Official Language:
Mandarin Chinese (Cantonese)
Secondary Language:
English
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Currency:
Hong Kong Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 6.7 million people call Hong Kong home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Hong Kong: The weather in Hong Kong is highly changeable and hard to predict but as a general guide: October to November and April to May are probably the best times to visit. December to March tends to see a lot of rain, and from June to September the heat and humidity are sometimes too much to bear.December to March tends to see a lot of rain, and from June to September the heat and humidity are sometimes too much to bear.October to November and April to May are probably the best times to visit.
Spring Temperature: 64°F to 80°F (18°C-27°C), Summer Temperature: 79°F to 91°F (26°C-33°C), Autumn Temperature: 64°F to 82°F (18°C-28°C), Winter Temperature: 57°F to 68°F (14°C-20°C).
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Cruise ships dock at the Port of Hong Kong. The port is under the control of the Marine Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. The port remains completely free of government interference. There is easy access between the port and the rest of Hong Kong.
Taxis are so plentiful in Hong Kong that you should have no problem finding one, negotiating a good price, and using them for every leg of your sight-seeing while on the island. Hong Kong's trams and buses are usually pretty crowded, especially during rush hour. Subway travel is fairly simple in Hong Kong, with maps clearly labeled. Ferries run between some of Hong Kong's islands, and if you have some time to spare this is definitely a more relaxing way to get around. Because many of Hong Kong's best attractions are centrally located, you'll be able to cover lots of ground on foot.
Hong Kong is divided into four main areas - Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories and the Outlying Islands. Kowloon and the New Territories are on a peninsula of the Chinese mainland, on the northern side of Victoria Harbour; Hong Kong Island is on the southern side of the harbour facing Kowloon; the Outlying Islands simply refers to any of the other 234 islands. The New Territories has a 20km (12mi) land border with China proper.
Hong Kong's dynamism is unforgettable. From the vantage point of Victoria Peak, overlooking the world's busiest deepwater port, you can see a city geared not only to making money but feeling good about it. At night, it's like looking down into a volcano. Despite its British colonial past, Hong Kong has always stuck to its roots and the culture beneath the glitz is pure Chinese. That didn't stop locals from feeling apprehensive about being re-united with the motherland when the British handed the colony back to China in 1997, but their unease has largely evaporated. Visitors often find it takes a few days in Hong Kong to get accustomed to the whirlwind pace. If you need some respite, check out the Outlying Islands for a change of tempo and scene.
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Attractions |
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Hong Kong Island The city itself is centred around Victoria Harbour. The main business district is Central, on Hong Kong Island. East of Central lies the Admiralty commercial district; Wan Chai, known for restaurants and clubs; then Causeway Bay, a major shopping area. Towering above it all is the Peak, Hong Kong's premier scenic outlook and residential district, which happily has plenty of public green space. In Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui (on the southern tip), Jordan and Yau Ma Tei are busy hotel and shopping areas, while Mong Kok is a bustling residential and shopping area. Hong Kong Island is the glitzy big brother of Kowloon - a tightly packed, towering paean to market capitalism that hasn't been dented one jot by Chinese rule.
The bustle of people living and working is the biggest attraction on the island, although many visitors head around to Aberdeen, on the southern side of the island, where 6000 people live or work on junks anchored in the harbour. Sampan tours of the Aberdeen Harbour are definitely worth the expense. The other major draw is the floating restaurants.
The most popular beach is Repulse Bay, also on the southern side of the island, but it gets extremely crowded on weekends. Stanley, with its laid-back atmosphere, is another good spot for escaping Hong Kong's hustle and bustle, although it is the hustle and bustle that brings people here in the first place - if you want real solitude, you've come to the wrong place. City attractions include the Central Market, which visitors will have no trouble finding (just sniff the air), the old Man Mo Temple and the Zoological & Botanic Gardens. Hong Kong Island is steep, so if your'e heading away from the harbour, do as the locals do and ride the 800m (870 yards) outdoor escalator.
KowloonTsim Sha Tsui, at the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, is the territory's tourist ghetto. It consists of one sq km of shops, restaurants, pubs, topless bars and camera stores. However, Kowloon is also home to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Space Museum, the famous Peninsula Hotel and the Museum of History. The Promenade, in East Tsim Sha Tsui, is a great place for a stroll, and has wonderful views of Victoria Harbour, particularly at night. The liveliest night market in the territory is on Temple St in Yau Ma Tei.
