, it was only in 1985 that Hoover Dam was registered as a National Historic Landmark.

Hoover Dam has a storage capacity of 9.2 trillion gallons of water in its reservoir, the Lake Mead. Its 17 power generators have the capacity to produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity. To be far more precise, it supplies electricity to far more than 750,000 people and is a water source to over 25 million people in southwest United States.

One of the amazing facts about Hoover Dam is that it’s made up of a lot more masonry than the Pyramid of Giza.

It’s no wonder that the Hoover Dam is considered as one of the seven modern engineering wonders by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). About 4,000 tourists go to Hoover Dam everyday.

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Enlarge ImageUS Highway 93 can be a long winding highway that runs from Arizona to Montana. The highway is the shortest route in between Phoenix and Las Vegas, which are two of one of the most rapidly growing cities in America. Because the highway is designated as a North American Cost-free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) route, there has been a steady increase in congestion through the twisting switchbacks around the Hoover Dam. A section of the highway that runs by the dam was closed to truck traffic following the 9/11 attacks, due to security concerns. Since that time the traffic problems have continued to mount. The current two-lane highway, which runs across the dam, cannot handle the estimated 14,000 trucks and cars passing every day. The existing roadway is narrow and steep, winding and unsafe for that volume of traffic. The current condition of the highway posts potentially dangerous situations to the facilities of the Hoover Dam and visitors.

The Colorado River Bridge, nearly 2,000 feet long, forms the central section of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project. The construction of the bridge began late in January 2005, and the bypass project has continued steadily ever since. The second phase of the bypass project was construction of the Nevada Approach, a four-lane highway with six bridges that connects US 93 to the Colorado Bridge. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010. When it’s complete, the bridge will reach across the Black Canyon, nearly 900 feet up above the Colorado River, to connect the Nevada Approach with Arizona highways.

The National Highway Method Designation Act of 1995 designated U.S. 93 to be a high-priority traffic corridor, so there has always been a steady stream of traffic inside the area. But since closing some of the road following 9/11, the traffic congestion has had a dramatic affect on the economy of Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. The sharp curves on the road near the dam, combined with the heavy traffic, create the potential for a dangerous situation exactly where a major catastrophe could involve innocent bystanders, interruption of power and water to citizens, millions of dollars of property damage, and contamination of the water in the Colorado River and Lake Mead.

The development of this alternate river crossing will remove truck traffic and through vehicle traffic from crossing the top of the dam. The problems in the existing roadway – narrow roads, sharp turns, poor sight distance, inadequate roadway shoulders, and low speed of travel – will be eliminated by the new bridge.

The bridge will be named the Mike O’Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge to honor two local heroes. O?Callaghan, a decorated veteran of the Korean War, was the governor of Nevada from 1971 to 1979. Tillman was a football player at Arizona State University who played pro football for the Arizona Cardinals, and then gave up a career worth millions of dollars to enlist within the United States Army in 2002. After serving with the Army Rangers through multiple tours of duty, Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.

The Hoover Dam Bypass is 1,900 feet in length, with 1,060 feet composing the arch span. The bridge will be completed by September 2010, and is scheduled to be opened for traffic by November 2010.

Hoover dam, situated within the black canyon of the Colorado river inside the United States, is considered as one of the wonders of the world. Construction of such a huge dam began in 1931 and in spite of innumerable difficulties, the dam was successfully handed over to the federal government in 1936, though according to the scheduled plan, the dam was expected to be complete in 1938! I am sure, both kids and adults would like to leaf through Hoover dam facts and figures.

