Hong Kong is famous for its great shopping and cultural and culinary experiences, as well as having the world’s most beautiful skyline, but this Chinese city state and important economic center is also home to nice beaches, over 200 islands, and green, mountainous countryside with good hiking possibilities. More than that, Hong Kong offers theme parks, golf courses and a busy nightlife with entertainment for every taste.
An autonomous special zone located in the coast of Southern China, the former British colony of Hong Kong attracts over two million foreign visitors a year and is now a major tourism destination also for the Chinese. Although now officially a part of China, Hong Kong still has its own currency, laws, border controls and so on. It is a truly multicultural city that has taken cultural influences from all regions of China plus Europe, North America, and all over Asia.
Attractions & entertainment. There are not many historical buildings left in Hong Kong, but the city is famous for its modern architecture instead. The skyscrapers that line the coast of Victoria Harbour in central HK and its famous skyline are one of Hong Kong's top tourist attractions. The most popular temples in HK to visit are the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the temples of Che Kung and Man Mo. On the cultural side, there are heritage and arts museums, an Academy for Performing Arts, and regular big concerts in Hong Kong. There are excellent opportunities for shopping in Hong Kong for just about anything from electronics to antique. The city is also home to many theaters and operas, as well as a local philharmonic orchestra.
Beaches & Islands. In addition to city attractions, there are many smaller towns as well as islands and countryside in HK with many protected parks. The many beaches in Hong Kong are good for swimming and sunbathing, and you can also find several public swimming pools. The best beaches in Hong Kong are located on small islands. For more active visitors, there are also great possibilities for hiking in Hong Kong, and bicycling and fishing are also available outside the city areas. There are plenty of hiking and biking paths in Hong Kong, especially in the mainland areas and on Lantau island, but they can be quite crowded during weekends.
An autonomous special zone located in the coast of Southern China, the former British colony of Hong Kong attracts over two million foreign visitors a year and is now a major tourism destination also for the Chinese. Although now officially a part of China, Hong Kong still has its own currency, laws, border controls and so on. It is a truly multicultural city that has taken cultural influences from all regions of China plus Europe, North America, and all over Asia.
Sights & activities in Hong Kong: shopping, nightlife, theme parks, hiking & golf
Hong Kong is a great city destination as the city has so much different sides to offer, from skyscrapers to temples and from shopping centers to street vendors. The main urban areas in Hong Kong are situated in the northern part of Hong Kong Island, where you can find most of Hong Kong's skyscrapers, as well as the main areas for business, shopping, and nightlife in Hong Kong, and in southern part of Kowloon Peninsula. There are two major theme parks in Hong Kong that offer excellent family entertainment, as well as golf courses in Hong Kong offering an opportunity for a round in the green.Attractions & entertainment. There are not many historical buildings left in Hong Kong, but the city is famous for its modern architecture instead. The skyscrapers that line the coast of Victoria Harbour in central HK and its famous skyline are one of Hong Kong's top tourist attractions. The most popular temples in HK to visit are the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the temples of Che Kung and Man Mo. On the cultural side, there are heritage and arts museums, an Academy for Performing Arts, and regular big concerts in Hong Kong. There are excellent opportunities for shopping in Hong Kong for just about anything from electronics to antique. The city is also home to many theaters and operas, as well as a local philharmonic orchestra.
Beaches & Islands. In addition to city attractions, there are many smaller towns as well as islands and countryside in HK with many protected parks. The many beaches in Hong Kong are good for swimming and sunbathing, and you can also find several public swimming pools. The best beaches in Hong Kong are located on small islands. For more active visitors, there are also great possibilities for hiking in Hong Kong, and bicycling and fishing are also available outside the city areas. There are plenty of hiking and biking paths in Hong Kong, especially in the mainland areas and on Lantau island, but they can be quite crowded during weekends.
Hong Kong travel information and practical tips
Hong Kong has one of the world’s largest and best airports, which makes the city an ideal stopover also for travelers who plan to visit more of Asia. Hong Kong’s climate is subtropical with temperate and dry winters and warm and humid summers. There is a risk of typhoons during the summer and autumn months from May to November, but otherwise the weather in Hong Kong is likely to be pleasant outside the rainy summer months.
Photo: absolutwade, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Traveling to Hong Kong can be done easily by air or by bus or ferry from China. Direct flights to Hong Kong are available from throughout the world. Ferries to HK from Taiwan and Macau and helicopter transportation from Macau are also available.
Getting around. Hong Kong has a highly developed public transport system that includes a Mass Transit Railway network, trams, buses and ferries. There are plenty of clean and cheap taxis around HK. Car rental in Hong Kong is available but not really recommended because of the small size and reliable public transportation of the area.
Services & safety. There are plenty of hotels in Hong Kong, offering a variety of lodging options, and a great variety of restaurants in Hong Kong, offering perhaps even greater variety of cuisines. Though Hong Kong is a former British colony, English is not spoken widely outside the most popular tourist areas. Hong Kong is one of the safest large cities in the world. However, some crime such as pick-pocketing still exists, so bring your wits with you when visiting Hong Kong.
Short history of Hong Kong
The first human settlements in Hong Kong date back over 30,000 years. The area has been part of China since the Qin Dynasty until January 1841, when the island of Hong Kong became a British colony after the First Opium War. Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to the colony in 1860 after the Second Opium War. Hong Kong was occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War but returned to British control after the war.Back to Chinese rule. Many Chinese fled to Hong Kong from mainland China after the communist revolution in 1949 since Hong Kong had a high degree of economic freedom, so Hong Kong’s economy grew rapidly. In 1984, the Chinese and British Governments agreed that Hong Kong was to be returned to China in 1997. Since then, Hong Kong has been a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China that, for 50 years, enjoys a high degree of autonomy in all except foreign and military affairs under China’s "one country, two systems" policy.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Shenzhen, Macau, Guangzhou