Victoria Peak If you're in Hong Kong, you'd be mad to miss a trip to the top of Victoria Peak, 552m (1810ft) above sea level. The views are extraordinarily beautiful in every direction, with the vista of the business district, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon especially grand. In true Hong Kong style the main viewing deck is on the roof of a large shopping mall (no bargains here). Join the throng of snap-happy tourists - you won't be disappointed. If you have time, it's worth making the trip to the top both in daylight (ideal to get your bearings) and at night, when the mass of lights around the harbour will take your breath away and make you wish you had a better camera. The actual peak is a 10-minute walk west and up. To get to and from the Peak, travel at least one way on the Peak tram. Buses also ply the route from the Star Ferry pier.
Ocean Park
If you're a kid or a kid at heart, you'll love Ocean Park, a combination marine park and amusement center. Situated along a dramatic rocky coastline on the island's southern shore, the park is divided into two areas: a "lowland" and a "headland," connected by cable car and escalator. Because of the wide range of attractions, Ocean Park is interesting for children and seniors alike, as well as everyone in between.
Hong Kong Sea and Sky Tour (by Helicopter and Yacht)
Discover the beauty of Hong Kong by sea and air. The cruise sets out from Queen's Pier for a leisurely journey to the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club Marina on the Sai Kung Peninsula. Next, board a helicopter for a 10-minute ride of a lifetime, featuring panoramic views of the verdant landscape. Upon your return, enjoy a Hong Kong-style BBQ or Chinese set lunch at the Clearwater Bay Marina Club (only available on weekdays and Saturdays). It is also possible to arrange a round of golf at the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club.
The lowland is subdivided into several areas and attractions. The most popular residents of Ocean Park are An An and Jia Jia, a pair of pandas presented as gifts from China. Aimed at youngsters are the Dinosaur Discovery Trail, with 17 lifelike models of dinosaurs (the tyrannosaurus may be too scary for toddlers), and Kids' World, with its kiddie rides, playgrounds, remote-control cars and boats, shows geared toward children, and shooting-games arcade. Educational tours are given at Dolphin University (only one tour a day in English, however), where the audience can watch the training of dolphins at close range. Film Fantasia is a 100-seat theater with hydraulically actuated seats that move in time to the fast-paced action on the screen, kind of like riding a roller coaster without actually going anywhere but visually much more stimulating (participants must be at least 1.2m/4 ft. tall). Much gentler are walks through the magical Butterfly House (shaped, interestingly enough, like a caterpillar) with hundreds of free-flying butterflies, and, my favorite, the Golden Pagoda set in a lush garden, with more varieties of goldfish than you ever imagined possible, most of them from China. The pompommed fish, for example, have large pompomlike growths on their heads, while the bubble eyes, with huge bubbles under their eyes, are too bizarre for words.
From the lowland, visitors board cable cars for a spectacular 8-minute ride over a hill to the headland, while being treated to great views of the coastline and the South China Sea along the way. The headland area, situated on a peninsula that juts into the sea, is also subdivided into several areas and attractions. Pacific Pier features an artificial wave cove that is home to sea lions, penguins, and a shark aquarium, with more than 200 sharks and rays representing more than 30 species, viewed from an underwater tunnel. Ocean Theatre features shows by talented dolphins, sea lions, and a killer whale. But my favorite is the Atoll Reef, one of the world's largest aquariums, with 2,600 fish of 200 different species. The observation passageway circles the aquarium on four levels, enabling you to view the sea life--everything from giant octopi to schools of tropical fish--from various depths and from different angles. There are also thrill rides, including a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster that turns upside down three times, another roller coaster that follows a Wild West theme, and a rather wet ride on a "raging river." Other exhibits include a Japanese Garden; a 69m-high (230 ft.) Ocean Park Tower offering revolving, panoramic views of Aberdeen and outlying islands; and an aviary with more than 2,000 birds.
After touring the headland, you can take the long escalator down to the Tai Shue Wan Entrance, from which it's a short taxi ride to Aberdeen with its sampan rides and floating restaurant. At any rate, to do Ocean Park justice, plan on spending a minimum of 4 hours here.
ShoppingBonham Strand East and West is one of the world's most unique streets. Vendors don't peddle snake oil here; they peddle snakes, whose meat is said to be a cold remedy. Other Chinese folk remedies and oddities can be found along Bonham Strand.
Luxury shoppers would be remiss to miss The Landmark (Des Voeux Road, bounded by Pedder Street and Ice House Street). Every high-class designer in the world has an outlet here. The design has maintained its charm even as more modern facilities have sprung up all around the city. Hollywood Road is replete with Chinese antiques. On Kowloon, a visit to Nathan Street will live up to your wildest shopping fantasies.
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More Information |
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