Hoover Dam Facts and FiguresHoover Dam is named after Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States. For some years, it was referred to as Boulder Dam.The backwater is named as ‘Lake Mead’ as ‘Elwood Mead’ was the principal authoritative figure in charge of the dam’s construction. Lake Mead is spread more than 146,000 acres and it’s recognized as the largest reservoir of the world.Six Companies, a conglomeration of six well-known companies was awarded the contract to build the dam. The lowest wage paid to a dam worker was 50 cents an hour while the highest was $1.25!For the duration of construction, 96 men lost their lives in various accidents. The mascot dog, the pet of all construction workers, was buried at the site of the Hoover dam.Hoover dam was built near the border of Arizona and Nevada to control floods, to generate hydroelectric power and to provide water for agricultural purposes.When finished, this dam was the largest electric-power generating site in the world, and it was the largest structure in the world, made out of concrete. Following details will help clear the concept.A superhighway from New York to San Francisco could have been constructed with the help of the concrete required to build Hoover Dam! Approximately 4,360,000 cubic yards of concrete was required to build the dam.Cooling tubes had been used for curing of such a huge mass of concrete; otherwise with traditional methods of curing, it would have taken 100 years to build the dam.Hoover dam details for kids include the following facts: Weight of the dam is much more than six-and-a-half million tons! The dam is 171 ft. taller than the Washington Monument! Height of the dam is 726.4 feet. Thickness of the dam is 45 feet at the top and 660 feet at the bottom (as thick as two footballs fields measured end-to-end) ! The Pyramid of Giza must have required less masonry than that required for Hoover dam.An annual power output of around 4 billion Kilowatt-hours (KW-h) is possible because of Hoover dam. The maximum power output from all the 17 power generators (water turbines) can be around 2.08 Gigawatts.Facts about Hoover dam inform us that Hoover dam supplies electricity to more than 750,000 people. This dam supplies water to more than 25 million people dwelling in southwest United States.Hoover dam, getting one of the seven modern engineering wonders, thousands of tourists visit Hoover Dam everyday. It really is believed that rubbing the toes of the two 30 feet tall winged figures (made of bronze), standing on the Nevada side’s approach to the dam, brings good luck.Here are some intriguing Hoover dam construction details. In all, about 16,000 employees were involved in the construction of Hoover Dam. About 3,500 people were employed at a time. About $49,000,000 were required to complete the construction of the Hoover dam.The Hoover dam bypass project involving construction of a bridge whose arch span stretches 1,060 feet and whose deck stands 900 feet above the river, is also 1 of the wonderful projects of this century.I hope you enjoyed and had been enriched with the Hoover dam facts described in this article. Hats off to the team involved within the construction of the Hoover dam!

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Winifred and her mother sat in their beautiful garden sipping glasses of cold lemonade when suddenly her mother brought up the topic of her sisters. They sat there talking, soaking up the sun and sipping lemonade for a long time when Winifred was struck with the idea of looking for her long lost relatives using the Internet. She knew that it would be the perfect gift for her mother?s birthday which was in about 4 month?s time! The important day finally arrived and Winifred came home with a large bouquet and a bottle of champagne, which she put on the table and then gave her mother a hug and slid an envelope into her hand. Tears rolled down her mother?s eyes when she opened the envelope because inside it were two tickets to Hong Kong along with a printout of a mail from her sister Pam, inviting them there. The next day when Winfred came home from work she found the house full of books about Hong Kong culture and beliefs?.She smiled, her mother was doing her homework alright!

Previously described as a barren rock, Hong Kong has today become a world-class financial, trading and business centre. Hong Kong has one of the finest deep-water ports inside the world along with a hardworking, adaptable and well-educated workforce.

Hong Kong Culture and Beliefs

People
Hong Kong has a hybrid culture of the east and west, though most of the people belong to the ethnic Chinese group and naturally lean towards their own culture. There are of course several of them who have adopted western ways. There is really a heavy influence derived from Cantonese culture too.

Language
The most widely spoken language in Hong Kong is Cantonese. It was after the 1997 handover that the government adopted the biliterate and trilingual policy, according to which Chinese and English both must be acknowledged as official languages. Cantonese has been acknowledged as the de facto official spoken dialect of the Chinese in Hong Kong. Standard Mandarin is also spoken in Hong Kong.

