Introduction
Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl river Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. Hong Kong consists of four parts, Hong Kong island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and 260 surrounding smaller islands and overall covers an area of 1095 square kilometres. Hong Kong island and Kowloon Peninsula are the political, economic, cultural and traffic hub of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and is on the other side of the international Date Line, this means people lose one day when travelling from countries in the western hemisphere, such as the US.
Hong Kong is a bridge that connects east and west. Various religious groups such as Christian, Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, and other religious groups all co-exist in harmony in Hong Kong. Ancient Chinese traditions such as the Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb-sweeping Day and Festival of Lanterns are celebrated and revered in Hong Kong. Hong Kong also plays an important part in international trading. There are many famous branded names available and range from electronic devices to clothing, cosmetics and toys. These all combine to make Hong Kong a shopper's haven at affordable prices. As one of the world's leading international financial centres, Hong Kong has a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade, and the currency, Hong Kong dollar, is the ninth most traded currency in the world.Hong Kong has numerous high international rankings in various aspects. For instance, its economic freedom, financial and economic competitiveness, quality of life, curruption perception, Human Development Index, etc., are all ranked highly.
Places to Visit
The Star Ferry In Hong Kong, one of life`s simple pleasures is taking a ride on the Star Ferry that enables commuters to get from Kowloon to Hong Kong and vice-versa. The decks of the ferries offer one fabulous views of the island. Starry-eyed romantics will not want to miss this ride and lovers who only have eyes for each other will no doubt have to tear their gazes from each other as the panorama will just about steal your breath away, particularly at twilight time, when it is especially enchanting, with man-made lights lighting up in unison with the twinkling stars in the darkening sky.
Cheung Chau Cheung Chau means "Long Island" and the fishing community still live in real wooden junks - their traditional homes. But there is a difference here, these boats have very modern equipment to find fishes. Vehicles are virtually non-existent here and visitors get to enjoy a relaxing walk as they make their way down the waterfront, simply called the "Praya". Seafood drying in the sun, fresh shellfish on sale and seafood restaurants are common sights here.
Hong Kong Museum of Art - Located at 10 Salisbury Rd Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is open to anyone who wants to take a glimpse of Hong Kong's culture and history through its large collection of over 14,000 items ranging from calligraphy, paintings, Hong Kong treasure, art objects, antiques, and lithographs. The museum is open from 10:00am-6:00pm daily except Thursday.
Hong Kong Disneyland - The newly open and the first ever Disneyland in Asia offers total fun and excitement for the whole family. The park is divided into four major attractions: Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, USA.
Victoria Peak - Soaring 1810 feet above sea level, the Victoria Peak is premier destination for tourists who want to take a birds eye view of downtown Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbour. Go another step higher and take a 10-minute hike to the actual Victoria Peak.
Lantau Island - Travel Hong Kong and take a cruise around the waters of Lantau Island and watch pink dolphins that only live in this waters. This is the awesome place.
Ocean Park - Travel Hong Kong and visit Ocean Park. This is one Hong Kong attractions where you and your kids will have a great fun. The park is one big oceanarium containing Lowlands Gardens where pandas live, goldfish pagoda and butterfly house are located, Marine Land where atoll reef and shark aquariums are found, and Headlands amusement park where you can go and take a ride with cable cars and roller coasters.
Lamma Island - If you want to see a different Hong Kong, try Lamma Island. It hosts several outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. And if you love to taste fresh Hong Kong seafood in great dining ambiance, Lamma Island is still the preferred place to go.
Happy Valley Racecourse - Attending a race meeting under the dazzling lights of the Happy Valley Racecourse is an opportunity to capture the essence and the vitality of Hong Kong Chinese culture. This magnificent course has been the home of Hong Kong horse racing since the first meeting was held on a strip of reclaimed marshland in 1846. To enjoy all the action of this spectacle, join a Come Horseracing Tour during the annual September to June / early July only horseracing season.
Stanley Market & Murray House - A popular market town on the sunny south side of Hong Kong Island, Stanley's relaxed ambience, crisp sea environs and bargain buys have made it world famous. Seven days a week the open market around Stanley New Street and Stanley Market Road throbs with the passing parade of life as bargain-hunters from all over the world join in the fun of haggling with shopkeepers and stallholders. Choose from brand-name clothing and accessories, or simply irresistible souvenirs, ornaments and other Oriental knick-knacks. The market is open from 10:30am to 6:30pm. Stanley also has beautiful beaches that are popular with windsurfers. And when you're feeling peckish, you'll find a wide variety of funky bars and great restaurants to enjoy.
