Eastern Asia

Hong Kong

Discover High Island's Rhyolitic Rock Columns, Tian Tan Buddha, Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower.

Explore 3 illustrated places, read the stories behind them and look closer on the globe.

Illustration of High Island's Rhyolitic Rock Columns — High Island's Rhyolitic Rock Columns

Places to discover in Hong Kong

geology

High Island's Rhyolitic Rock Columns

The High Island Formation records a major ancient volcanic system in the Sai Kung region. As deposited volcanic material cooled and contracted, fractures developed into columns. Unlike the basalt columns familiar at many other sites, these are silica-rich rhyolitic volcanic rocks, making their composition an important part of their geological interest.

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Source: Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department / Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark

culture

Tian Tan Buddha

Follow the folds of the robes to the raised right hand and the left hand resting on the lap. The Tian Tan Buddha, also called the Big Buddha, was completed in 1993. Its statue and circular platform form a recognizable landmark among Lantau’s hills.

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Source: www.discoverhongkong.com

engineering

Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower

Look from the tall shaft to the open upper storey and pale dome. This tower once belonged to the Kowloon–Canton Railway terminus at Tsim Sha Tsui. The station has gone, but the tower remains as a distinctive reminder of journeys that began and ended here.