Situated in the southeast corner of China,
Hong Kong occupies an area of 1,104 square kilome
ters (about 426 square miles) and is home to more than 6,970,000 people. With an area of 1,110sq.km, Hong Kong consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and a group of 260 outlying islands. Hong Kong has a population of 6,600,000 and 96% of them are Chinese. It has a sub-tropical climate, being temperate for nearly half the year, with cool, dry winters and hot, humid summers
Tourism
Victoria Peak Victoria Peak is the highest peak in Hong Kong Island with an altitude of 554 meters and has been
considered as a landmark of the island.
Viewed from the peak, the scenes are different between day time and night. At day time, you can see high and crowded buildings and the busy Victoria Harbor. At night, lit up by colorful lights, the whole scene is dazzling as a fairly-tale world. The best spot to enjoy the scene is the Peak Tower and the Lion Kiosk beside the peak tram terminal.
To reach the Victoria Peak, you can take the peak tram which was put into service in 1888.The Victoria Peak Tram runs every day, including Sundays and public holidays, between 7:00 am and 12:00 midnight.
Aberdeen
On one of the southern tips of Hong Kong Island, Aberdeen is the largest satellite town with a population of about sixty thousand. It was a pirates' den two centuries ago and later turned into a simple fishing village. In recent years, with local high-rise building developments, Aberdeen has modernized, and now it becomes a vibrant waterfront resort for people from metropolitan Hong Kong.
How to get there： First take an underground to the Trading Plaza at ExitA of Central Station and walk to the bus station to take No.7 or No.20 bus to Aberdeen. Visitors can also get Aberdeen Bay by boat at Lamma Island.
Wanchai
Wanchai, formerly a favorite place for sailors to take R&R, is now a fabulous shopping centre and a popular tourist attraction. Some favorite places for people to visit in Wanchai are: the Hong Kong
Convention & Exhibition Center, the Museum, and Bauhinia Square.
The most notable place is the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. In the Center is Xinyi Hall where the ceremony marking Hong Kong's return to China in 1997 was held.
Causeway Bay in Wanchai is a popular shopping site. Here, both the dearest and the cheapest merchandise are on sale. Perhaps no other place has such a diverse marketplace as does Hong Kong. The shopping spots include Times Square, Japanese department stores, Lee Gardens, and the Hong Kong World Trade Centre.
Culture
Hong Kong is a fusion of many cultures. Remnants of its colonial past and the British culture and values, share space with the Chinese tradition. Hong Kong's official languages are Cantonese and English; signs in both languages are omnipresent throughout Hong Kong. The government, police and most workplaces and stores conduct business bilingually.
Dining Hong Kong, as the crossroads of eastern and western cultures, has developed a blend of eating habits incorporating Chinese, notably Cantonese, and western cuisines. It is has acquired a reputation as an "eating paradise".
Yum Cha (tea drinking) is highly recommended, and Dim Sum, is the highlight of Yum Cha. Dim Sum
ranges from shiu mai (steamed minced pork and shrimp dumplings), har gau (steamed shrimp dumplings), cha siu bau (barbecued pork buns), au yuk (steamed minced beef balls), fun gwor (steamed rice-flour dumplings filled with pork, shrimp, and bamboo shoots), and tsuen guen (deep-fried spring rolls filled with shredded pork, chicken, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts) to spareribs. Congee, for which traditional Hong Kong cuisine is famous for, should not be missed, either. Congee (thick rice porridge) with meat and preserved eggs, chicken, fish slice, seafood, gingko or vegetable, is not only delicious but also a tonic.
Shopping
Shopping areas are roughly divided into Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The highlights are Central, North Point, Admiralty and Causeway Bay in Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Jordan and Mong Kok in Kowloon together with Sheung Wan, an epitome of Hong Kong's unique culture.
Shops of identical category are usually clustered in a per-street-basis in Hong Kong. Nathan Road in Kowloon is for gold; Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mong Kok is for audio and video equipments; and Hollywood Road is famous for its antique shops.
Transportation
Air
Hong Kong International Airport is world class. Sixty airlines fly to 140 locations around the world. HKIA connects to 40 inland destinations and flies shuttles between Taiwan and the mainland. Airlines schedule 4 to 6 flights to Hong Kong daily from major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Ferry
Hong Kong's ferries are almost always faster and cheaper than the buses and provide fantastic photo opportunities. The Star Ferry crosses the harbour between Central and Kowloon, taking just 7 minutes. Ferries operate every 5-10 minutes. Adults over 65 years of age ride free and there are discounts for children under 12.
Taxi
Taxi fares start at around HK$15. If you go through any harbour tunnels, you must pay twice the toll as the driver's return toll has to be paid as well. Many taxis have a card that lists the top 50 destinations in English, Cantonese and Japanese.