Hong Kong museums - Here's a virtual tourist guide in getting to the Hong Kong museums. Whether you are interested in Chinese art, culture, modern history and science, six of the most popular museums offers you a-year-round world-class exhibitions and tourist attractions.
Hong Kong harbour - Your stay in HK is incomplete without spending an evening at the Hong Kong harbour. You can enjoy a few drinks from the open bar on board an authentic Chinese Junk Harbour Cruise sailing along the kowloon promenade provides spectacular views of Hong Kong at night.
How To Reach
By Plane - Hong Kong is a key aviation hub of Asia served by more than 80 airlines providing connections to major cities throughout the world. Your gateway to the city is the 24-hour Hong Kong International Airport, consistently ranked among the best airports in the world. There are many flights from Hong Kong to the rest of the world and vice-versa.
By Train - It's unlikely you'll arrive in the SAR by train, unless, of course, you're traveling via China. The Beijing-Kowloon Railway provides a direct link between the two cities in approximately 24 hours. One-way tickets cost HK$1,191 (US$155/£77) for a bed in a deluxe, two-bed cabin, HK$934 (US$121/£61) for a "soft bed" in a four-bed cabin, and HK$601 (US$78/£39) for a "hard bed" in a six-bed cabin. Service is also available from Shanghai in about 20 hours, costing HK$508 to HK$1,039 (US$66-US$135/£33-£67) one-way, and from Guangzhou (formerly Canton), costing HK$190 to HK$230 (US$25-US$30/£12-£15) and taking less than 2 hours. The end terminus for train travel to Hong Kong is Hung Hom in Kowloon, with MTR service onward to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station and its many hotels.
By Boat - Some 30 international cruise ships make Hong Kong a port of call each year. The SAR's main docking facility for cruise liners is Ocean Terminal, located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui and part of a massive shopping complex which includes 700 shops and 50 restaurants. Just a stone's throw away is the Star Ferry with service to Hong Kong Island. To accommodate growing demand, another cruise terminal is planned for the former Kai Tak airport runway, with a scheduled opening in 2012.
Best Time To Visit
Hong Kong is an all-year-round destination. The most popular time to visit is from the middle of September to the end of February, when the weather is cooler. At its coolest (mid-December to February), the temperature may fall to 10oC (50oF); at its warmest (late May to mid-September), it averages 28oC but may reach 33oC.
Things to Do in HongKong
Shopping You can enjoy shoping in HongKong. Consumerist culture is revered in Hong Kong, from jade chopsticks in Mong Kok's traditional street markets, to Chinese designer jackets in boutiques in Mid Levels. Gallery-hop along Hollywood Road for Balinese carving or traditional Indian art, and in nearby Cat Street market, haggle for old movie posters and kitschy Mao memorabilia. Technophiles will love the gadget-crammed malls in Wan Chai and Sham Shui Po where shopping around is key. Every well-dressed man will want a custom-made suit from Sam's Tailor in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Nightlife and Entertainment - Hong Kongers know how to let off steam. At Central's bustling nightlife street Lan Kwai Fong, party-going locals teeter down the cobbles to catch happy hour at tucked-away cocktail bars. You might get lucky at Happy Valley Racecourse's Wednesday evening races, along with the other well-worn local punters; ascend to the grandstand's top floor for the best views of the spot-lit track. You can try to follow traditional Chinese opera's convoluted plots at Hong Kong Cultural Centre's dazzling performances.
Restaurants and Dining - Enjoy lunch of traditional dim sum (dumplings and steamed buns) from City Hall Maxim's Palace -- it's worth the wait. World cuisines come together in Central, where you can sample local favorite barbecued pork in noisy diners, or whisper sweet nothings over fresh oysters in romantic French bistros. Choose live lobster from tanks, served with garlicky pak choi at a waterfront table on Cheung Chau island. There are many luxurios hotel in HongKong.
Spa & Massage - If you like being pampered, you'll love Hong Kong! Many of the city's finest hotels and specialist clinics feature day spa facilities that will soothe and revitalise you. Unwind with a relaxing massage, facial, pedicure or manicure. Hong Kong offers a stimulating array of choices when it comes to loosening up those tight muscles and tense nerves. Here Eastern wisdom is combined with western-style luxury to produce a feeling of total re-invigoration. Have a simple massage, acupressure, or healing reflexology, soak up a Chinese herbal body wrap or take the plunge into an aromatherapy bath. There's a treatment to meet every whim and fancy, guaranteed to leave you fully refreshed in mind, body and soul.
Language
Chinese and English are the official languages with Cantonese most widely spoken. English is spoken by many, particularly in business circles.