Hong Kong Travel Resource

Geography

Hong Kong is located on China's south coast, 60 km (37 mi) east of Macau on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta. It is surrounded by the South China Sea on the east, south, and west, and borders the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province to the north over the Sham Chun River. The territory consists primarily of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories as well as some 260 other islands. While Lantau is the largest island, Hong Kong Island is the second largest and the most populated. Ap Lei Chau is the most densely populated island in the world.

Climate and Weather

Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters. Winter lasts from January to March, the coldest month being February, when the temperature averages 57°F (14°C) and the city gets cooled by strong, cold winds that blow in from the north. In summer the wind blows from the south, bringing in warm, humid air and a rainy season that extends from spring through summer. Temperatures in summer climb to a maximum of around 82°F (28°C) and Typhoons are possible during both the spring and autumn months.

Population

Hong Kong's population has increased steadily over the past decade, reaching about 6.92 million in 2007. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with an overall density of some 6,250 people per square kilometer. Cantonese, the official Chinese language in Hong Kong, is spoken by most of the population. English, also an official language, is widely understood, being spoken by more than one-third of the population. Every major religion is practiced freely in Hong Kong.

Transportation

With one of the best and most varied public transport systems in the world and a compact city centre, getting around Hong Kong is extremely cheap, fast and efficient and is easy enough for even inexperienced travellers. It includes buses, minibuses, ferries, trams, light railways and an underground subway. The underground Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is fast, clean, efficient and inexpensive. Single-journey tickets or travel passes like the electronic Octopus card can be used on the MTR to easily access attractions, shopping and dining locations. Bus routes serviced with double-decker or single-decker buses cover all of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories with final destinations displayed in both English and Chinese on the front. Bus fares are low and distance-based; exact change is required, or you can use the ubiquitous Octopus card, which covers all public transport options. Small mini-buses are more expensive but also more flexible, stopping for passengers to board or disembark on request. Hong Kong's old-fashioned trams still follow the same tracks as they have since 1904 and provide visitors with wonderful views of the city from their upper decks. They are also a cheap and convenient way of getting around. On the water, fleets of ferries connect Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the Outlying Islands, Macau and Mainland China. Last but not least there is an abundant supply of taxis, colour-coded according to their area of operation. Taxi fares are low, but many drivers don't speak English and visitors are advised to have their destination written down in Chinese characters.

Top Attractions

1. Victoria Peak.
2. Western Market.
3. Police Museum.
4. Statue Square.
5. Hong Kong Museum of History.
6. Wong Tai Sin Temple.
7. Ocean Park and Middle Kingdom.
8. Aberdeen.
9. Lantau.
10. Macau.

Best Travel Time

Hong Kong is located in the subtropical region and as such the place witness hot and humid summers. Winters are equally cold with mercury dipping below 10°C.
Weather conditions however are quite pleasant during the spring and autumn season. Tourist flow reaches to a maximum in autumn and late autumn months. Average rainfall observed annually is 89 inches.
Summers are hot and humid in Hong Kong. The temperature starts increasing gradually from May. By late May to mid-September, temperature is often between 32°C-37°C. More discomfort is due to the humidity which rises to about 90%. Even the nights shows no sign of relief. Humidity level starts declining and weather conditions improve once September sets in. Also there is a lot of downpour during this season interrupted occasionally by mild cyclones and storms. However, the warning system of Hong Kong is very good. So, you need not to worry about the tropical storm.
The coldest months of the year are January and February when temperature lies between 5°C-10°C. The spring season is from March to May when the temperature is range between 16°C-27°C. The humidity level goes up to 84%. The fog and rain are quite frequent in this period of time. Late September to early December is the most pleasurable time of year when the temperatures is around 21°C-26°C and the humidity decreases nearly to 70%. The sky is clear and sunny during this time.
The months of October, November and December are the best to visit Hong Kong. There are lesser rains, no fears for the storms plus temperature and humidity is quite tolerable. Humidity and pollution levels comes down and the flowers blossom. The sight scenes are very beautiful and pleasing at this time of year.
The best tourist season in Hong Kong are the autumn and spring. But still tourists use to come to Hong Kong nearly all around the year, mainly the tourists from neighborhood country China. So, it is good that you get your flight and hotel reservations done in advance if you're planning a trip to Hong Kong. During the Chinese New Year or festive seasons, the travel season is at its peak in Hong Kong. Keep in mind that many package deals are offered by Hong Kong hotels which are very economical. There is a special discount during off season.
Hong Kong is a place where a tour can be planned at any time of the year provided that one has gathered complete information about the weather and all the safety precautions.

Food and Drink

National specialties:
• Cantonese specialties include dim sum (savoury snacks, usually steamed and served in bamboo baskets on trolleys), such as cha siu bao (barbecue pork bun), har gau (steamed shrimp dumplings) and shiu mai (steamed and minced pork with shrimp).
• The emphasis in northern food is on bread and noodles, deep-frying and spicy sauces. Specialties include Peking duck and hotpot dishes.
• Shanghainese food is diced or shredded, stewed in soya or fried in sesame oil with pots of peppers and garlic.
• Chiu chow is served with rich sauces.
• Hakka food is generally simple in style with baked chicken in salt among the best dishes.
• Sichuan food is hot and spicy with plenty of chillies. A specialty is barbecued meat.

Regional drinks:
• Zhian jing (a rice wine served hot like sake).
• Liang hua pei (potent plum brandy).
• Kaolian (a whisky) and Maotai.
• Popular beers are the locally brewed San Miguel and Tsingtao (from China).
• Yeun yeung is an even mixture of tea and coffee.

Local Products/Shopping

Whether you shop in modern air-conditioned arcades or more traditional street markets, the range of goods available in Hong Kong is vast. Many famous-name shops have opened in Hong Kong, bringing the latest styles in great variety.
Places that display the QTS sign (given to accredited shops and restaurants under the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Quality Tourism Services scheme) are the best guarantee of satisfaction. Bargaining is practiced in the smaller shops and side stalls only.
There is an excellent market in Stanley on Hong Kong Island, which is in a beautiful setting in a small village on the coast, open every day 0900-1800. Yuen Po Street bird garden in Kowloon is a market popular with the songbird owners in Hong Kong, selling many interesting creature comforts, including intricately crafted cages, open 0700-2000. Tailoring is first class.
Except for a few items, such as alcohol and perfume, Hong Kong is a duty-free port.

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