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Hong Kong


Located on China’s south eastern coast, Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan destination which boasts a 24 hour lifestyle, an audacious skyline, a fascinating history, huge cultural significance and heritage, and a cuisine to die for! A wonderful mix of 21st century glamour, British colonialism and ancient Chinese traditions, Hong is about as diverse a place as you could hope to visit – and don’t be mistaken in thinking it is “just a city” - Hong Kong consists of over 260 different islands, many of which are home to stunning beaches, picturesque bays and rugged coastlines. And outdoor pursuits certainly need not be limited to walking from shop to shop – in Hong Kong, you can try your hand at anything from mountain biking to windsurfing, hiking to dolphin spotting, or even just relaxing on the beach. Shopping is, of course, a national pastime, and Hong Kong cannot be beaten when it comes to retail therapy! Glitzy malls coexist with traditional markets, selling anything from the latest designer gear to antiques, with everything in between! Eating out is a feast for all the senses – options range from world class international cuisine to bustling road-side stalls, but wherever you eat, you are guaranteed a great meal!


Cities and places within Hong Kong
Fast Facts
Population: 6,921,700
Area: 426.4 sq miles
Geography: Situated on the South East coast of mainland China, just south of the Tropic of Cancer, 20 miles from the mouth of the Pearl River and 84 miles from Canton, Hong Kong is separated from mainland China by a natural harbour.  Hong Kong is divided into Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories, which include around 260 outlying islands.
Climate: Hong Kong has a subtropical climate, with four distinct seasons, and temperatures range from 10 degrees in Winter (December to February) to around 33 degrees in Summer (May to September). The rainy season is between June and August, with the highest rainfall falling in August. There is a risk of typhoons between April and October, though bad storms and direct hits are thankfully rare.
Language: Chinese (mainly Cantonese though increasingly Putonghua is used) and English
Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) Current rate £1 = HK$15.41
Time: +8GMT
Visa Requirements: British visitors to Hong Kong do not need a visa, though they must be in possession of an outbound ticket.


Getting To Hong Kong
By Air
Flying to Hong Kong is easy! Direct scheduled flights to Hong Kong with Hong Kong’s national carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways are available from London Heathrow three times a day, more than any other direct airline. Other airlines flying direct to Hong Kong include Virgin Atlantic, Qantas Airways, Air New Zealand, and Eva Air. Flight time from London is around 12 hours. Hong Kong’s Chep Lap Kok International Airport is on Lantau Island, 21 miles from central Hong Kong. Travel between the two is straightforward – it takes 24 minutes on the Airport Express Line, and there are also buses operating between the airport and central Hong Kong and Kowloon. 
 
Other airlines operating non-direct flights include Lufthansa, Swiss, Air France, KLM, Finnair, Air China, Qatar Airways, China Eastern Airways, Korean Air, Emirates, Aeroflot, China Airlines (Taiwan), Sri Lankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Air Mauritius, and Japan Airlines. 
 
By Boat
There are ferries to Hong Kong from several cities and towns in the Pearl River Delta, as well as from Macau and Shenzen.

By Rail
It is posible to take the train from Shanghai of Beijing to Kowloon/Hong Kong, and the journey takes around 24 hours.  There is also a rail service linking Kowloon with Guangzhou, Foshan and Dongguan


Getting Around Hong Kong
Once in Hong Kong, getting around is straightforward. Hong Kong is justifiably proud of its public transport system, which includes and underground system, ferries, buses, trains and trams, as it is widely regarded as one of the best in the world, for reliability, price and efficiency. 
By Rail/Underground
Hong Kong’s underground system or “MTR” (Mass Transit Railway) offers a swift and value for money service, and includes many of Hong Kong’s biggest attractions on its route, as well as some of the best places for shopping and eating out. There are six lines in total, which include the Airport Express. Visitors to Hong Kong are able to buy a Tourist MTR 1 Day Pass, which offers unlimited travel in a 24 hour period, though does not cover the Airport Express. Other passes are also available.
The Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) is a commuter train service linking Kowloon with the Chinese Border, via the New Territories.
By Boat
There are many different ferry options available in Hong Kong, linking Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and the Outlying Islands. The best known is the “Star Ferry”, which crosses the water between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon – a ticket costs just HK$2.20, and for this you get to sail across one of the most recognizable harbours in the world. 
By Bus
Hong Kong has an impressive bus network covering much of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and the New Territories, and is generally very reliable as well as being excellent value for money. There are also minibuses which operate on both fixed routes (green) and unfixed (red), though it is  probably best only to use these services if you either know your way around Hong Kong or you are a competent Cantonese speaker, as most drivers probably won’t speak English.

By Tram
There is a network of trams running across the North of Hong Kong Island – these are cheap (HK$2 flat fare), and afford great views!

By Taxi
Taxis are also widely available and reasonably priced (from HK$15), and although many Hong Kong taxi drivers will speak some English, it is a good idea to ask someone to write your destination in Chinese characters too!
 


Top Ten Things to Do and See in Hong Kong

1.  HONG KONG HARBOUR

Home to easily one of the most photographed and busiest harbours in the world, no stay in Hong Kong would be possible without a trip out onto Victoria Harbour. Vessels of all sizes plough the waters of the harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon – from contain vessels to the traditional junks and sampans. Pleasure craft run trips during the day or at night, and the view of Hong Kong’s skyline cannot fail to impress. But you don’t even need to join a tour to get the views – just catch the famous Star Ferry from Central, the financial centre, to Kowloon and soak up the sights.  

