Perfectly placed within the prestigious International Finance Center (IFC), overlooking Victoria Harbor, the Four Seasons Hotel offers sleek sophistication and easy access to all that Hong Kong has to offer.

The hotel encompasses 399 spacious guest rooms and suites – all with sweeping views of Victoria Harbor and Kowloon or Victoria Peak and the city. On the 45th floor, premium privileges are offered in the welcoming environment of the Executive Club Lounge.

Culinary delights, offered through five distinct harbour-view dining options, range from creative French fare to modern Asian interpretations, as well as Hong Kong's only restaurant with three Michelin stars, Lung King Heen.

To unwind, guests can work out in the 24-hour fitness center or escape to the serenity of the pool terrace, where open-air pools – heated in winter – seem to pour into the harbor. Asian-inspired treatments calm the senses at one of the region's most lavish spas within the hotel.

Caprice: With superb views over Victoria Harbor and the Kowloon Peninsula from its location on the sixth floor, Caprice's stunning surroundings feature Chinese-inspired Czech crystal chandeliers. With an open kitchen that provides a show of chefs at work, the restaurant offers contemporary French cuisine accompanied by the finest French wines, as well as other European and New World wines from renowned vineyards. Another highlight is the exclusive Caprice cellar, with Hong Kong's widest selection of artisanal French
cheeses. Caprice also offers an adjoining bar and lounge area for cocktails, and three private dining rooms with seating for up to 16 guests. This is one of only seven restaurants in Hong Kong to receive two Michelin stars.

Lung King Heen – View of the Dragon: Commanding spectacular harbor views from its fourth-floor location, Lung King Heen offers contemporary Cantonese cuisine at its best – created from the freshest local ingredients by a team of regionally renowned chefs. Enhancing the dining experience, silver and glass accents – including an undulating silver-leaf ceiling – reflect Hong Kong's glittering skyline and harbour lights. A private dining room for 14 offers the perfect setting for business entertainment or special family celebrations.

Lung King Heen is the only restaurant in Hong Kong to receive three Michelin stars. The only Chinese chef ever to receive this prestigious accolade, Executive Chinese Chef Chan Yan Tak is the master behind the intricately designed menu. Chef Chan combines textures and flavors coupled with inventive presentation to excite the taste buds and satisfy the most demanding epicure.

The Lounge: Adjacent to the dramatic glass-walled atrium of the Hotel lobby, The Lounge is filled with natural light that streams through large floor-to-ceiling windows. Echoing the lobby's design – with curving planes, luminescent metallic rays and contrasting timber panelling– The Lounge offers an intimate space for small business and social occasions. Allium, a sculpture by English artist Ruth Moilliet, provides a focal point, and is one of many unique art pieces in the hotel's extensive collection. This all-day venue offers a menu of
Western and Asian favourites, afternoon tea and pastries, and premium snack items in the evening, all accompanied by piano music during the day and a jazz trio at night.

Pool Terrace: The Pool Terrace provides a welcome oasis for Hotel guests, with its resort-like atmosphere and spectacular views of Victoria Harbour. Light meals and snacks can be enjoyed, as well as healthy smoothies and frozen cocktails.

Inagiku: Inspired by the cuisine of Executive Chef Shinji Morihara of the renowned Inagiku restaurant in Tokyo, Inagiku at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong displays the refined elegance of Japanese culture in every dish, from the restaurant's famous tempura to other classic favourites including kaiseki, sashimi, sushi and teppanyaki. Dine in one of four private dining rooms, each with its own teppanyaki counter, or at the separate sushi, teppanyaki and tempura bars, where watching the chefs prepare these delectable dishes is
part of the enjoyment.

Blue Bar: An ultra-chic meeting spot on the lobby level, Blue Bar offers wines, cocktails and views of Victoria Harbor. It features a wide selection of premium liquors and champagnes, fine wines served by the glass, and an extensive array of classic and contemporary cocktails, including 88 signature blue cocktails.

Located on floors 9 through 43, the hotel offers 399 guest rooms, including 54 suites. Wall-to-wall windows provide captivating vistas of the city, Victoria Harbor, Kowloon and the Peak. Sumptuously comfortable, accommodations are furnished in either sleek Western style, with silk-panelled walls and marble-floored entry foyers, or contemporary Chinese style, with sculpted furnishings, gold leaf and authentic ink paintings.

The elegant Deluxe Suites on higher floors of the hotel, feature an extra-large living room that provides the utmost in privacy for business, entertainment or relaxation. The décor of the 42nd-floor Premier Suite is an exotic blend of contemporary and Asian. The suite includes an expansive living room, a separate study, dining for eight guests, and a steam room in the spacious marble bathroom. On the 43rd floor, the magnificent Presidential Suite features a grand foyer, an extra-spacious living and entertainment area, a formal dining room for 14 guests, an adjacent pantry, a separate study for work or private meetings, a wellness room and an oversized master bedroom.

