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About Hong Kong:

Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), 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. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Hong Kong is a place with multiple personalities, as a result of being both Cantonese Chinese and under a long-time British influence. Today, the former British colony is a major tourism destination for China's increasingly affluent population. It is also an important hub in East Asia with global connections to many of the world's cities. It is a unique destination that has absorbed people and cultural influences from places as diverse as Vietnam and Vancouver and proudly proclaims itself to be Asia's World City.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is much more than a harbour city. The traveller weary of its crowded streets may be tempted to describe it as Hong Kongcrete. Yet, this territory with its cloudy mountains and rocky islands is mostly a rural landscape. Much of the countryside is classified as Country Park and, although 7 million people are never far away, it is possible to find pockets of wilderness that will reward the more intrepid tourist.

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate with at least one season to match your comfort zone. Boasting one of the world's best airports, it is the ideal stopover for those who wish to travel deeper into the Orient.

Geography of Hong Kong:

The geography of Hong Kong primarily consists of three main territories: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories.

The name "Hong Kong", literally meaning "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around present-day Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island, where fragrant wood products and fragrant incense were once traded. The narrow body of water separating Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula, Victoria Harbour, is one of the deepest natural maritime ports in the world.Hong Kong and its 260 territorial islands and peninsulas are located in the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta.

The Kowloon Peninsula to the south of Boundary Street and the New Territories to the north of Hong Kong Island were added to Colonial Hong Kong in 1860 and 1898 respectively. The body of water between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula is Victoria Harbour, one of the deepest maritime ports in the world. The landscape of Hong Kong is fairly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. The highest point in the territory is Tai Mo Shan, at a height of 958 metres. Lowlands exist in the northwestern part of the New Territories.

Hong Kong is 60 km east of Macau on the opposite side of the Pearl River estuary. It has a land border with Shenzhen to the north. Of the territory's 1,092 square kilometres, less than 25 percent is developed. The remaining land is reserved as country parks and nature reserves.

Hong Kong Weather:

View Detailed 9 Day Weather Forecasts for Hong Kong, webcams, weather maps & more at Weather-Forecast.com

Culture of Hong Kong:

Cultural underpinning of a modern society is the hallmark of Hong Kong, a multi-faceted land. It is a remarkable amalgamation of East and West, a city where contrasts walk side by side. Ancient incense-filled temples neighbour stylish skyscrapers. People are never shy of using ultra-modern gadgets. Yet they cling to their traditions forcefully.

Cinema:

Hong Kong is a film-making hub for the Chinese film-makers. Artists like Bruce Lee, Hui Brothers and Jacki Chan have made Hong Kong Cinema popular all over the world. It has matched other two forts of film-making, Hollywood and Bollywood, every step. Here is concise information about the thriving movie industry of Hong Kong.

Chinese Opera:

Any tourist in Hongkong trying to experience something different can watch Chinese Opera, also known in Hong Kong as Sunkung Opera. Chinese Opera is a highly rated art form in China and Hong Kong, that amalgamates Chinese legend, music and drama into an exhilirating style of art. In simple words, Chinese Opera is a story put to music and dance.

Dragon Dance:

Dragon dance is an intriguing conventional dance in Chinese culture. Usually depicted as a long, serpentine creature with numerous claws, it has long symbolised auspicious power in folklore and art of China. Dancers are accompanied by the musicians who play conventional Chinese musical instruments like cymbals and drums.

Chinese Therapy:

Hong Kong has large number of therapists who provide relief from the ailments dogging people for years. These therapists employ Chinese medicine for the cure, which have been around for the age of the ill for ages.

Festivals:

Spectrum of festivities populate the cultural stage on Hong Kong. These festivals are appreciated for their passion and vivacity. Most of the people in Hong Kong are of Chinese origin, and every Chinese festival is celebrated with fanfare. The festivals are very intriguing and anyone from foreign land would find them particularly very interesting.

Song Dynasty Town:

Song Dynasty Town, located in Kowloon of Hong Kong, is a replica of the Song capital. It provides the tourists unique opportunity to have a glimpse of China of yesteryears. The exciting tour gives information about the ahievements of ancient Chinese civilisation. Song Dynasty ruled China from 960 to 1279. Its reign is noted for the development of art, literature and philosophy.

Lion Dance:

Lion dance is an intriguing dance in Chinese culture and Hong Kong, in which performers mimic the beast's movements in a lion costume. Lion dance can be witnessed mainly on festive occasions. It is thought to bring good luck on the people witnessing the ceremony.

Tea Drinking:

People of Hongkong are very fond of tea drinking and it has become a part of their lifestyle. The deep-rooted habit is a thriving tradition in itself. The tea-drinking habit in Hong Kong has its origin in Chinese tea culture.

