The incredible view of Hong Kong harbor from Kowloon...

One of the first things people do in Hong Kong is take the ferry from Central to Kowloon for an inspiring view of the Hong Kong skyline.
Visitors will stare in awe at glittering, sparkling smog that stretches from sea to heaven.  Visitors will be breathless in the face of such an inspiring example of modern humanity's ingenuity.









This view is only matched by looking down on the smog from atop Victoria Peak, far above the city.  Again I was left breathless and my eyes burned and watered.  I can only assume it was from weeping tears at the beauty of the view.

Back across the harbor, even monkeys are inspired by the view of Kowloon skyscrapers from Lion's Rock.

Visitors tired of the urban lifestyle can take the MTR to Lantau island and take a scenic ride into the countryside.  The airport, the harbor and distant hills will be hidden in haze on all sides. Towards the end of the ride, visitors can imagine a giant bronze statue of Buddha that is hidden in the haze below.

Hong Kong island: south side

A university Professor friend teaches her grad students about the "6th grade science introduction."  This is the introduction that proves some ridiculous thought wrong.  "Did you think clouds are big fluffy marshmallows?  Well actually (YOU MORON), they are drops of liquid suspended in the atmosphere."

Every travel guide about Hong Kong begins with this sort of intro.  Wikitravel guide may say it best:

"The traveller weary of its crowded streets may be tempted to describe it as Hong Kongcrete.  Yet this territory with its cloudy mountains and rocky islands is mostly a rural landscape.  Much of the countryside is classified as Country Park and, although 7 million people are never far away, it is possible to find pockets of wilderness that will reward the more intrepid tourist."