Hustle and bustle ... traffic jams that never let up ... this is the picture many people have of Central and Western District. In streets lined with ultra-modern tower blocks, tens of thousands of office workers rush back and forth, making their contribution to this international centre of finance and trade. This is the place where Hong Kong's legendary non-stop pace and spirit are at their zenith.

Central and Western District has indeed played a major role in Hong Kong's trade for a long time. More than a century ago, the district was a scene of booming economic activity. This is where the British built Victoria, a city with no walls.

The early city of Hong Kong stretched from Central to Western District. Until 1921 when reclamation began, Wan Chai was a quiet part of the island. After decades of intense development, Wan Chai is now one of Hong Kong island's most important transport, cultural and economic hubs.

In the streets of Wan Chai today, shops and houses in traditional style stand side-by-side with modern residential blocks and world-class office towers. The district has many buildings of international acclaim. The 78-storey Central Plaza, for example, is the fourth tallest building in Asia, while the Hong Kong Arts Centre is a well-equipped arts complex boasting a theatre, a concert hall, a cinema, exhibition halls, galleries, a broadcasting studio and rehearsal studios.