Central is the business district of Hong Kong--its financial and economic hub. Visitors are inevitably amazed at the hybrid landscape of glass and concrete skyscrapers in the foreground and lush green hills behind them. The district is home to some of the best architectural designs in the world: the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Building, visible from almost anywhere in Central; the Bank of China Building, another masterpiece by I. M. Pei; and the magnificent Exchange Square towers, home of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Jardine House, directly across from the Post Office Headquarters, is easy to recognize by the round windows. The Jardine House was the building Spiderman climbed; it was then the tallest building in Asia.

The ferry pier in Central District is a good starting point for sightseeing tours on Hong Kong Island. A pedestrian underpass leads from the pier to Statue Square, where you have a good view of the many impressive business buildings that make up the skyline of Hong Kong.

Queen's Road has been the Central District's main street since the 1840s. (At that time, the street was directly on the waterfront, but now it is several blocks back from the harbor due to successful land reclamation projects.) On both sides of Queen's Road are networks of smaller streets filled with elegant fashion boutiques as well as small stalls that sell inexpensive women's clothes (including silk wear), jewelry, and accessories.

A ride on the famous Peak Tram (a funicular railway) to Victoria Peak is one of the "musts" of any visit to Hong Kong. The trains leave at regular intervals from Garden Road (on Sundays and holidays there are usually long queues), and arrive about eight minutes later at the top of the hill. Buses operate from the Star Ferry pier to Garden Road. Taxis are also available. Victoria Peak is 1,800 feet above sea level and is the highest point on Hong Kong Island.