For many, no visit to Hong Kong is complete without getting an overview of the city at night. And Victoria Peak has long been the favored place to get a bird's-eye view of the colorful panorama.

Come October, visitors will have a new vantage point on the other side of the harbor to take in the dazzling night scene that encompasses Hong Kong and Victoria Harbor.

The observation deck on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Center (ICC), Hong Kong's newest landmark, will offer a 360-degree mesmerizing view from the center of town, at 393 meters above sea level.

Soaring high into the sky, the 484-meter, 118-story skyscraper will become Hong Kong's tallest and the world's fourth tallest, after Dubai's Burj Khalifa, Taipei 101 tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center.

Like the Taipei 101 observatory and Sky Walk 100 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, the ICC observation deck comes with top-notch facilities and service. It can be reached by a lift from the second floor of the ICC, in just one minute.

Besides taking in a view of one of the world's busiest harbors and row upon row of skyscrapers, visitors can also gain an insight into Hong Kong's history and culture through the deck's innovative multimedia exhibits.

A tourist information center, offering advanced telescopes and audio-visual guided tours in four languages, will help first-time visitors zero in quickly on the "must go" sights of Hong Kong.

"Every year, Hong Kong receives close to 30 million visitors, many of whom are eager to enjoy our spectacular harbor views from various vantage points in the city," says James Tien, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

"As the tallest building and newest landmark in Hong Kong, the opening of the ICC will make Hong Kong's already famous skyline even more stunning.

"The observation deck will give visitors a unique experience of the energy of this vibrant city," he says.

The deck also has dining and entertainment facilities. A spacious, high-end shopping mall, Elements, is located in ICC's basement to satiate the most enthusiastic shopper in the shopping haven of the world.

Meanwhile, fine restaurants located on the 101st floor offer tired visitors a chance to admire the dazzling view while indulging in delectable food and wine.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel will occupy the top 15 floors of the tower. With its lobby at 425 meters above the ground, the hotel is being billed as the highest in the world, surpassing Park Hyatt in the Shanghai World Financial Center.

ICC is part of the Kowloon Station development, a key integrated project in Hong Kong's West Kowloon area, featuring commercial, residential, cultural and recreational facilities in one location. The tower forms a "gateway" to Victoria Harbor with Two International Finance Center located on the other side of the harbor.

The building is also well connected by public transport including the MTR, Airport Express and cross-border and local buses.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/13/2010 page19)