Hong Kong cuisine:

Hong Kong is the culinary capital of Asia. A gastronomical tour of Asia without a visit to Hong Kong would be incomplete. Hong Kong is a place which offers superb cuisine from around the world and an infinite choice of restaurants.

Here is concise information about food recipe in Hongkong:

Dim Sum:

Dim Sum is the most famous in the long list of dishes in a Hongkong meal. Impressively shaped, bite-size portions of dumplings with lightly seasoned fillings of meat and seafish, fluffy buns with various fillings and glutinous rice - all deliciously steamed - just ignite the tastebuds.

Hong Kong Hits!:

If you are on a tour of Hong Kong, never fail to bite into Dim Sum, the tasty collection of delicacies served in bamboo steamers, or crisp Peking Duck carved at your table. Be sure to try Jumbo Restaurant, counted among the world's most luxurious floating restaurant. And Hong Kong also holds Ocean City Restaurant and Night Club, which seats more than 4800 people.

Hot Pot:

Hot Pot is best savored with a pot of tea. Served in little bamboo steamers or pretty plates, dim sum is light in content. It is a favorite dish of the Chinese. There are few better ways to pass time than eating some bites of Hot Pot accompaniements and drinking the soup.

Chinese:

Hong Kong is best known for Chinese menu, specially Cantonese style of cuisine. Cantonese people give very much attention to the freshness of their food. This cooking is lighter to some extent than most regional Chinese cuisine.

Preparation methods usually involve stir-frying in shallow water or oil in a wok. Flavors and nutrition of the food is preserved as cooking time is short. Much oil is not consumed for steaming vegetable and fish. Ingredients like ginger, garlic, onion, vinegar, and sugar are used for preparing sauces.

Indian:

To find authentic Indian cuisine is not tough in Hongkong. Restaurants serving dishes like 'tanduri chicken' and 'naan' abound in the island. Recipe in these restaurants is affordable and satisfying. A conventional method of Indian cooking is the roasting of meats and poultry in a oven, which is made of clay. Indians are fond of savoring the food cooked in Tandoori style and Hong Kong fulfils their need. All other popular varities of Indian food are also available in Hong Kong.

Southeast Asian:

Cuisine connected to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore is known as Southeast Asian food. Flavor of all Southeast Asian foods is to less or more extent similar. There are minor differences in the spices and and the way they are used.

People from this region are present in Hong Kong in good numbers and this reflects in the popularity of Southeast Asian food.

Hawker Food:

Hawkers register their presence in every Asian country and they are there in Hong Kong too. Visitors can savour varieties of hawker food along the streets and night markets. Popular dishes sold by these hawkers are wantan noodle, beef noodle, soy bean curd and fishballs on sticks.

Western:

Western style of food is particulary popular in the young generation of Hong Kong. Number of restaurants prepare mouth-watering Western cuisine. Fast food joints are abundant in Hong Kong. Brands like McDonald's and Burger King are present in every corner of Hongkong. These joints are specially patronised by office-goers, who can get a quick and filling diet at lunchtime here.

Tourism in Hong Kong:

Victoria Peak:

Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island. With an altitude of 552 m (1,811 ft), it is the highest mountain on the island proper, but not in the entirety of Hong Kong, an honour which belongs to Tai Mo Shan.

The actual summit of Victoria Peak is occupied by a radio telecommunications facility and is closed to the public. However, the surrounding area of public parks and high-value residential land is the area that is normally meant by the name The Peak. It is a major tourist attraction which offers views over Central, Victoria Harbour, and the surrounding islands.

Stanley:

Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok. Administratively, it is part of the Southern District.

The Chinese name "Chek Chue" refers to the original village-town but "Stanley" generally refers to all the surrounding areas of the peninsula.

Repulse Bay:

Repulse Bay is a bay in the southern part of Hong Kong Island, located in the Southern District, Hong Kong.

The Repulse Bay area is one of the most expensive housing areas in Hong Kong. The prices are matched only by the Peak. In 2006, some property prices reached HK$20,000 (US$2,500) per square foot.

The former Repulse Bay Hotel was demolished in 2 stages during the 1970s and 1980s. Later a boutique shopping mall was constructed on part of the old hotel site to mimic some of the lost colonial architecture.

International Finance Centre:

The International Finance Centre is an integrated commercial development on the waterfront of Hong Kong's Central District.

A prominent landmark on Hong Kong Island, IFC consists of two skyscrapers, the IFC Mall, and the 55-story Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Tower 2 is the second tallest building in Hong Kong, behind the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon. It is the fourth-tallest building in the Greater China region and the eighth-tallest office building in the world, based on structural heights; by roof height, only the Taipei 101, Shanghai World Financial Center, Willis Tower, International Commerce Centre and Burj Khalifa exceed it. It is of similar height to the former World Trade Center. The Airport Express Hong Kong Station is directly beneath it.