Each room is equipped with two direct-dial, dual-line speakerphones with voice mail, high-speed Internet access, a 106-centimetre (42-inch) plasma television and a DVD player. Standard amenities include comfortable Four Seasons beds, a built-in safe and a fully stocked bar. The ensuite marble bathroom features a deep-soaking tub, separate walk-in rain shower, separate WC with telephone, and a built-in LCD television with speakers.

SERVICES & AMENITIES:

BUSINESS SERVICES: 24-hour business center - Business equipment - Computers - Executive Club - Meeting and function space - Secretarial service - Wired or wireless Internet access in meeting rooms.

EXECUTIVE CLUB LOUNGE: Guests can enjoy added privileges in the light and airy environment of the Executive Club Lounge on the 45th floor. Club access is included with the booking of selected suites. The Club lounge is also a perfect place to relax and unwind with an evening cocktail and a light supper buffet, while admiring spectacular views of Victoria Harbor. Club services feature:

• Express check-in and check-out
• Hot breakfast buffet, afternoon tea, all-day refreshments, a light supper    buffet with a hot noodle station and cocktails in the Club Lounge
• Garment pressing service (up to six garments per day)
• Complimentary in-room local calls
• Complimentary in-room high-speed Internet access
• 24-hour personalized business and concierge services
• Complimentary private use of the boardroom for one-hour per stay

FITNESS CENTER: The hotel's 24-hour Fitness Center overlooks spectacular Victoria Harbor from floor-to-ceiling windows. It offers the latest in cardiovascular equipment – with each machine featuring an individual LCD touch-screen television and headphones – as well as an extensive selection of weight-training machines and free weights. Tai chi, yoga and Pilates classes are also available.

POOLS: The hotel's pools provide a calm oasis from the bustling activities of the city. Guests can enjoy a leisurely swim in the free-form infinity-edge pool, exercise in the lap pool and then take a cool dip in the plunge pool – or simply take in the magnificent harbour views from the whirlpool. The infinity-edge pool, heated in winter, and lap pool are equipped with speakers so swimmers can enjoy music underwater. Drinks and light snacks are served on the open-air Pool Terrace, which offers guests a resort-like setting to relax and enjoy the expansive views of Victoria Harbor. For added convenience, the pool is equipped with telephones and wireless Internet access.

GOLF: The Hong Kong Golf Club at Deep Water Bay and Fanling opened in 1889, is recognized as one of the world's most exclusive golf clubs, and has hosted a long list of international and Asian tournaments. The Club has a 9-hole course in Deep Water Bay on Hong Kong Island and three 18-hole golf courses in Fanling, New Territories. Visitors are welcome from Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Advance booking is recommended.

The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Club in Sai Kung, New territories, has two 18-hole courses, over 60 driving range bays lit for night play, putting green, chipping and bunker areas. Visitors are welcome from Monday to Friday. Advance booking is recommended.

TENNIS: Victoria Park Tennis Centre in Causeway Bay is the largest park on Hong Kong island, with six standard tennis courts available for rent to the public. The Tennis Centre Court, with a spectator seating capacity of 3,611, has been host to numerous international tournaments since 1981.

The Hong Kong Tennis Centre in Happy Valley welcomes visitors to use their six public courts. Reservations are recommended.

JOGGING: For those keen on keeping fit, the island offers jogging paths right in the city. If you go for an early morning run, you'll likely encounter locals, young and old, practising the Chinese martial art of tai chi.

Hong Kong Park: Located behind Pacific Place shopping complex near Central District, this 19.8-acre park has paths for early morning walking or jogging. Along the way you'll have views of a pond with colorful goldfish, landscaped gardens, an aviary and waterfalls.

The Peak Circle Walk: This path, high above the harbor, is a great way to combine a workout with sightseeing. Starting from The Peak Tower, the path takes you along the mountainside, overlooking Kowloon peninsula, Victoria Harbor and the skyscrapers of Central. As you progress, the view changes from cityscape to the verdant valleys and the reservoir of island south. In the distance are outlying islands and the South China Sea. After 2.2 miles, you are back at your starting point.

In addition to being one of the world's most important business hubs and renowned for its prime shopping, fine dining and dynamic nightlife, Hong Kong has a rich history and culture – and its rugged mountainous landscape offers many peaceful areas for hiking and camping. With a population of almost 7 million, Hong Kong is a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Cantonese and English are the official languages, although many people also speak Mandarin.

