Hong Kong

INTRO
If you are a first-time visitor to Hong Kong, it is almost impossible not to get flummoxed, confused and then overwhelmed by the contradictions and confluences of a Chinese city with predominantly Western elements. Hong Kong (Xianggang in Mandarin, Heung Gong in Cantonese meaning "fragrant harbour") has the specials of all big cities in western Asia - smog, odour, heavy traffic, modern lifestyle, glittery high-rise structures and high life standard. But Hong Kong is also efficient and peaceful - the transport network is excellent, the cuisine is legendary and the temples and the quiet alleys of the parks are oases of tranquillity and harmony. Despite the British colonial influence in the past, beneath its shiny surface Hong Kong is as purely Chinese as possible.

City Profile
City: Hong Kong
Country: China
Area: 1, 104 km2
Population: 6, 864, 000
Districts: 18
Governor:Donald Tsang
Language: Chinese, English
Rating:

LOCATION
Primarily, Hong Kong consists of Lantau Island, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and some 260 more islands in South China Sea. The largest of islands is Lantau while the most populated and the second largest is Hong Kong Island. The long and curvaceous coastline of Hong Kong affords the territory with many bays, beaches and rivers. Hong Kong is 60 km east of Macau - on the other side of the Pearl River Delta.

TIME TO VISIT
October-February period is the best time to visit Hong Kong - purely weatherwise as then the skies are clear and temperatures and humidity are mild and pleasant. In the summer (from June to August) your endurance might be pushed to its limits due to the extreme heat and humidity, that's why it is not advisable to go to Hong Kong then unless you don't mind sweating and gasping for breath all the time. Hong Kong is particularly crowded during the Chinese New Year - in late January/early February, which could cause you some inconvenience in finding accommodation since prices are high and most places are full. Although, the festival is worth seeing - then you can see and feel Hong Kong in its prettiest and liveliest.

POPULATION
About 95% of almost 7 million people living in Hong Kong are of Chinese descent. The majority of them are Cantonese, thus turning Cantonese, a Chinese language commonly spoken in southern Asia, into Hong Kong's official dialect. English is also widely spoken throughout the city. The usage of Mandarin, the official dialect of China, has also increased in the past 10 years due to new groups of immigrants that have arrived to Hong Kong. Approximately 140, 000 Filipinos work as domestic helpers, an increasing number of such workers originate from Indonesia. Vietnamese refugees have become permanent residents of Hong Kong, there is also a number of Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Japanese and Koreans working in Hong Kong's commercial and financial sector. With overall density of more than 6000 people per km2, Hong Kong is one of the most populated countries/dependencies in the world.

DISTRICTS
Administratively, Hong Kong is divided into 18 geographic districts for administrative purposes. Some of the main ones are:

Hong Kong Island - the northern part of the island is most densely populated. It houses most of Hong Kong's skyscrapers and the famous skyline, and also most of the business and nightlife districts. The southern part of the island has a lot of luxurious residential complexes, marvellous beaches and lots of leisure facilities.
Kowloon (meaning "nine dragons" in Cantonese) - the peninsula north of Hong Kong Island. By some measures, this is the most densely populated area in the world. It also has plenty of places for shopping, drinking, eating and sleeping. Mong Kok houses a huge number of markets and shops in an area of less than 1 km2. Tsim Sha Tsui that encompasses the tip of the peninsula is Hong Kong's main spot for backpackers.
The New Territories Hong Kong's residential hinterland. The area was thus named when it was acquired in 1898. There you could experience the real Hong Kong life and enjoy the vast parks of the area and the opportunities for sport and recreation that they offer.
The Outlying Islands - 234 islands in the territory of Hong Kong - varying in size from twice the area of Hong Kong Island (Lantau) to rocks poking out of the sea.
Ramna is a famous administrative district. The Secretariat, which houses most of the government ministries, and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh are located here.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

