Click for related special on Christmas>>>>

As usual, Hong Kong's top Christmas attraction this year will be Symphony of Lights, a spectacular multimedia show combining lights, music and narration. It involves 18 key buildings on Hong Kong Island. The facades of skyscrapers are decked out in lights that glow in a myriad of colors sparkling along one of the world's greatest skylines. On special occasions, additional pyrotechnics will be featured.

Avenue of Stars is a new attraction celebrating Hong Kong movies and the stars with commemorative plaques - some featuring handprints of famous stars, Hong Kong movie industry milestones and a glamorous Hong Kong Film Awards sculpture. Along with Victoria Harbor, it is also a good location to watch the multimedia light and sound show.

Ocean Park will be a must-go for many visitors. The Abyss Turbo Drop is its latest addition that can raise you up 60 meters and then drop you straight down in free fall, making five seconds seem like a lifetime. Pacific Pier is also a new attraction in the park. Designed to emulate a northern Californian pier, the boardwalk takes you past a rocky shoreline where the seals and sea lions feel right at home. From Dec. 18 through Jan. 2, the park offers a lot of activities for festive fun.

During Christmas, Statue Square in Central, Hong Kong's financial district will be turned into Santa's Town with Santa-themed settings such as a snowy chapel, Santa's Post Office, Santa's Lodge and his workshop. Special wishing cards will be distributed there so that you can make a wish and hang it on uniquely designed Christmas wishing trees.

Hong Kong's Christmas lights will also help brighten up shopping and dining experiences. For visitors to have an enjoyable experience, Hong Kong Tourism Board has prepared a Quality Tourism Services Scheme, which certifies shops and restaurants that have passed stringent annual assessments.

Hong Kong's Central district is home to many shopping atriums and malls. The Landmark, The Galleria, Prince's Building, Alexandra House and the IFC mall are the main shopping centers, with designer shops and exclusive brand names in abundance.

Two parallel streets in Central known as "The Lanes," Li Yuen Street East and Li Yuen Street West are a riot of stalls hawking everything from inexpensive clothing, watches and costume jewelry to luggage and shoes. The market is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Stanley Street is known for its range and reasonably priced photographic equipment. Hollywood Road winds above the Central business district and is Hong Kong's antiques row. Farther west towards Sheung Wan is a bustle of sidewalk hawkers on Central's stepped "ladder" streets.

Western Market in Sheung Wan is a handsomely renovated Edwardian building filled with Chinese handicraft stores and fabric shops. The area to the west is famous for its small Chinese-style shops selling dried seafood and medicinal herbs.

Cat Street bazaar is best known for stalls and shops selling antiques, such as watches, old coins and stone carvings.

The area is also home to many interesting Chinese herbal medicine stores.

Admiralty, too, is famous for its brand-name luxury goods. Pacific Place, one of Hong Kong's most popular malls, is the ideal place to go in this area. You'll find perfect gift ideas within its 130-plus outlets, including Marks & Spencer, Lane Crawford, Seibu and top designer labels.

During the Christmas season, many shops and restaurants throughout the city will offer special Christmas goodies. In Central, Lan Kwai Fong is famous for its exciting night scene and dining, with more than 80 restaurants and bars, while SoHo is a cultural adventure, with food from all corners of the globe, plus cool art galleries and great bars.

Food Street in Causeway Bay provides a world of exotic dining choices including restaurants offering open caf¨¦ areas where you can enjoy tasteful food and an alfresco atmosphere. And for beachside fun in the sun, great alfresco dining and some terrific shopping, Stanley is the place to be. It has music at dusk every Saturday plus special meals and promotions by the Stanley Restaurant Association.

Editor: Catherine