IFC was constructed and is owned by IFC Development, a consortium of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Henderson Land and Towngas.

In 2003, Financial Times, HSBC, and Cathay Pacific put up an advertisement on the facade that stretched more than 50 storeys, covering an area of 19,000 m² (0.2 million square ft) and a length of 230 m, making it the world's largest advertisement ever put on a skyscraper.

Victoria Harbour:

Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent development as a trading centre.

Throughout its history, the harbour has seen numerous reclamation projects undertaken on both shores, many of which have caused controversy in recent years due to environmental concerns concerning water quality and natural habitats in addition to economic concerns that benefits of land reclamation may be less than the effects of decreased harbour width, affecting the number of vessels passing through the harbour. Nonetheless it still retains its founding role as a port for thousands of international vessels each year.

Long famous for its spectacular views, the harbour is a major tourist attraction of Hong Kong. Lying in the middle of the territory's dense urban region, the harbour is the site of annual fireworks displays and its promenades are popular gathering places for tourists and residents.

Aberdeen:

Aberdeen is an area on the south shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Southern District. Aberdeen Harbour is a harbour between Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau. The name 'Aberdeen' usually covers the areas of Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Ap Lei Chau, but it is more often used to refer to the town only. Population is approximately 60,000.

Aberdeen is famous to tourists for its floating village and floating seafood restaurants located within the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelters. The Tanka people are generally associated with the fishing industry, and there are also several dozen expatriates living on boats in the harbour.

Lan Kwai Fong:

Lan Kwai Fong is a walking square of streets in Central, Hong Kong. It widely includes D’Aguilar Street, Wellington Street and Wyndham Street and is now a popular place in Hong Kong for drinking, dining and clubbing.

Many years ago, the Lan Kwai Fong had once been a street full of Mui Yan (medium person) and marriage agency, a job only held by female. Mui Yan is a marriage medium between two families. It was thus famed as the name of Mui Yan Hong and Hong Leung Hong (medium person lane). In 1980s, the father of Lan Kwai Fong, Allan Zeman, invested 32 million Hong Kong dollars to buy a big building and refurnished it as the Western restaurants. The place soon became the foreigners' meeting place in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, a homosexual disco “Disco Disco” was founded in D'Aguilar Street. These two successful businesses made Lan Kwai Fong and its surroundings a famous spot for night life. When it comes to night time, this is a MUST-go place to visit. Go down to Lan Kwai Fong to find the city's hottest, newest night activities. Hang out with friends in one of the trendy clubs to dance, or drink intensive selections of beers in the bar. You can also hurray for your team at your favourite sports bar. If you re-visit any bar place, the waiter/waitress may have memorized your name.

Ocean Park:

Ocean Park, is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park, situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong. Founded in 1977 by the then Governor of Hong Kong Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park has grown to about 35 attractions and rides. The park has won several awards, including The World's Seventh Most Popular Amusement Park and 33rd Most Visited Tourist Attractions in the World by Forbes.

In fiscal year 2007/2008, Ocean Park received 5.03 million visitors awarding it the position of the world's number 15 theme park by annual attendance, ahead of rival Hong Kong Disneyland's 4.5 million visitors. Covering an area of 870,000 square metres of land, the park is separated by a large mountain into two areas, The Summit (Headland) and The Waterfront (Lowland) respectively. The areas can be reached by a 1.5 km long cable car system, a shuttle bus, or the Ocean Express funicular railway. As the Headland comprises several hills, visitors can also opt to take the world's second longest outdoor escalator.

The theme park currently has 19 rides, including two rollercoasters, but also houses 11 animal exhibits, such as a Giant panda habitat, a jelly fish and Chinese sturgeon aquarium, as well as a four-story aquarium displaying more than 2,000 fish.

Besides being an amusement park, Ocean Park Hong Kong also operates observatories, well developed laboratories, an education department and a Whales and Dolphins Fund.

Ocean Park Hong Kong was the first institution in the world to have success in artificial insemination of bottlenose dolphins, and developed numerous new breeds of goldfish.

In September 2007, Ocean Park Hong Kong increased its ticket prices by 12% and 14% to take advantage of the Golden Week Holidays.

n July 2009, Ocean Park Hong Kong announced that they would increase their ticket prices by 20% and 25% to pay a loan.

Hong Kong Disneyland:

The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay. Officially opened on September 12, 2005, the resort contains the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park, the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Hollywood Hotel, and several retail, dining and entertainment facilities covering 1.3 square kilometres (320 acres) of the island.