Food
The food in Hong Kong is actually a fusion of eastern and western style cuisine. In Hong Kong you are sure to locate an unlimited variety of food. Hong Kong has been given the reputable labels of Gourmet Paradise and World?s fair of Food because of its complex combinations and international gourmet expertise.

Dress
Traditional dresses like the pien-fu, the ch’ang-p’ao, and the shen-I are very popular among the women of Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong, like those in China, associate specific colors with distinct seasons. According to this, green is the color of spring, red the color of summer, white the color of autumn and black the color of winter. The fashion of Hong Kong as well as the entire country revolves around these colors throughout the year. Western clothes have also entered the Hong Kong culture with jeans, skirts and other forms of dresses.

The traditional designs for men include embroidered clothes with unique designs like phoenixes, dragons and lightening. The men in Hong Kong also wear the traditional long gown.

Martial Arts
In Hong Kong martial arts is accepted as a form of exercise and entertainment with Tai Chi being essentially the most popular. Every park in Hong Kong has people practicing this art at dawn. Most of the martial art forms have been passed down from various generations of Chinese ancestry, with styles like the praying mantis, snake fist and crane getting probably the most recognized.

Leisure
People in Hong Kong spend time playing games like Mahjong, which is played in relaxation or with plenty of money at stake. Hong Kong has lots of Mahjong shops and parlors available, which makes this game easily accessible. In Hong Kong, people of all age groups also play video games. Today Hong Kong has some of probably the most up-to-date arcades games available outside Japan. Middle-aged locals in Hong Kong also spend time on horse racing and gambling.

Beliefs
Chinese beliefs form an integral component of the culture of Hong Kong. The people in Hong Kong pray and make offerings at much more than 600 old and new temples, shrines and monasteries that are found across the territory. Feng Shui is taken very seriously here with expensive construction projects often hiring consultants that are believed to make or break a business. The Bagua mirror is also regularly used to shield evils. People in Hong Kong also believe in numbers, with the Number 4 getting avoided at all costs (since it is similar to the Chinese word for die). The people here believe in avoiding the use of scissors on Chinese New Year too.

Festivals
Chinese New Year, Ching Ming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival are essentially the most celebrated festivals in Hong Kong.Chinese New Year
This is one of the most celebrated festivals in Hong Kong, with most shops and small restaurants getting closed for 3 days and some even up to 8 days. Throughout this time new clothes are worn to signify the New Year with the color red becoming used liberally in all decorations. Married people and elders also give red packets to juniors and children. The festivities may vary from one region to region and from family and family. Ching Ming Festival
The Ching Ming festival is also known as Remembrance of Ancestors Day and is celebrated in April. Since this day is devoted to honoring relatives who have died, thousands of Chinese check out cemeteries to clean the graves of their loved ones. Young Chinese children are taught to pray to ancestors and for, the family spirits. In Chinese culture the symbol of light and enemy of darkness is the willow. Some people carry willow branches or hang it on the front door on Ching Ming. Dragon Boat Festival
This festival is undoubtedly 1 of Hong Kong?s most popular events. The dragon boat festival draws thousands of spectators and racing teams from around the globe. This event is growing much more and a lot more popular around the world, especially in places like the USA, Canada and Europe. Mid-Autumn Festival
This festival is also known as the Moon Festival and takes place on the 15th day of the 8th months of the lunar calendar. This festival is actually a time for members of a family to obtain together wherever it really is possible. Mooncakes form an important portion of this festival and is given to relatives and friends during the festival. According to tradition, children carried lanterns of animal shapes lit by candles. During this festival, the hills of Hong Kong, Victoria Park, the beaches and the Peak are shimmering with the glow of lanterns as darkness approaches.

For every place that you pick as a holiday destination, there can be a list of must see, must buy, must eat, which basically sums up to the all important must do. Visiting a new place but not indulging in certain activities when there is almost like a waste of a trip! A holiday in Hong Kong is no exception to that rule. Hong Kong is actually a beautiful city that offers a plethora of things to do for the duration of your remain there. You could have some really productive days when inside the city. Right from learning about the cultures and beliefs of Hong Kong, to exploring a wilder side and doing far more fun things, there’s an option available for all. Although now, I’d much rather we deal with the much more fun aspect of it. Take a appear at some of the best things to do in Hong Kong.

