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HONG KONG
At a glance | General Information | History | Travel | Cuisine | Special Notes | Attractions | Tours originating: Hong Kong | Hong Kong Attractions: Central District | Aberdeen | Causeway Bay & Happy Valley | Man Mo Temple | Ocean Park | Stanley | Repulse Bay | Victoria Peak | Wanchai | Space Museum | Kowloon Park | Sung Dynasty Town | Star Ferry | Temple Street | Tsim Sha Tsui | Wong Tai Sin Temple | Sai Kung Peninsula | Sha Tin | Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery | Che Kung Temple | Cheung Chau Island | Lamma Island | Lantau Island | Po Lin Monastery

Hong Kong at a glance:
A financial, commercial and business center as well as a famous tourist city of world level. Location: situated in the southeast corner of China and the east of the entrance of the Pearl River; between north latitude 14 - 12, only 1C away from the Tropic of Cancer; connects Shenzhen city in the north. Neighboring Areas: Guangdong province. Population: 6.31 million. Area: 1,100 sq. km. Nationalities: Chinese (Han, Hui and Manchu etc), Britain, American, Indian and Japanese. Average Temperature: annual average temperature of 22.8C with the lowest 0C in winters, the highest 35C in summers. Rainfall: plenty of rain; annual precipitation 2,300 mm. See our Weather Page.

General Information:

Hong Kong is a crowded, prospering, international metropolis where life moves like clockwork: busy but orderly.
More than 150 years of British colonial rule in Hong Kong could not wash off the influence of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese civilization. The exchange and mutual permeation of cultures have made Hong Kong unique as a place where East meets West and ancient meets modern. Since July 1, 1997, when Hong Kong returned to the motherland, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has made every effort to maintain the prosperity and stability of the region, following the principles of "One Country, Two Systems" and "Hong Kong People Governing Hong Kong." Although Hong Kong also suffered from the Asian financial crisis, the city has not lost its status as the financial and trading center of the entire Asian region. Hong Kong is also a charming place, a paradise for tourists. Here, visitors can experience the fun of sightseeing and shopping and enjoy delicious food and fine entertainment. Hong Kong includes Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, Hong Kong Island, and 260 other islands. The convenient transportation lets tourists visit several scenic spots in one day without excessive transport costs. Hong Kong's economic and commercial district is known as Central, and it features ultramodern commercial towers and classical British buildings, vividly contrasting with each other. Among the most noticeable are the Bank of China Tower and the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Headquarters Tower. On the seashore of Wan Chai, there is a new building shaped like a flying roc. It is the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, where the Hong Kong handover ceremony was held in 1997. At 8:00 every morning, a ceremony for raising the national flag of the People's Republic of China and the regional flag of the Hong Kong SAR is held in front of the Redbud Statue on Xinyi (New Wing) Square. The best place for seeing all of Hong Kong at once is at the top of Victoria Peak, the highest place on Hong Kong Island. Tourists can go to the top of the 554 m hill by an old-fashioned tram, and after dark, they can enjoy the fascinating night view of Victoria Bay. For nature lovers, the seashores, islands, zoos, and botanical gardens will show the peaceful and pure side of Hong Kong. Tourists who like exploration can visit specialized museums like the Hong Kong Museum of History, where relics and photographs illustrate the history of the city. Hong Kong is an international port for free trade. Because of the low tax rate and duty-free policies, many famous-brand commodities and specialty products from around the world gather here. The prices are surprisingly low, sometimes even lower than in the countries of origin. Hong Kong's busiest commercial areas are Central on northern Hong Kong Island and the districts on the southern part of Kowloon Peninsula. These areas feature countless commercial buildings, restaurants, large shopping centers, and old-time markets with peddlers and stalls. Hong Kong keeps pace with international trends. Famous-brand clothes, watches, leather articles, and jewelry from around the world are sold in commercial buildings such as the Landmark in Central, Times Square in Causeway Bay, Pacific Place in Admiralty, and Harbor City in Kowloon. Shoppers looking for bargains can go to the Temple Street Market (also known as Men's Street) in Kowloon, the Ladies' Market in Mong Kok, and the many specialized stores scattered along the streets and lanes.

