Zone: The historic centre

The Central and Ban Chai regions are the heart of Hong Kong - one of the world's great financial centres. Life never halts here for even a moment! Million-dollar deals are outdone by billion-dollar deals, financial empires rise and fall. Whether you arrive here on the Hong Kong metro, or off the deck of a Star Ferry at Central Pier, the contrast with the 'mainland' and the old Chinese district of Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront is really astounding. You're immediately surrounded on all sides by high-rise glass-and-concrete skyscrapers, straining skywards. When the sun's shining, everything here is sparkling and shining – or when the rains or even typhoons come, the tips of the skyscrapers disappear behind the grey clouds.