Top 10 Things to Do in Hong Kong

See the Giant Buddha Statue
It may not sound like one of those “fun things” to do if you very simply are looking to spend some casual and laid-back time in Hong Kong, but it really is something that you definitely must find the time for. Also known as the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, this magnificent bronze sculpting of Buddha is as tall as 34 meters, and weighs as much as 250 tons. Located within the Po Lin Monastery in Lantau, this prominent statue of Buddha attracts close to a million visitors annually, so you know you are missing out on something if you don’t go there.

Visit Victoria Peak
Another one of those things that every tourist has to do when in Hong Kong, is to take the steep peak tram and head to Victoria Peak. The primary reason for a pay a visit to to Victoria Park is to get an absolutely astonishingly beautiful view of the entire city. But wait, that isn’t all. For those of you who’ve always wanted to check out it, there is also the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum. And if even that isn’t enough, there are innumerable stores that could satiate your shopping needs. For those of you who are wondering, the place is indeed named after the British crowned head, Queen Victoria.

Visit the Temples
The oriental culture missing temples is rather unlikely. You could locate some of essentially the most beautiful temples ever, in Hong Kong. I’m sure any follower of Buddhism or Taoism who has visited them will agree. With more than 600 temples, some becoming as old as 700 years or even much more, you know there is ample to pick from if and when you decide to indulge in a visit to the numerous temples that Hong Kong has to offer. Here are a few suggestion of ones that you must go to… Sha Tin Che Kung Temple, Lo Pan Temple, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Yuk Wong Po Tin (Jade Emperor Temple).

Trip to Disneyland
Now this may not be the real thing, but it sure can be a great substitute to the one in California. Truth be told, if it’s called Disneyland, your children will go happily, irrespective of exactly where inside the world it is. In fact, this most positively is one of the best ways to spend some quality time when in Hong Kong with the kids in tow. In addition to a day filled with fun (and lots of it), you can wait on until 9 pm and watch the fireworks light up the night sky. Remain on at one of the Disneyland hotels after a day like that, and there’s not doubt about the fact that you will have happy children for the rest of your remain in Hong Kong.

Make a trip to the Hong Kong Museum of History
If you are looking to spend an extremely concrete day and have absolutely no qualms about it becoming an intelligent way of passing time, go to the Hong Kong Museum of History. As unenterprising a “must do” as it may sound to some, it is unquestionably the best way to spend hours of your day, and leaving you satisfied at the end of it. Whether it truly is archeology that you are keen about, or even natural or local history, this museum will act as your 1 stop shop for it all. For those of you who aren’t too big on history, other museums worth a pay a visit to are, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, amongst several others.

Shop at Stanley Market
It may come across as odd or unlikely, but if there’s 1 thing that most tourists (or maybe every tourist) do is to visit and shop at Stanley Market. The perfect place for all those people who have unbeatable bargaining skills, shopping at Stanley Market is all about anything and everything you could ever be looking for. Right from curios for your personal collection, to little souvenirs to take back for friends back home, you name it, they have it. Jewelry, garments, electronics, furniture… You really would discover anything under the sun at this place.

Check out the Symphony of Lights
A dramatically gorgeous light show that would be worth every minute of your time is the Symphony of Lights at the Avenue of Stars. A breathtaking view of Hong Kong and the harbor, this would be essentially the most spectacular one and a half hours you could ever spend in this city. As if the view of the Victoria Harbor isn’t stunning enough with the laser show that you would witness here, the cherry on the top is the unlimited drinks served from the open bar. Need to have much more? Just in case you do, there is some good music and commentary to accompany it too. Now, I’m sure you couldn’t want more than that.