Kowloon Walled City Park- the walls that enclose the beautiful park were the borders of a notorious village, part of China, back in the old days of the British rule. Today, it offers to its visitors nice pavilions, ponds with turtles and goldfish and unique flora. http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ls_park.php
Man Mo Temple - one of the oldest and most famous in Hong Kong. Its name literally means "Civil and Military". Inside the temple you could see two antique chairs shaped like houses which at festival time used to carry the two gods that the temple is dedicated to.
Ocean Park - an amusement park with roller coaster and other breathtaking and stunning rides. It also features a marine park with shows of seals, sea lions, killer whales and dolphins. http://www.oceanpark.com.hk
Victoria Peak - the highest peak in Hong Kong - 552 m above sea level. The views are amazing - not to be missed while visiting Hong Kong. http://www.thepeak.com.hk
Mui Fat Monastery - one of the best preserved and maintained Buddhist complexes in Hong Kong. The entrance to the main temple is guarded by two stone lions, and outside to the south there are attractive gardens.
Jardine House - 52-storey high-rise structure, which was the first Hong Kong's skyscraper when finished in 1973. It is located close to the Star Ferry pier.
Hong Kong Museum of History - takes its visitors in travel trough history from around 4000 BC when the area was first settled until modern times. Archaeology, ethnography, local and natural history of Honk Kong - if that fascinates you, the museum is the right place to visit. http://www.hk.history.museum

AIRPORT

Hong Kong International Airport (also known as Chek Lap Kok) is the major international hub of air transport in Hong Kong. Built in 1998, it is modern, convenient and efficient. Skytrax has been naming it the Best Airport worldwide for five years. Flights between Hong Kong and major Asian cities are very frequent. In terms of passenger traffic, Hong Kong International Airport is the third busiest in Asia, and in terms of cargo - the second busiest in the world. The fastest transport to the airport, apart from a taxi, is the Airport Express train. The journey from Kowloon takes only 23 minutes, and depending on distance travelled, fares vary. There are various Airbuses that are slower but cheaper and more direct option to get from or to the airport. If you choose to get a taxi, a trip from or to the airport will cost you around HK$300. http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/index.html

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Hong Kong offers several means of public transport. It may be good idea to obtain Octopus Card if you plan to travel more. Octopus card is a contact-less smart card that is used for all forms of public transport except taxis and minibuses. Just tap it on card readers - even through your wallet, and the correct amount will be deducted from the money stored in the card. The cost of a basic adult Octopus card is HK$150. It is accepted for payments virtually everywhere in Hong Kong - in stores, hotels, vending machines, parkings.

Subway - Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway underground network is the quickest way to travel within the city. Although, gaining in speed you lose in views. The network consists of five lines.
Tram - the narrow double-decker city trams are a Hong Kong icon. The trams are slow but useful and cheap - there is a flat fare of $2 - basically, that is the cheapest option for a sightseeing tour around
Bus - you might find them pretty much the only option for travelling in the south side of Hong Kong Island and Lantau. Signage in English is often hard to find which could cause some difficulties in finding your bus stop. The double-decker buses cover virtually the whole territory of Hong Kong, stop frequently and charge depends on length of the trip.
Ferry - there are a large number of ferries that connect the islands of Hong Kong. The oldest of them, being an attraction itself, is the Star Ferry.
Taxi - taxis in Hong Kong were recently considered as the cheapest of all big cities in the world. Cabs are comfortable, clean and air-conditioned. No tipping is expected.

HISTORY
Hong Kong became a British colony in 1841 as a consequence of the defeat of the Qing Dynasty in the First Opium War. After the defeat of China in the Second Opium War, in 1860 the Kowloon peninsula passed to Britain. In 1984 Hong Kong was given back to China, effective of 1997, as a result of the Joint Declaration of the Question of Hong Kong signed by the British and the Chinese governments. Hong Kong has earned a "high degree of authonomy" from Beijing in a range of aspects except for foreign and defence affairs.

CITY LINKS

Website of Honk Kong Tourism Board - http://www.discoverhongkong.com/login.html
Hong Kong Monetary Authority - http://www.info.gov.hk/hkma/
Hong Kong Disneyland - http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/home/home?name=HOMEPage
Hong Kong Legislative Council - http://www.legco.gov.hk/

UNIVERSITY LINKS

The Chinese University of Hong Kong - http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/v6/en/
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - http://www.ust.hk/en/index.html
The University of Hong Kong - http://www.hku.hk/

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