2.  VICTORIA PEAK
For a different perspective on the breathtaking cityscape of Hong Kong, scale Victoria Peak and look down on the teeming metropolis below. Take the historic Peak Tram, first operated in 1888, and which climbs the 396metres to the summit in just eight minutes, making it one of the steepest ascents in the world. Once you get to the top, visit the futuristic seven storey high Peak Tower for 360 degree views over Hong Kong Island and beyond, taking in the modern skyscrapers of Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, across to Kowloon’s countryside and rolling hills – and if the weather is on your side, you might be able to see all the way across the New Territories to mainland China beyond.
 
3.  SHOPPING
Any lover of shopping will think they have died and gone to retail heaven in Hong Kong – almost nowhere else in the world can beat Hong Kong for its shopping malls, markets and stalls. Whatever you are after, you are bound to find it in Hong Kong, be it the most up to date technology, genuine Asian antiques and artefacts, designer clothes or just a simple souvenir! Hong Kong boasts mega-malls with designer boutiques and international brands, and the local markets are a feast for all the senses – listen in to the haggling and bartering, smell and taste the wonderful fresh produce, touch the stunning Chinese silks, and witness the rainbow of colours – even if you hate shopping at home, you cannot fail to enjoy it in Hong Kong!
 
4.  CHINA
China is a dauntingly huge country, but it is nevertheless possible to get just a tiny taste of life in the most populous nation on the planet in a day trip from Hong Kong. It is just an hour long hovercraft ride from to Shekou from Hong Kong, and from there, travel to Guangzhou, the largest city in Southern China for a glimpse of this magical country.
  
5.  COUNTRYSIDE AND WILDLIFE
Think Hong Kong, and thoughts immediately turn to a busy city, towering skyscrapers and perhaps the iconic Hong Kong Harbour. But there is so much more to Hong Kong – in fact, around 70% of the total landmass is made up of mountains, forest and farmland, and Hong Kong is home to 23 country parks, which take up around half the land. Hiking and mountain biking are increasingly popular here – the longest hiking trail is the 62 mile long MacLehose Trail, which traverses the New Territories and also includes a climb of Hong Kong’s highest peak, Tai Mo Shan (3231 feet or 985 metres). On Hong Kong Island, walk along the Dragon’s Back, and you will be rewarded with some spectacular views. Many visitors to Hong Kong will not be aware of the wildlife spotting opportunities – keep a look out for macaque monkeys, civet cats, and wild boar in Sai Kung East and West National Parks, and for the Chinese pink dolphins near Lantau Island.
 
6.  BEACHES
Hong Kong’s best kept secret of all is that it is home to more than 30 stunning beaches, which offersailing, snorketlling,waterskiing, windsurfing, fishing, sea kayaking and more. The best beach is perhaps at Repulse Bay, just a 30 minute journey from the city, and Lantau Island;s Cheung Sha is also well worth a visit. You can get one day island hopping tickets which allow an unlimited number of ferry journeys between the islands.
  
7.  RACING
Hong Kong is home to some of the world’s finest horse racing. Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island is the home of horseracing in Hong Kong and has been so since the mid 19th Century. The Hong Kong races are an experience well worth trying out – vast sums of money change hands at the race meetings which are held at weekends and on Wednesday evenings from September through to June, and there are various tour options available for visitors wishing to have a flutter! The Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories is also open to the public and a trip here is guaranteed to get your pulse racing – it is not only one of the largest racecourses in the world (capacity 83,000), it also has the longest TV screen in the world, so you won’t miss a second of the action.
 
8.  LANTAU ISLAND
One of Hong Kong’s outlying islands, Lantau Island is home to the tallest outdoor seated Buddha in the world, the 34 metres high, 202 tonne bronze stature at Ngong Ping Plateau at the P Lin Monastery. You can climb the 268 steps to the platform, or alternatively take the Ngong Ping 360, a 3.5 miles long cable car ride. You can also visit the monastery itself, and even have a vegetarian lunch served to you by the resident monks!. 
  
9.  FOOD
Eating and all things to do with food are a national preoccupation in Hong Kong, and with the bountiful seafood, and 9000+ restaurants, it is easy to see why! There is something in Hong Kong to suit every taste and budget, from Michelin starred chefs in internationally renowned restaurants to mouthwatering delicacies from streetside food stall. The national dish is Dim Sum, which comprises a tantalising array of steamed buns, spring rolls, and dumplinds, all washed down with Chinese tea – delicious!
 
10.  HISTORY AND CULTURE
Hong Kong is where two great cultures meet and mingle, and culture is central to the lives of local people and available to all visitors to Hong Kong. Opera, theatre, films and museums abound – a good place to start is the Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui where almost 6000 years of Chinese history are carefully documented. There are numerous temples around Hong Kong, including the oldest in the country, Man Mo Temples on Hong Kong Island, built in honour of the gods of literature and war. There are also many reminders of Colonial times, including Government House, home of 25 British Governors from 1855 right up to the handover in 1997. Also worth a visit is St John’s Cathedral, believed to be the oldest Christian church in the Far East.




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