Ride the Star Ferry
Ever noticed how there are some things that every tourist does, no matter what! Well, here’s another 1 of them… Riding the Star Ferry is actually a must when you are in Hong Kong. It’s just one of those “top things” that you by no means can miss out on. A rather inexpensive ride from Kowloon to Central, or even the other way round, if you’d prefer, this ferry ride is among the best ways to see the city like it’s. Ask around, and you’ll see that some people swear by this method of seeing the “true” Hong Kong.

Take a Totally free Tai Chi Class
If you are in Hong Kong, and you love martial arts, you can’t not take a free tai chi lesson or two. Receiving tai chi training from trained instructors (for free of charge) never hurt anybody. Held early within the morning, roughly three or four times a week, it isn’t uncommon to see people practicing this martial art throughout the city. To add to its convenience, these classes are held at prominent locations, thus making it easy for an out-of-towner to attend them too. Nothing very like fitness for free of charge, now is there?

Sightseeing on the Bus & Check out the Beaches
Now this really is definitely no shocker. This really is the “must do” that must be done, for if it isn’t, it makes you a bad tourist!! (Just kidding). The point of a check out to any new place is to get to see it in its true element, and honestly, there’s no better way of doing that than by hopping on to one of those buses or trams that promise you the best sight seeing experience ever. As cliched as it may sound, you may as well get as “touristy” as you can. Another option that’s equally laid-back and perfect for a day when you don’t want to do much, is to check out the beaches. A few worth going to would be Repulse Bay, Butterfly Beach, Shek O Beach, Cheung Sha Beach, and even Tung Ping Chau.

So, those were the top 10 things to do in Hong Kong. If it seemed insufficient, and you want far more, here’s a random list of other options that should help…

Other Fun Things to Do in Hong Kong

?? Get a view of Hong Kong with a helicopter ride (expensive, but worth it if you can afford it)
?? Enjoy a Chinese Festival (if you can find any during your remain)
?? Explore the Kamikaze Caves on Lamma Islands
?? Get experimental and eat at a Dai Pai Dong
?? Go to the Happy Valley Racecourse
?? Make a trip to Macau for a day
?? Go to Chungking Mansions
?? Go Pink Dolphin watching
?? Check out Causeway Bay
?? Pay a visit to Mong Kok
?? Eat dim sum
?? Go hiking

Hopefully the above mentioned list of things to do was worth your while. If you are big party goer, you wouldn’t be disappointed either, for Hong Kong is not a city that disappoints. Work your way around the place, explore a little, have some fun, and it could turn into the best time that anyone has ever had in Hong Kong.

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It is stated that Hong Kong is one of the most developed places on the globe. It is amongst the two Unique Administrative Regions (SARs) of the People’s Republic of China; the other 1 becoming Macau. You’ll find that Hong Kong is situated in the eastern component of the Asian continent, on the south coast of China. It is fairly renowned for its natural harbor, cultural heritage, an extended skyline, and scenic beauty. Most of us might wonder if Hong Kong is really a correct city, a region or a separate country altogether. One of probably the most intriguing facts about Hong Kong is that until 1997, it was below the rule of the United Kingdom and was run by a governor. Throughout its handover by the UK to China in 1997, there had been about 30,000 Britishers staying in Hong Kong. Geographically, Hong Kong is really a portion of China, but functionally it really is not.

Hong Kong Governance – The Standard Law

The Fundamental Law is really a contract between China and UK regarding the overall administration of Hong Kong. It follows the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, which is why there are various debates on the ownership of Hong Kong as a separate region or perhaps a component of China. As per law, the socialism adopted in China isn’t applicable in Hong Kong. A capitalist method is implemented instead. It also includes clauses that Hong Kong will have its own separate currency and government technique for 50 years from 1997. This is exactly where this city is distinct from China when it comes to governance. Keep in mind that China has control more than the city’s defense and foreign affairs, but just isn’t involved in financial and social matters. Let us have a look at some fast details about Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Travel and Immigration Laws

Residents of Hong Kong need to possess a separate passport, termed as the HKSAR passport. Tourists to the city from countries like USA, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, and Singapore are granted a 90-day visa-free remain. For UK citizens, this period extends to 180 days, whereas for Indians, it’s 14 days. Any foreigner thinking of staying in Hong Kong for more than the visa-free period will need to apply for a Hong Kong visa. Surprisingly, traveling from Hong Kong to China also calls for a Chinese visa. Those that need to pay a visit to the city from China will need to have an exit-entry permit. Read on to get to know some much more Hong Kong details.