Surrounded by the South China Sea, Hong Kong is the gateway to China and the Far East. Comprising Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the 234 Outlying Islands, Hong Kong was first settled by the Han Chinese in the seventh century. It was ceded to Britain in 1842 and remained a British colony until 1997. After reverting to Chinese rule, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region and now has a great deal of autonomy.

Weather: Due to its subtropical location, Hong Kong's weather is generally mild in winter and hot and humid in summer. Late September to early December is very pleasant with clear, sunny skies and lower humidity levels. January and February are the coldest months, yet it is still a pleasant time of year. In the spring, the temperatures and humidity start to rise. By summer, temperatures can reach into the 90s.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Within walking distance

Victoria Harbor is one of the busiest and most impressive natural harbors in the world. The spectacular backdrop of the Hong Kong skyline becomes even more impressive as darkness falls and the dazzling neon lights make the city glitter. One of the best ways to experience it is on board the popular Star Ferry between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. Cruises set sail from piers on either side of Victoria Harbor in the morning, afternoon, evening and at sunset.

International Finance Centre (IFC) is the city's most prominent architectural landmark. With its 88-story tower, the IFC mall is accessible by elevator from the hotel. The complex encompasses fashion boutiques featuring global luxury brands, specialty stores, excellent restaurants and a cinema.

Pedder Building is a historic building consisting six stories of shops, featuring factory outlets and Italian and French designer shops and other specialty stores carrying cashmere, silks, jewellery and embroidery.

Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong's most fashionable nightlife area, is an upbeat neighborhood with narrow streets lined with Western-style restaurants, nightclubs, bars, bistros and pubs.

SoHo, south of Hollywood Road, is a lively neighborhood with many bars and fashionable restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row are crammed with antique shops and open-air stalls offering everything from Ming furniture and lotus lamps to Mao badges and old snuff bottles. Above SoHo, Mid-Levels is an exclusive residential area on the lower slopes of Victoria Peak. The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, which is the longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world, provides easy access to and from the Central district, as well as an intriguing glimpse of the area's street life.

Within a 10-minute drive

Causeway Bay is one of Hong Kong's most popular shopping districts, with Japanese department stores, the trendy boutiques of Fashion Walk and the ultra-modern Times Square.

Within a 15-minute drive

Happy Valley Racecourse is an oasis of green in the middle of the city. Offering the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong, the racetrack attracts large, enthusiastic crowds during the racing season, from September to late June.

Within a 20-minute drive

Hong Kong Museum of Art celebrates China's cultural heritage through an impressive collection of over 13,000 works of art including Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, antique Chinese treasures, historical paintings and creations by local artists.

Hong Kong Science Museum features over 500 interactive exhibits, revealing the mysteries of a wide range of science-related subjects. The focus of the museum is the 66-foot Energy Machine. It produces spectacular audiovisual effects demonstrating various forms of energy.

Hong Kong Museum of History, one of the city's most recent additions, showcases 6,000 years of history focusing on the territory's archaeology, natural history, ethnography and local history.

Victoria Peak (often known simply as "The Peak") is Hong Kong's premier visitor attraction with one of the world's most stunning cityscapes. At 550 1,805 feet above sea level, it offers dazzling views of Hong Kong Island, the harbor, Kowloon and the hills beyond. At the top, in the Peak Tower, there are over 112,000 square feet of shopping, dining and some of the city's best entertainment attractions. The wok-shaped building is a Hong Kong icon. Stroll
through Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium, and Madame Tussauds – the famous wax museum from London. You can reach Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram and enjoy fabulous views on the way. The tram station is a short drive from the hotel. Trams operate daily every 15 minutes.

Hong Kong Space Museum, one of the world's largest and most technically sophisticated planetariums, is enjoyed equally by children and adults. A prominent city landmark, its dome holds the Hall of Space Science, the Hall of Astronomy and the Space Theatre Planetarium. The wonders of space science and astronomy come alive, via the high-tech displays in two interactive exhibition halls. Thrilling wide-screen Omnimax and Sky Show movies play in the Space Theatre. Each presentation is shown in English; headphones for simultaneous translation in Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese are available free of charge.

Avenue of Stars, at the southern tip of Kowloon, on the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, pays homage to the Hong Kong film industry and its stars, and also offers some of the best views of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island. It is also the best place from which to view the Symphony of Lights laser light show, which starts at 8:00 pm nightly.

Within a 25-minute drive

Aberdeen is a bustling waterfront town located on one of the southern tips of Hong Kong Island. Two centuries ago, Aberdeen was a pirates' den, and later it became a simple fishing village. Today, it is a modern, vibrant area of Hong Kong. Fishing life is still popular, and traditional boats are in abundance, acting as floating homes for thousands of people. Docked side by side in the harbour, they are a contrast to the modern highrise communities visible on the hillside above. For a closer look at Aberdeen life, take a sampan ride, or head to a floating restaurant for a delicious seafood meal.