History:

In the mid-19th Century, British trade with China deteriorated. Anxious to obtain Chinese tea and silk, the British resorted to opium as the primary incentive to barter. When the emperor banned the drug trade, a British expeditionary force challenged the edict. The Chinese suffered a humiliating defeat. In 1841, at the end of the First Opium War with China, Hong Kong was officially ceded to Great Britain. In 1859, a British-French alliance sent troops to China to enforce the Convention of Peking, which ceded the Kowloon Peninsula and nearby Stonecutters Island to the British. In 1898, the British also gained a 99-year lease on the New Territories, which they felt essential to protect their interests on Hong Kong Island. Despite a brief period of Japanese occupation during World War II, the British government retained control of Hong Kong until 1997, the year of expiration of the 99-year lease, and Hong Kong and the New Territories were returned to China.

Travel:

Hong Kong is the major gateway to China and much of East Asia. International air service is excellent and fares are relatively inexpensive. Visitors should reconfirm onward or return tickets well before departure or seats may be lost. Note that there is a departure tax of HK$50. Hong Kong's new international airport, Chek Lap Kok, is on Lantau Island. There is also an international train link between Hong Kong and Guangzhou (Canton) and a new six-lane highway between the two cities. An express train trip to Beijing takes about 30 hours. Several transport companies in Hong Kong offer bus services to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and several other destinations in Guangdong Province. There are also boats that take you to destinations in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Cathay Pacific (CX) is the flagship carrier of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is small and crowded, which makes public transport the only practical way to get around. Public transport is inexpensive, fast, widely used, and generally efficient. The bus system is extensive and bewildering, but you will need it in order to explore the south side of Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. The north side of Hong Kong Island and most of Kowloon are well served by Hong Kong's ultra-modern Mass Transit Railway (MTR). Three tunnels link Hong Kong with Kowloon. The Canton-Kowloon Railway (KCR) runs from Kowloon to the Chinese border at Lo Wu. Light Rail Transit (fast, modern, air-conditioned trams) run in the New Territories, connecting the city of Tuen Mun with Yuen Long. Double-decker trams trundle along the northern side of Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong's ferries are usually faster and cheaper than buses and trams. They are also fun, and the harbor views are stunning when the weather cooperates. Hovercraft are about twice as fast as conventional boats. Metered taxis are red with silver tops (but green with white tops in the New Territories). They will not pick up or put down at bus stops. Car rental is available, but do not even consider the possibility. Bicycling in Kowloon or Central would be suicidal. However, in quiet areas of the islands or the New Territories, a bike can be an adequate and appropriate way to get around.

Cuisine:

Chefs from almost every corner of China give full play to their ability here, offering world-famous Chinese food. The large Chinese restaurants in the downtown area are known for their first-class cooking, and no tourist should miss Cantonese-cooked seafood. The most important thing to look for in seafood is freshness, and at the seashore restaurants, tourists can enjoy seafood just fished from sea. Among the most famous places for seafood are Sai Kung Port in Kowloon, Lei Yue Mun, and Lamma Island. Hong Kong may be small, but it has food from around the world. Chinese and foreigners have lived together here for many years, and more and more Chinese people are acquiring a taste for Western food. Some areas have a concentration of Western bars and restaurants, and the Lan Kwai Fong and Soho districts in Central are famous at home and abroad for European bars and for a variety of restaurants offering foods of different countries and regions, including Northern European countries, Spain, India, and Nepal.

Special Notes:
Visas for Hong Kong:  A Passport is required to visit Hong Kong. Losing your passport here is a particular hassle, as obtaining a new one involves a long bureaucratic process. UK passport holders can stay in Hong Kong for up to six months without a visa. Citizens of Commonwealth countries do not require a visa for up to three months. American citizens, Japanese, South African and Germans can stay for one month without a visa. Visitors to Hong Kong are supposed to show that they have adequate funds for their stay and an onward ticket. The British Consulate is at 1 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty. The American Consulate is at 26 Garden Road, Central.
Currency of Hong Kong:  The Hong Kong currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). There are 100 cents in one dollar. There are no controls concerning currency and the HK$ can be taken in and out of the country. You can change money in the Bank of China and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. The smaller banks also change money but may charge a larger commission fee.
Language of Hong Kong:  The majority of Hong Kong's population speak Cantonese but English is the language of business, commerce and everyday life for many people. It is unlikely that you will experience many (or indeed any!) language problems until you get away from the main hub of the city. The Chinese government are now encouraging the use of Mandarin too and students of this subject are becoming more numerous.

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