Interesting Details about Hong Kong

?? Owing to the Standard Law, this city uses the Hong Kong dollar as currency. It really is not valid in other Chinese regions. The Renminbi, which is the Chinese currency, cannot be used for trade in Hong Kong, except at a few locations.
?? The word ‘Hong Kong’ relates to Fragrant Harbor, with the official name for the city getting Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or simply Hong Kong SAR.
?? Cantonese and English are the official languages of this city, though you may uncover people not that good at English.
?? With above 8000 buildings which are a lot more than 14 floors high, the city is regarded as 1 with essentially the most skyscrapers.
?? Even though it really is a city, it’s believed to be the 11th largest trading economy in the world, with a majority of trade becoming done with mainland China.
?? The Hong Kong SAR comprises other regions as well; such as the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, Lantau Island, and miscellaneous islands. It consists of the Victoria Harbour, which is one of the most beautiful harbors within the world.
?? You will be surprised to know that vehicles in Hong Kong are driven on the left side, whereas those in China on the right.
?? As per a 2010 survey, about 7,055,000 people are residing in Hong Kong, in just 426 square miles.
?? According to Hong Kong culture and beliefs, if long noodles are eaten on a person’s birthday, he lives longer. That’s for a fun fact about Hong Kong.
?? People and businessmen within the city are strong believers of Feng Shui.
?? A funeral ceremony includes burning of things that are believed to help the deceased in their life after death.
?? There is an annual bun festival held in Cheung Chau Island in between April and May to please the hungry spirits that people consider to be wandering around the island.
?? You know something? Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan come from Hong Kong.

Due to the implementation of the Hong Kong Simple Law, there have been several differences in the administrative program of China and that of this city. If you desire to check out a place with a mix of eastern and western cultures, Hong Kong is the place to be!

The antecedents of the city-state of Hong Kong might be likened to that of a suitcase kid, exactly where the upbringing of a child fluctuates between two separated parents. Hong Kong was and nonetheless remains geographically, a component of China and Southeast Asia but became a British colony from 1842-1997. It was also ruled briefly by Japan. Even though Hong Kong’s circumstance under British rule is well-documented, its governance by the ancient dynasties of China remains a mystery. Below is really a detailed take a look at how ancient Hong Kong was ruled by the Chinese.

Timeline of Hong Kong Under Imperial Chinese Rule

Prior to the Chinese, Hong Kong was inhabited by an unknown ancient race known as the Yue folks. Archaeologists recently discovered a huge burial ground and research carried out at the site indicated, they had been a tribe of warriors using a non-Chinese religion. Not significantly light may be shed on these early Hong Kong inhabitants. But they faced the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who was looking to consolidate all of China under his rule, in 221 BC. The Yue were no match for the powerful Chinese force and were wiped out. Soon, Hong Kong became an additional portion of the vast Chinese empire.

In 210 BC, Emperor Huang died and unrest broke out against his successor?s rule. The location of what is now Hong Kong, was staked by a Han Chinese general, Zhao Tuo, who founded his own kingdom and named the area Nanyue. For a although, his rule reigned but in 112 BC, Nanyue was taken over by the mighty Han Dynasty. This was the very first of the Five Clans of China to rule more than Hong Kong. The Hans seemingly utilized the region for large-scale salt production, as supported by the archeological items discovered in a tomb dating from that time. These settlers heavily influenced the area, with most artifacts and relics reflecting the rich Han traditions and heritage. The descendants of this dynasty remain members of today?s Hong Kong population.

