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Tsing Ma Bridge
Every year
many millions of people use the Tsing Ma Bridge without actually
getting a close-up view of this modern-day engineering
accomplishment of breathtaking skill -- the world's longest
suspension bridge carrying road and rail traffic. The explanation is
that the Airport Express, which whisks them across the bridge in
either direction, travels through one of two rail tunnels slung
beneath the six-lane roadway. All are passengers who have either
just arrived at Hong Kong's ultra-modern new International Airport
at Chek Lap Kok, or are hurrying there to catch their return
flights. Happily, however, most of them see this superb example of
bridge-building genius at least from a distance during their stay in
Hong Kong. The newest and greatest engineering marvel of this
dynamic mega city, it is now Hong Kong's proud new landmark,
massively imposing by day, and a twinkling fairyland of lighted
lacework by night.
Meanwhile, those bridge-concealing tunnels are there for good
reason. If a particularly severe typhoon struck Hong Kong and the
bridge had to be closed to road traffic, the trains would still be
able to get through in either direction with passengers and their
luggage. Planning for a new airport operating 24 hours a day began
in the 90s when it was obvious that the former Kai Tak Airport in
urban Kowloon, limited by noise restrictions, could never cope with
ever-increasing air traffic. But it was vital for the planned new
airport off the northern coast of Lantau Island to be linked with
downtown Kowloon and Hong Kong Island by high-speed road and rail
connections. The key to accomplish this was the Tsing Ma Bridge
which leapfrogs the islands of Tsing Yi and Ma Wan, linking up with
a lesser bridge in one direction and a tunnel beneath a housing
estate in the other.
A viewing platform north of the bridge on Tsing Yi provides
excellent views of this and two adjoining bridges. Take the MTR to
Tsing Yi and get a taxi. Note: All airport buses cross Tsing Ma and
Kap Shui Mun bridges. There is also green minibus 309M running
between the Tsing Yi Airport Railway station and the Lantau Link
Visitors' Centre every Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays. The
service departs the Tsing Yi station from 9:30am to 5pm and from the
Visitor's Link from 10am to 6:30pm. The minibuses run every 60
minutes and cost HK$7 for a single journey ticket.
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Maritime Square
Tsing Yi
Maritime Square in Tsing Yi is a fascinating combination of Hong
Kong old and new. The Square features more than 200 shops, themed
restaurants and a cinema. Its proximity to Hong Kong International
Airport makes it a great stop-off for transit passengers.
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Kwai Tsing District Arts
Festival
Held between November and December every
year, the Kwai Tsing District Arts Festival is another great series
of events featuring music, dance, Chinese opera and much more. All
of the events are free and the event is designed to be fun for the
whole family. In 2000 the district spent $1 million on the festival.
It presented eight different programmes including Chinese music,
folk songs, drama and Cantonese opera and dances.
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Information provided by
Hong Kong Tourism Board.
