Hong Kong is home to engineers working on projects all throughout China. Working at a top-notch firm in the city’s competitive engineering industry gives an engineering intern in Hong Kong the opportunity to take on professional challenges and earn real-world work experience. Meanwhile, an international internship in Hong Kong will give a young person the opportunity to understand a whole different culture, offering them that vital multicultural perspective.
China’s speedy economic growth has caused a spike in demand for public infrastructure and real estate development, good news for mechanical and electrical engineers in Hong Kong. The city’s engineers have been exporting services to the Chinese mainland in the construction sector. Meanwhile, much of the non-construction related engineering services industry is indirectly exported by exporting manufactured goods.
Engineering internships in Hong Kong offer young people the opportunity to work in a competitive engineering industry alongside established professionals from around the world. Previous interns have gained experience in roles at mechanical, electrical and software engineering firms. Not only do international internships look good on a resume and provide solid anecdotes for a job interview, but they also offer real-world experiences that prepare a young professional for their career.
Those who take on engineering internships in Hong Kong stay in the city’s safest sectors. Previously, interns have been located within Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. The accommodations are in shared apartments in areas like Wan Chai, Sheung Wan, Sai Ying Pun and Jorden.
Some 955 million people worldwide speak Mandarin. It’s the most popular language in the world and a valuable language to know in the increasingly globalized economy. Though internship roles are in English, the Intern Group program offers classes in either Mandarin or Cantonese for engineering interns in Hong Kong. After class, interns can take the streets, practicing with locals while living in Hong Kong.
The first thing newcomers notice when they first arrive in Hong Kong is the city’s shiny skyline. The city boasts over 1,000 skyscrapers, the city’s sanctuaries to the financial world. One of the area’s most famous buildings, The Center, is Hong Kong’s fifth-highest skyscraper and an architectural marvel. At night it is part of the regular light show beside the Victoria Harbour called the “Symphony of lights”. Over 40 skyscrapers participate in the massive nightly lights and music presentation. It has even been dubbed “World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by Guinness World Records.
Another of the city’s modern marvels is the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank headquarters. Designed by architects Foster + Partners, the three-tower structure was designed to embody Hong Kong’s identity and culture while also considering the idea of Fung Shui.
Providing contrast to Hong Kong’s concrete jungle, Buddhist temples and areas of worship are tucked away as serene escape from the loud, bustling city streets. One of Hong Kong’s most famous Buddhist complexes is the Chi Lin Nunnery, which encompasses statues, temples, gardens and ponds. The site was founded in 1934 and has since been renovated. For escapes into tranquility an intern in Hong Kong can also visit the Mo Man temple, Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery and Big Buddha on Lantau Island. These notable Buddhist structures offer a sense of peace and calm separate from the chaos of noisy city streets.
Park-lovers in Hong Kong are in luck as 40% of the territory is made up of national parks. To cool off on a hot day, the Tai Mo Shan Country Park is great for a hike. The park is known for registering the coldest temperatures in the territory. The park also is home to Hong Kong’s highest waterfall, the 35-meter Long Falls. Animal-lovers can visit the Kam Shan Country Park instead. The park houses macaques and other primates that interact with park visitors.
The Intern Group program includes a tour of the beautiful Lantau Island. Lantau is located at the mouth of the Pearl River and is Hong Kong’s largest island. The mountainous island also includes Hong Kong’s largest country park, Lantau South Country Park, a serene getaway from the loud city. Other notable attractions on the island include the Tian Tan Buddha, a 85-foot bronze Buddha statue and the Po Lin Monastery.
A day trip to Macau, or “the vegas of Asia”, is also included in the engineering internship program. Though its beautiful casinos are world famous, the city is also characterized by a unique cultural identity. Once a colony of Portugal, Macau is now in Chinese control though it maintains a variety of elements of its Portuguese roots. The city’s colorful architecture and spicy Macanese food are also part of the city’s charm along with its many multicultural events, including the Macau Grand Prix, the Macau Arts festival and Chinese New Year.
An internship abroad is exactly what a young engineering professional needs to get their career rolling. Working and living in Hong Kong will give an intern a unique multicultural lens and confidence in their job search.
Sources: HKTDC, Frommer’s, Wikipedia, discoverhongkong.com
Photo 1. based on hong kong by eGuide Travel, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. based on Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong by Nathan O’Nions, CC-by-2.0
Photo 3. based on Vue sur Hong Kong depuis Victoria Peak by Nicolas Vollmer, CC-by-2.0