The Han Dynasty soon created way for the Tang Dynasty. These rulers realized the key advantage of the area lay in its strategic location and turned it into a highly profitable sea port. This opened up trade in between China and the globe. Soon the region flourished into a trading port, a key Chinese naval base and an ideal location for pearl farming.

In 1276, Honk Kong became identified to the rest of China?s populace as the tragic location where an emperor died. The Mongols invaded China at this time, and to escape the horde, child emperor Duan Zong along with his Song Dynasty court, tried to reach Hong Kong. But sadly, the emperor and his entourage drowned inside the Pearl River. For a while, the Mongols ruled more than Hong Kong as well as the populace was a mix of Chinese refugees from various clans.

In the 16th century, the Ming Dynasty was in charge of Hong Kong. This time period also saw the arrival of the Portuguese to Chinese shores, who began trade. But they also built up military defenses on the sly and were soon confronted by the Chinese. They were subsequently banished and frightened by such interference, the Maritime Prohibition law was levied by the Chinese ruling dynasty, to prevent foreign powers from trading. In this confusing time, the natives of Hong Kong had been forced to leave their land and move to mainland China. This forced movement took location from 1661 to 1669.

In 1669, the British arrived in China, within the form of the East India Company. Emperor Kangxi, the then ruler of China, was really wary of the newcomers but wanted to trade with them. So he drew up a strict set of rules and restrictions to be followed by the foreigners and carried out trade using the British merchants in Canton. Trade flourished in between East and also the West and soon a trading post was set up. This put Hong Kong on the foreign trade map. At this time, Hong Kong also became the main port for the British to bring opium into China.

Trading away silver for opium at an alarming rate depleted the nation?s treasury severely. Also the local population had turned into opium addicts. Opium was subsequently banned by Emperor Chia Ch?ing but its use continued secretly. The arrival of mandarin Lin Zexu saw the end of the secret opium trade as well as the British were cornered from all sides. The ban of opium angered the British and they went on the offensive and attacked Guangzhou, then Shanghai and then turned their wrath on Beijing. This was the very first Opium War. The power of the British forced the emperor into agreeing to hand more than Hong Kong. For a although, peace reigned in between the two parties.

However, the Chinese seemed quite reluctant to hand over Hong Kong. As soon as once more, the British went on the warpath and this time seized the prime thriving city of Nanking. The Chinese had been effectively put in their place and drew up the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. Now they had Nanking back along with the British got Honk Kong, cost-free of cost, to rule as they please and totally free from any Chinese law. Thus, the area of Hong Kong passed from Imperial Chinese rule into the hands of the British.

The British ruled Hong Kong for 156 years, finally returning it to the Chinese in 1997. The brief history of Hong Kong as a Chinese region, provides a fascinating glimpse into the rule of dynasties, the formation of local populace and how the sprawling metropolis of Hong Kong came into getting.

With human history going back five thousand years, perhaps even more, it has resulted in the winter holiday season being garbed with wealthy traditions, with many layers of folklore, customs and celebration.

The month of December, or rather the winter season, is observed by people in numerous parts of the world as a time for observing a lot of seasonal days. Most of them are linked to the winter solstice in some way, especially inside the northern hemisphere. This really is due to the fact on that day, because of the tilt of the earth?s axis, the daytime hours are at their shortest in the northern hemisphere, and also the nighttime hours are at their longest. (Inside the southern hemisphere, it is the other way around.) And this really is the reason that most wintertime seasonal holiday traditions have their roots in the northern hemisphere.

But these winter holidays are also associated with religiously linked holy days. In fact, the really word ?holiday? has been derived from ?holy? and ?day?, simply because originally holidays demarcated special religious days.

