Hong Kong , is a city with  fascinating history and  unique culture of Chinese and Western influences.

Sitting at the mouth of the Pear River Delta, the bustling metropolis city-state consists of Hong Kong island, several other islands, the Kowloon peninsula, and the much bigger New Territories, and shares a 20-mile land border with China. 

Interesting Facts

1. Its harbors and strategic position in Asia was what attracted the British Empire to occupy the area in the 19th Century. During its 156 years under British rule (with the exception of four years of Japanese occupation during WW2), Hong Kong transformed into one of the world’s busiest trading centers and largest economies. 
2.  The official name of Hong Kong is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (HKSAR). This means that its a region of China, but has the highest levels of autonomy, separate government  and economic systems, under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

3. With more than 8.000 glittering skyscrapers, Hong Kong’s skyline is always a glorious sight to behold. A skyscraper is defined as any building with more than 14 stories. The International Commerce Centre (ICC) building is currently the highest skyscraper in Hong Kong, with a whopping 118 floors.

4. The majority of Hong Kongers practice Confucianism, which means they adhere to the values of mutual respect and kindness towards each other. Moreover, 28% of Hong Kongers are Taoist or Buddhist, 12% are Christians, and 4% are Muslims.

5. The Tsing Ma Bridge is the world’s longest road and rail suspension bridge. Connecting the New Territories to Lantau Island, it is 41 meters wide, 206 meters high, and has a span of 1,377 meters.

6. The city has a highly-developed system for managing typhoons. May to November is typhoon season, and Hong Kong has a highly efficient system for dealing with these powerful storms. A T1 signal indicates a brewing storm is days away. Then a T3 means the storm is gathering speed and  children and elderly must stay home. A T8 or T10 means winds of up to 180km/h spin across the city which means that offices and public transport are closed.

7. Hong Kong expanded to its current size in 1860. Following the Second Opium War, China ceded the New Territories to Great Britain, further expanding the size of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong was leased to the UK for 99 years. In 1898, a treaty between the two countries was drawn up, leasing Hong Kong to Britain for 99 years.  On July 1st, 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China.

8. Kowloon means Nine Dragons , while Hong Kong means ‘fragrant harbour’ in Chinese. An old story says that a young emperor noticed the areas eight hills, and named the land ‘eight dragons’. Later, a servant reminded at the emperor that he is also a dragon and this made nine dragons. Kow sounds like ‘gau’ or nine in Cantonese, and Loon is like ‘lung’ or ‘long’, meaning dragon.

9. The island has wonderful beaches. With a coastline stretches 283 miles (456km) it is very popular for its many stunning beaches, such as Clearwater Bay, Golden Beach, Shrek O Beach and Big Wave Beach.

10. Hong Kong consists  of 263 islands. Each island has its own unique scenery. While Hong Kong island is the most popular, there are some other popular islands like Lantau, Cheung Chau, and Lamma that are accessible by ferry and bus, while others are totally uninhabited and virtually unreachable.

11. The red brick and granite Clock Tower is the only remaining part of the former Kowloon station on the Kowloon-Canton Railway, and counts as one of the city’s must-see historic and iconic landmarks. and you must definitely see it. 

12. Hong Kong’s Big Buddha statue is one of the largest in the world. It is located on Lantau Island, the famous landmark called Tian Tan Buddha (also known as The Big Buddha) is one of the world’s largest seated Buddhas.  The Buddha weighs 202 tonnes and there are 200 steps leading to the top.

13.  Don’t miss the Hong Kong Disneyland where you will find the happiest place on Earth right here , in Hong Kong. From kid-friendly attractions at Fantasyland and dazzling parades down Main Street, USA, to high-octane thrills at Tomorrowland and music-filled performances at Adventureland, there’s plenty of magical fun to enjoy. 

14. Man Mo Temple is a mid-nineteenth-century historical building and a declared monument located on Hollywood Road. It’s surrounded by antique stores that are common in the area. The temple is mostly dedicated to Man Cheong, the god of literature, and Mo Tai, the god of martial arts.  Man Mo Temple is a declared national monument and is said to have been built between 1847 and 1862 by wealthy Chinese merchants.