Sampan on water, Hong Kong, China. -- MedioImages/MedioImages/Getty Images

A trio of tragedies hardly phased one of the world's most exciting cities.

Hong Kong has survived SARS, the bird flu and the Asian economic crisis.

Lesser cities would surely have crumbled, yet the East meets West metropolis continues to thrive.

And 2006 is being touted as one of Hong Kong's most ambitious economic expansions, with billions of dollars being spent on everything from tourist attractions to roads.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board expects 27-million tourists this year, the largest number in decades.

The tourism board's new campaign is apt indeed: Hong Kong. Live it. Love it.

And what's not to love given Hong Kong's reputation for world-class transportation, unbelievable shopping and dining, 6,000 years of history and incredible sight-seeing?

Plan to spend at least ten days here as there is much to see and do, not the least of which are Hong Kong's three, new, mega-million dollar tourist attractions.

Perhaps the most astounding of these is the Hong Kong Wetland Park, a $100-million, 60-hectare, man-made wetland ecotourism attraction.

Located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai, the park features a 10,000-sq.-metre visitor centre, exhibition galleries, theatres, classrooms and miles of gently curving boardwalks meandering through the massive park.

The diversity and number of species of birds and other wildlife is astounding, but even more amazing, the park is nestled amid scores of towering office buildings.

With admission prices at $5 for adults and $3 for children, a visit to the park is eminently affordable.

Another of Hong Kong's major tourist attractions is Ocean Park.

Known as 'the people's park' because of its widely held appeal for the people of Hong Kong, Ocean Park is ranked among the top 20 parks in the world.

The marine-based theme park opened in 1977 and has delighted more than 70-million visitors since.

In order to compete on a global basis with other theme parks, Ocean Park is undergoing a $1-billion redevelopment.

The redeveloped Ocean Park will feature twice as many attractions as the existing park, thrill rides, marine shows and an amazing variety of animal species unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

Testament to the can-do attitude of the people in Hong Kong, the park will remain fully open during the five-to six-year redevelopment period.

Would that planners of the Glenmore/Elbow Drive Interchange were as industrious!

Not to be outdone, the soon to be opened Ngong Ping 360 promises to be one of Hong Kong's must-see attractions.

The Ngong Ping 360 experience will include a breathtaking 5.7-km, 25-minute cable car journey through pristine wilderness.

Each car will hold 17 people, making these the largest cable cars on Earth.

Cultural and spiritual experiences are featured in the Ngong Ping Village situated at the end of the cable car journey.

A short stroll away, visitors can marvel at the Tian Tan Big Buddha, the world's largest, outdoor bronze Buddha statue.

A visit to Hong Kong would not be complete without shopping and dining outings.

As the people of Hong Kong are internationally exposed, they expect nothing but the best, which is evident in the vast majority of shops and restaurants.

And everything, except perhaps electronics, is cheaper (and better quality, in my opinion) in Hong Hong.

Tailor-made men's suits can easily be found for around $200 and a tailor-made shirt in the most beautiful cotton will set you back a mere $40.

Pearls. Cloisonne. Jade. Antiques. You name it, Hong Kong has it.

Where to shop is difficult to define as every district is packed with shops. However, certain districts specialize in a particular type of product.

There's the Ladies Market off Nathan Road for example.

You can find linens and sportswear at Stanley Market in Repulse Bay.

Or shop for antiques on Hollywood Road.

Fabulous tourist attractions, incredible scenery, unparalleled shopping and dining.

Can there be a better place on Earth in which to experience all this than Hong Kong? If so, I've yet to find it.