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Hong Kong Travel Guide
This Hong Kong travel guide answers a range of questions for tourists, such as: Is Hong Kong a country? Let us start there: Hong Kong is not a country but part of China, though in a very special way, much like Macau. In principle, the city governs its own internal affairs. It is a lively and dynamic city (known as Asia’s world city), and also serves as a main gateway to and from China/mainland China, which can be reached by land in a few hours.
Hong Kong’s status as part of China
The city is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. Having been a colony under British rule from 1842 to 1997, the city on the peninsula became part of China and has since been governed according to the principle of “one country, two systems”. Hong Kong’s Basic Law guarantees that this principle of two systems within one country will remain intact for at least 50 years after its introduction in 1997. The population’s relative freedom and rights are based on neutral legislation and an independent judiciary. The city also ranks ninth among the world’s largest trading economies, and in 2016 it was placed first among the world’s freest economies (ranked by the American Heritage Foundation for the 22nd year in a row).
Where Hong Kong is located
A Hong Kong travel guide is not complete without a little geography. The Hong Kong islands lie in the East China Sea and comprise just over 260 islands. The islands sit in a highly strategic position for seafaring, and at the meeting point of East and West.
The city covers 1,105.62 square kilometres in the south-east of China. This includes Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories (the more rural part of the city) and no fewer than 262 surrounding islands. Between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula lies Victoria Harbour, one of the world’s most famous harbours. The city’s cosmopolitan population is around 7.3 million, mainly of Chinese ethnicity, but also includes 623,730 citizens of non-Chinese background.
You’ll get by just fine in English
The official languages are Chinese and English, which are widely used in government and the professional business sector, among other areas. There is no shortage of well-educated, competent bilingual and even trilingual professionals who speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin (i.e. Putonghua), which is important for trade and business agreements with the mainland and Taiwan.
We are in the subtropical climate zone, and temperatures vary over the course of the year from minus 10 degrees in the cold winter period to over 30 degrees in summer. Roughly 80 per cent of the annual rainfall falls between May and September.
Hong Kong: Take a Walk on the Wild Side
What to see beyond Hong Kong?
As your Hong Kong travel guide, we update continuously on what to see and experience. It is a city with plenty to see, including natural experiences you probably did not expect.
The city blends eastern and western cultures, which makes it a tourist destination like no other. Here you will find everything from Chinese traditions and old European heritage to high-tech modernity and Cantonese energy and charm. The city, home to some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, offers a delightful mix of diversity and interesting travel experiences: excellent shopping, delicious restaurants, theme parks, scenic countryside, art, culture and major sporting events. Do not miss the many heritage treasures either, such as temples, monasteries, walled towns, colonial architecture and ancestral halls. The Kai Tak cruise terminal, which opened in the city in 2013, has two berths capable of accommodating the world’s largest cruise ships.
Take a day trip to Macau
Macau, the former Portuguese colony, lies an hour from Hong Kong by hydrofoil, a dash to Asia’s Las Vegas with five of the world’s largest casinos. Here you can see both intact buildings and districts from the Portuguese era, as well as some of the world’s biggest and most impressive hotels and casinos. Well worth a trip or a stay! See travel information for Macau here.
How hot does it get in Hong Kong
The city has a coastal climate, so despite its latitude it is rarely too hot. The hottest month is August, with average temperatures of up to 30 degrees, while in December the figure is up to 20 degrees. Expect 15-20 degrees. So you can visit at any time of year as far as the climate and heat are concerned.
What is The Peak in Hong Kong?
This metropolis offers something for everyone and for people of all ages, from the sightseer to the foodie and the holiday shopper, from the family or the leisure traveller to the businessman. At the top of the list of popular sights is “The Peak”: a viewpoint with a fabulous panorama over Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and Victoria Harbour. Other attractions include theme parks, temples, natural landscapes, places of ancient cultural heritage and, not least, the countless shops that have given the city its reputation as a paradise on earth for any shopping-minded traveller. Accommodation options are virtually unlimited, ranging from small guesthouses and youth hostels to luxury hotels.
Ocean Marine Park with 80 attractions
Ocean Park is a marine park offering more than 80 major attractions. Another sight not to be missed is the nightly light symphony, which Guinness World Records describes as the “world’s largest permanent light and sound show”.
Interactive light beams shoot out from 47 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour, creating a spectacular illuminated scene across the great harbour. Since opening in September 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has welcomed more than 58 million visitors and has won over 460 awards as one of Asia’s most popular and well-executed theme parks. The vast Hong Kong Wetland Park is world-renowned for its diverse wildlife, which includes many bird species, dragonflies, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish. The park comprises a 60-hectare artificially created wetland, galleries with exhibitions, a theatre and other engaging facilities, all of which underline and highlight the importance of wetlands for biodiversity, civilisation and the protection of fauna. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car offers a scenic 25-minute journey over both water and land between Tung Chung and the highest point of Lantau Island, where the Buddhist-inspired village of Ngong Ping is located. In this village, alongside the sightseeing ride in the observation cabin, visitors can also experience “Stage 360”, “Motion 360” and a “Walking with Buddha” attraction. The Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping Plaza and the Path of Wisdom are also to be found in this area. In February 2015, Ngong Ping 360 was named by CNN.com as one of the world’s 10 most incredible cable car experiences.
Wine and Dine
Hong Kong is a paradise for food lovers and a mecca for wine connoisseurs. The 2016 Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau lists 305 local culinary attractions, and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, which in its very first year in 2009 was named one of “the 10 best international food and wine festivals” by ForbesTravel.com, has since become an annual signature event. Hong Kong puts great effort into improving and optimising the experience for visiting tourists, and new special events and happenings are constantly being developed and staged, ranging from the “Hong Kong Cyclothon” cycling festival and the “Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show” to the Chinese New Year parade and the “Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival”. An absolute festival of a destination and very much worth seeing.
International tournaments are also held in sports including rugby, football and golf. At the end of 2016, the “FIA Formula E Championship” and “Lumiéres Hong Kong” were announced to be staged in Hong Kong for the first time.
The Hong Kong travel guide continues here
- Hong Kong’s wild nature and incredible golf opportunities
- Eat really well in Hong Kong or try authentic street food. Both are possible. Here is a lovely Michelin restaurant that is still cheaper than in Denmark for the same high quality. Say hello to Restaurant Felix. Felix, one of 9 top restaurants at the Peninsula Hotel’s tower in Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong boutique hotels
- Try the legendary Beggar’s Chicken
- 150 km from Hong Kong? China’s third-largest city, Guangzhou
Travel tips for Asia in general
- Traveltalk’s introduction to travel tips for Asia
- Outstanding food from across Asia
City breaks and city trips around the world
- More city breaks across Europe and around the world
- Barcelona, the perfect weekend getaway
- Paris, because you deserve it
- Shop till you drop in London
- Berlin and urban creativity: they are way ahead of the game
Visit our global website here for more travel tips and inspiration in English