The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is the second extension into Asia after the opening of the Tokyo Disney Resort more than 20 years ago. Currently, the Resort is overseen by Managing Director Andrew Kam who reports to Bill Ernest, President and Managing Director, Disney Parks & Resorts, Asia.

Tian Tan Buddha:

Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, is a large bronze statue of a Buddha, completed in 1993, and located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. The statue is located near Po Lin Monastery and symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. It is a major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and is also a popular tourist attraction.

Tsing Ma Bridge:

The Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world's seventh-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion. The bridge was named after two of the islands at its ends, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan . It has two decks and carries both road and rail traffic, which also makes it the largest suspension bridge of this type. The bridge has a main span of 1,377 metres (4,518 ft) and a height of 206 metres (676 ft). The span is the largest of all bridges in the world carrying rail traffic.

The 41 metres (135 ft) wide bridge deck carries six lanes of automobile traffic, with three lanes in each direction. The lower level contains two rail tracks. There are also two sheltered carriageways on the lower deck for maintenance access and as backup for traffic when particularly severe typhoons strike Hong Kong. Though road traffic would need to be closed in that case, trains could still get through in either direction.

Transport in Hong Kong:

Hong Kong's transportation network is highly developed. Over 90% of daily travels (11 million) are on public transport, the highest such percentage in the world. Payment can be made using the Octopus card, a stored value system introduced by the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which is widely accepted on railways, buses and ferries, and accepted like cash at other outlets.

The city's main railway company (MTR) was merged with the urban mass transit operator (KCRC) in 2007, creating a comprehensive rail network for the whole territory (also called MTR). This MTR rapid transit system has 152 stations, which serve 3.4 million people a day. Hong Kong Tramways, which has served the territory since 1904, covers the northern parts of Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong's bus service is franchised and run by private operators. Five privately owned companies provide franchised bus service across the territory, together operating more than 700 routes. The two largest, Kowloon Motor Bus provides 402 routes in Kowloon and New Territories; Citybus operates 154 routes on Hong Kong Island; both run cross-harbour services. Double-decker buses were introduced to Hong Kong in 1949, and are now almost exclusively used; single-decker buses remain in use for routes with lower demand or roads with lower load capacity. Public light buses serve most parts of Hong Kong, particularly areas where standard bus lines cannot reach or do not reach as frequently, quickly, or directly.

The Star Ferry service, founded in 1888, operates four lines across Victoria Harbour and provides scenic views of Hong Kong's skyline for its 53,000 daily passengers. It acquired iconic status following its use as a setting on The World of Suzie Wong. Travel writer Ryan Levitt considered the main Tsim Sha Tsui to Central crossing one of the most picturesque in the world. Other ferry services are provided by operators serving outlying islands, new towns, Macau, and cities in mainland China. Hong Kong is famous for its junks traversing the harbour, and small kai-to ferries that serve remote coastal settlements. The Port of Hong Kong is a busy deepwater port, specialising in container shipping.

Hong Kong Island's steep, hilly terrain was initially served by sedan chairs. The Peak Tram, the first public transport system in Hong Kong, has provided vertical rail transport between Central and Victoria Peak since 1888. In Central and Western district, there is an extensive system of escalators and moving pavements, including the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world, the Mid-Levels escalator.

Hong Kong International Airport is a leading air passenger gateway and logistics hub in Asia and one of the world's busiest airports in terms of international passenger and cargo movement, serving more than 47 million passengers and handling 3.74 million tonnes (4.12 million tons) of cargo in 2007. It replaced the overcrowded Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon in 1998, and has been rated as the world's best airport in a number of surveys. Over 85 airlines operate at the two-terminal airport and it is the primary hub of Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Air Hong Kong, Hong Kong Airlines, and Hong Kong Express.

Hong Kong Hotels:

5 Star Hotels in Hong Kong:

Royal Plaza Hotel
Hotel ICON
Regal Hongkong Hotel
Langham Place Hotel
Hotel LKF By Rhombus
The Luxe Manor
Regal Airport Hotel
Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel
Peninsula Hotel Kowloon
W Hong Kong Hotel
The Mira Hotel Hong Kong
Four Seasons Hotel
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong Hotel
Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin Hotel

Budget Hotels in Hong Kong:

The Anne Black - YWCA Hotel
Island Pacific Hotel
Salisbury YMCA Of Hong Kong
Metropark Hotel Mongkok
Hotel Ibis Hong Kong
Silka Seaview Hotel Kowloon
Wifi Hotel
Stanford Hotel
Shamrock Hotel
Bridal Tea House Hotel
Largos Hotel Hong Kong