Here are many of the winter holidays that are celebrated around the world:

Christmas: Christians all more than the world celebrate this winter holiday on December 25. They go to church, decorate a Christmas tree, give one another gifts, have a classic dinner, with families spending the day together. In certain parts of Europe, star singers also sing Christmas carols walking behind a huge star strung on a pole.

St. Lucia?s Day: This is a winter holiday celebrated on December 13 in Sweden in honor of St. Lucia, who lived within the third century and is regarded as the patron of light. Young girls bedeck themselves in white colored lengthy dresses with red sashes, and wear a wreath created of lit candles on their heads. They sing songs in order to wake their families up and bring them twisted saffron buns, called ?Lucia cats? and coffee.

Channukkah: Also referred to as Hannukah, this is among the most significant Jewish holidays, particularly due the significant connotations of its proximity to Christmas. The history of this festival chronicles the Jewish men and women celebrating the revolution against the suppression and assimilation of the Jewish religion. It truly is a weeklong holiday that begins on December 26 and lasts up to January 1, using the menorah, or seven candles, getting lighted up.

Kwanzaa: Literally meaning ?First Fruits?, this has its basis on an ancient harvest festival of Africa which celebrates ideals like collective responsibility and work; self-determination; co-operation; purpose; creativity; faith; and unity. The celebration starts from December 26 and culminates on January 1, in the course of which time African Americans bedeck their homes with vegetables and fruits, don special clothes, and light the ?kinara? which is really a special candleholder.

Mardi Gras: Which is really ?Fat Tuesday? in French, occurs one day prior to Ash Wednesday, and is also called ?Pancake Day? or ?Shrove Tuesday?. Mardi Gras is the last day of Carnival, which begins twelve days right after Christmas, hence is also referred to as Twelfth Night, which falls on January 6 and ends on Mardi Gras day, specifically forty-six days prior to Easter. A number of the cities that most renowned for celebrating Mardi Gras are: Rio de Janeiro in Brazil: New Orleans in Louisiana; Italy; and Venice.

Hogmanay: This really is a Scottish word which means the last day of the year and is basically celebrating the New Year, according to the Gregorian calendar, inside the Scottish way. It begin on the night of December 31, lasting all by way of the night and carrying on until the ?Ne?erday? or January 1, and often even carrying on to January two, which can be a bank holiday in Scotland.

St. Nicholas Day: This is celebrated in Northern Europe on December 6. St. Nicholas was a protector of the weak against the wealthy and the strong. St. Nicholas is treated like Santa Claus, and in truth is believed to be Santa Claus? original name. Children place boots on their windowsills or in the fireplace so that St. Nicholas can fill them with candy.

Bodhi Day: This really is celebrated by the Buddhists on December 8 in commemoration of the enlightenment of the Buddha. This really is considered the most important holiday for the Buddhists.

Lunar New Year: This is two-week winter holiday celebrated inside the latter portion of January or early part of February, or during the very first lunar moon, by the Vietnamese, Koreans, and Chinese. People wear their very best clothes and exchange gifts and food.

Eid-al-Adha: This is a feast which is celebrated by Muslims following their pilgrimage to Mecca that lasts for 3 days, and begins on January 10. It truly is a commemoration of Ibrahim?s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, at the behest of God. Muslims consider Ishmael to be the Arabs? forefather.

Las Posadas: This is a standard winter holiday celebrated in Mexico between December 16 and December 24. In English, the term Las Posadas translates to ?the Inn?, and therefore can be a re-enactment of Joseph searching for a room in the inn. Hence, every single Christmas, there is a procession carrying a doll, which represents Christ as a child and the images of Mary and Joseph riding a little donkey, which goes by means of the streets.

Japanese New Year: New Year celebration is among the most main events in Japan. New Year?s Eve is called Omisoka in Japan. The Japanese devote plenty of time shopping and cleaning their houses in preparation for the new year. This symbolizes acquiring rid of the past and starting afresh. The celebration on the New Year?s day itself is known as Shogatsu. The Japanese decorate their houses and give their children gifts of toys and cash and greeting cards to pals and family.