Travel Guide
Hong Kong

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Hong Kong Travel Guide

Hong Kong, commonly known as the “fragrant harbor” in English, is a self- governing territory of China. It is a place where the east and the west are said to meet. Despite being modern and well on the high roads of technological advancements, fashion, and business, Hong Kong still has not shied away from its roots-- the very roots that have helped it become what it is today.

People

The people from Hong Kong predominantly use the Hong Kong language. They use the traditional Chinese for writing, and Hong Kong Cantonese for speaking. Because of its history of being under the British Crown for so many years, these people also use British English for writing and speak the English language with a British accent when speaking.

The main religions practiced in Hong Kong are Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity. The population is divided into many ethnic groups. The ethnic group that makes up the majority of the population is the Han Chinese. Next in the list are those coming from mainland China, the Cantonese, and the people of Shanghai.

Geography

Located at the southern part of China and at the eastern part of Macau, Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate. During its summer months, the weather is hot and humid with the occasional rain and thunderstorms. It is also in these months that typhoons and landslides occur in the area. The winter months start with sunny days and progress to cloudier ones in the month of February.

For the terrain, Hong Kong has a lot of mountains and hilly slopes. Because of this, less than 25% of the total land area is developed and a great portion of it is used as national parks and nature reserves. With its long coastline, Hong Kong also has beaches, bays, and rivers.

Due to its urbanization and geography, one of Hong Kong’s growing concerns is pollution. Because of this, the government and its people have made great efforts towards greening the island. Today, greening projects abound and one of these is the severe restriction of the reclamation project at Victoria Harbor.

History

Based on archeological findings, the island of Hong Kong has been around and supporting life ever since the late Stone Age. From the findings, it has been noted that the people in the early ages were warlike and practiced an old religion that was based on cosmology or the arrangement of the heavenly bodies.

There are 5 great clans that helped shape the history of Hong Kong. These are the Han, Tang, Hau, Liu, and Man clans. In 1841, the British took Hong Kong under its Empire because of its strategic location. With Hong Kong, the British finally were able to have a somewhat smoother trade relation with China. It was only in 1997 that the British ceded the island back to China. Today, Hong Kong is part of the “one country, two systems” policy of the Chinese premier.

Famous Attraction

There is much to see and experience in Hong Kong. The Star Ferry has been in operation for more than 120 years now. It transports its passengers across the Victoria Harbor allowing a great panoramic view of Hong Kong’s skyline.

Ocean Park is located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island. It is a theme park as well as an aquarium that is said to be the largest in Southeast Asia. With is huge marine collection, this is considered the best marine education center.

Victoria Peak is one of the best places where you can admire the city’s skyline especially at night. By taking the Peak tram, you can reach the Peak Tower where the best view of the city can be seen. The peak also has a lot of shops and restaurants that not only offer great views of the city but cuisines and items that are world renowned.

Ever since its opening, Hong Kong Disneyland has been a very popular stop over for locals and tourists alike. With the Western attractions found in almost every Disneyland theme park, the Hong Kong Disneyland is also known for giving them a bit of Chinese twist.

The Repulse Bay is one of the many places where you can enjoy the waters surrounding Hong Kong. A place that affords its visitors a chance to get away from the urbanized life of Hong Kong, Repulse Bay has clear blue waters and golden sand.

Nightlife

Hong Kong has a vibrant nightlife. There are many ways to enjoy it. For one, you can take a luxury night cruise over at the Victoria Harbor. Another thing to do is to visit the pubs, bars, and night clubs to party the night away. Should you want to go for the clubs, bear in mind that these come in two very different flavors: Western or Chinese. Discos also abound in Hong Kong and are very popular among the young people. If you want to enjoy the nightlife in a somewhat laidback manner, take a night stroll of the streets and enjoy the evening with the locals.

Culture

All thanks to its history, Hong Kong is a place where the East meets the West. Here, you can see that there is a perfect and striving contrast of its people living in a modern and Western world while at the same time having the Chinese traditions at hand. It is in Hong Kong where you can see the world’s longest outdoor escalator system that is being used by people who still practice age old Chinese traditions. Another great example of the East meeting the West is the application of Feng Shui in various construction projects.

With its location, Hong Kong is widely known for its status in the trade industry. However, it is most noted for its significance in the entertainment industry. In fact, Hong Kong has produced many world renowned entertainers such as Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, and John Woo.

Cuisine

Hong Kong food is a mix of Cantonese, Western, Southeast Asian, and Japanese tastes. Because of this, you can expect Hong Kong cuisine to consist of dim sum, rice, noodles, and steak.

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Travel Guide
Hong Kong

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Hong Kong Travel Guide

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Travel GuideHong Kong

Top Countries

Hot Flight Tips

China

India

Japan

Top Countries

Hotel Saving Tips

China

India

Japan

Top Country Guides

Hot Topics

Resources

Hong Kong Travel Guide

People

Geography

History

Famous Attraction

Nightlife

Culture

Cuisine

Hong Kong, Shopping Capital of Asia

Asia Favorites – Hong Kong

Asia.com Best Traveler Safety and Vital Tips - Travel Safety - Help - Assitance

Asia.com Best Airfare and Flight Tips - How to Fly Cheap Insider Tips

Travel Guide
Hong Kong