Repulse Bay, with its resort-like atmosphere and breathtaking views, has one of the most popular beaches on Hong Kong Island. Around the bay are luxury apartment blocks, shops, restaurants, the famous Repulse Bay Hotel and an unusual shrine to Kwun Yam, the Goddess of Mercy.

Within a 30-minute drive

Ocean Park is a huge oceanarium and theme park, with more than 40 major attractions – from roller coasters to an Atoll Reef and a giant panda habitat. A cable car connecting the lowland and headland sections of the park offers tremendous views of Hong Kong and the South China Sea.

Yuen Po Street Bird Garden is a popular place where locals go to show off their prized songbirds. Showcased in ornate cages, the birds are pampered and often fed honey nectar to sweeten their songs. There are about 70 stalls selling a wide range of bird paraphernalia, from cages to bird snacks.

Within a 35-minute drive

Wong Tai Sin Temple is a large and vibrant Taoist temple. Dedicated to a god who is worshipped by business people, the sick and those trying to stay well, it is constantly abuzz with people praying and fortunetellers divining the future through chim (fortune sticks) or palm readings. The temple also has a lovely park called the Good Wish Gardens – a peaceful green spot with waterfalls tumbling over rocks.

Stanley Market & Murray House open-air markets are famous for their bargains in silk garments, sportswear, jewellery and crafts. The narrow streets are always crowded, and bargaining is de rigueur. A variety of restaurants and bars can be found in nearby Stanley Main Street. Stanley is also home to waterfront restaurants and beautiful beaches that are popular with windsurfers. Among the more interesting restaurant sites on the waterfront is Murray House, a 160-year-old restored three-story Victorian-era building that was dismantled in 1982 from its original site in Central and then rebuilt in Stanley. It re-opened in 1999 and now houses the Hong Kong Maritime Museum as well as restaurants.

Within a 45-minute drive

The award-winning Hong Kong Heritage Museum has magnificent displays on Cantonese opera, the cultural heritage of the New Territories, a Children's Discovery Centre, and an impressive art collection.

The New Territories lie between the Kowloon hills and the boundary with mainland China. It is a fascinating area to visit, with temples, theme parks and Hong Kong's highest mountain peak, Tai Mo Shan.

Within a 1-hour drive

Hong Kong Disneyland, on Lantau Island, is easily accessed and features the best rides, shows and attractions from Disney parks around the world.

The Ngong Ping 360 cable car is accessed from Tung Chung on Lantau Island. During the 3.5-mile cable car ride, visitors enjoy panoramic views of Lantau's mountainous terrain as they journey to a cultural themed village and Tian Tan Buddha, the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue.

Within a 1.5-hour drive

Shenzhen, once a simple fishing village, is a thriving metropolis of 7 million on the Chinese mainland, boasting numerous historic sites as well as excellent shopping and bargain hunting. Take in one of Shenzhen's three theme parks – Splendid China, the China Folk Culture Village and Windows of the World, each with its own unique features. You can reach Shenzhen by bus or train to the boundary, where a bridge leads into Shenzhen City.

Within a 30-minute boat ride

Lamma Island, also known as Po Liu Chau, is Hong Kong's third largest island and is enjoyed for its laidback lifestyle and natural beauty. The most popular area on the island is Yung Shue Wan, a pretty, tree-shaded village where the streets are lined with small restaurants, pubs and shops.

Within a 1-hour boat ride

The Outlying Islands showcase a way of life that has remained unchanged for decades, their countryside and fishing villages a marked change of pace from the hectic city. Cheung Chau is a densely populated island with a thriving fishing community, and is home to Hong Kong's famous Bun Festival. Just a short ferry ride away is Lantau Island, home to great beaches, spectacular mountain walks and the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha. Peng Chau is a small, flat island with a floating community of fishermen.

Macau, on China's southeast coast, combines the cultures of East and West with colorful Chinese shops all vying for attention with distinctive colonial architecture. With a rich 400-year history of coexistence between Portugal and China, its fusion of Asian and Mediterranean cultures makes for a fascinating getaway. The historic center of Macau is designated a World Heritage Site and the territory's casinos are also a major attraction for visitors from China and Hong Kong.

Within a 1-hour boat ride and drive

Tian Tan Buddha, the Big Buddha, is one of Hong Kong's must-see attractions, and the world's largest seated outdoor bronze statue of Buddha. Climb the 260 steps from Po Lin Monastery up to the majestic Buddha, which stands 85 feet high and took 10 years to complete. Weighing 242 tons, it was unveiled in 1993 and, aside from attracting Buddhists from across Asia, the magnificent statue has transformed the remote monastery into a popular tourist attraction.