Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, located in the southeast of the country. The incredible combination of Eastern and Western cultures makes this metropolis unlike any other. Contemporary skyscrapers, where business people cut multimillion deals, luxurious restaurants with exotic dishes, large amusement centers for children, exciting attractions, picturesque parts, and cozy beaches – it’s impossible to explore Hong Kong in just a couple of days. Still, you can easily fall in love at first sight.

Districts of Hong Kong

The first settlements on the territory of modern Hong Kong appeared back in the I century. The indigenous population was called Yue. Historians assume that these were the ancestors of the Viet and Thai people. Starting from the XI century, the progressive colonization of the territory by the Chinese began.

In 1395, Kowloon was founded here. It acted as a military fortress. Within the next 400 years, the city had been developing actively, building temples, and its population had grown. According to the data of 1821, there were around 70 courts of the local citizens on Hong Kong island. They were mostly into fishing, trading, producing incenses, and skin-diving.

The year 1839 was the beginning of the First Opium War. In 1840, the British government officially declared war on Chine. As a result, Hong Kong became a British colony on January 26, 1841. The so-called New Territories were detached in Hong Kong in 1898. Great Britain rented them for the nearest 99 years.

The People’s Republic of China managed to restore sovereignty over Hong Kong only in 1997. Till 2047, the city has the status of a special administrative region that gives it broadened legislative powers and control over the financial system, police, taxes, and migration policy.

The territory of Hong Kong is figuratively divided into four main parts: Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories, and the insular region.

However, according to the official administrative division, Hong Kong consists of eighteen districts. Each of them has its peculiarities and reasons to visit it:

• Central and West are the double names of the same district. It is a business and commercial part, where fashionable hotels and the largest shopping centers are located. A real paradise for shopaholics, because you can buy absolutely everything here. The highlight and the main decoration of the area is Victoria Peak, which you can climb by cable car or on foot. Transport connections in the center are excellent, but the prices for accommodation are higher.
• The East is located not far from the center and is quite popular among tourists. It offers a concentration of large shopping malls. At Times Square, you can see the fancy trends of a season, while in Happy Valley, you can enjoy a relaxed and calmer atmosphere.
• The South is famous for its amusement rides and entertainment for children and adults. However, there are usually fewer people here in comparison to the Center. The most popular places in this district include two swimming restaurants and Ocean Park amusement center.
• Wan Chai is one of the wealthiest and most prestigious districts. It attracts tourists with its pedestrian zone with boutiques, restaurants, nightclubs, and various entertainments. There are several fascinating attractions and iconic places here that deserve your attention.
• Kowloon City is located on the same-name island. It is considered to be one of the most fast-evolving districts in Hong Kong. Skyscrapers appear here like mushrooms after a rain. There are four universities, several beautiful parks, and an ancient fortress.

Other districts of Hong Kong are less popular but may also be interesting for tourists. If you are fond of electronics and adore flea markets, head to Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin. Those travelers who love beaches should pay their attention to Tuen Mun District. Tai Po District will delight all the people who want to relax in the SPA center. New Territories and the insular region also deserve attention. Modern architecture, shopping and amusement complexes, Disneyland, restaurants and nightclubs, ancient temples, and pagodas – you won’t get bored in any part of Hong Kong.

The best time to visit Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a humid climate of a monsoon type with a strongly marked downpour season. It lasts from May to September. At the same time, the temperature reaches 28-30°C. From the middle of October, an amount of precipitations decreases, and the weather gets colder — +15-18°C. As far as temperature and rains are concerned, November and December are considered to be the best months for visiting Hong Kong. In January and February, the weather is also dry, but it’s not that easy to capture those sunny days.

If you want to combine your trip to Hong Kong with some holidays or festivals, winter months are the best variants. They celebrate Chinese New Year and hold the largest Exhibition of Toys and Games in the world in January. February is the period of the Lantern Festival and Theatre Festival. In March, you can go to a film festival and a Gastronomic Art Festival, and in May tourists can attend an extraordinary Buns’ Festival. All holidays and cultural events in Hong Kong are loud, fun, and spectacular.

What should a tourist do in Hong Kong?

Needless to say that all Hong Kong’s attractions, which you can find in a guide-book, deserve your attention. However, it’s not an easy task to see all of them, especially when you are limited in time. If your vacation is almost over and it seems that you have missed something important and fascinating, you can refer to our list. So, here are the things every tourist must do in Hong Kong:

• Admire the views from Victoria Peak. Yes, you will have to stand in a long line to a cable railway or climb on foot. And, yes, the number of tourists per square meter is more than anyone would want. But the view from this location is so unforgettable that you simply stop noticing the crowd around you.
• Get to Tian Tan Buddha statue. Tourists have to take a ride on a cableway and overcome 268 steps to see the largest statue of Buddha in the world. Its size is astonishing! It can be seen even from the plane!
• Recollect your childhood in Ocean Park. A huge aquarium, zoo, zip line, roller coasters, and a wide range of other extreme attractions are waiting for you here. The park ranks #33 among the most frequently visited amusements in the world. It’s not surprising that the lines to the box offices are incredibly long!
• Enjoy dinner in a swimming restaurant. It offers a special ferry instead of a taxi, three floors with cozy halls, fresh seafood. The restaurant complex called “The Jumbo Kingdom” is so popular that even Queen Elizabeth II herself attended it.
• Take a tour on a Star Ferry. It’s one of the iconic landmarks of Hong Kong, and you can’t miss it. This trip will be exceptionally colorful and memorable in the evening.
• Take a ride in a two-story tram. That’s another peculiarity of Hong Kong. It’s one of the most exotic means of transport that is available only in three cities on the planet. The tramway goes through the center, so the passengers have an excellent opportunity to admire the views. It’s better to take this ride after 9 PM when there are fewer tourists.
• Throw a relaxing day on Lamma Island. Imagine its picturesque nature, beautiful beaches, cozy houses, authentic fish restaurants, and absolutely no cars. Hippies fancied this place in the 60s, but we are sure that you will also love this destination.
• Spend all your money on shopping. You can choose any shopping center, street or market — the selection of goods is enormous! They say that the Mong Kok district offers the lowest prices, but you can also check out Fa Yuen Street.

National peculiarities

In terms of population, Hong Kong ranks #103 in the world. However, it continues to grow. The overwhelming majority of the local citizens (95%) consider themselves to be Chinese. The remaining 5% are immigrants from Asian countries, Europe, and even North America. As a rule, representatives of different nationalities form ethnic communities and live within the boundaries of one district.

A trip to new countries and cities is not only about bright emotions, but also a little stressful because you have to learn to navigate in a completely different world. We prepared a list of useful recommendation to help the people who head to Hong Kong:

• Since 2009, there is a strict law in Hong Kong that forbids smoking in public places: restaurants and cafes, public transport stops, and even in lavatories. Public appearance with a cigarette makes yourself liable to a serious fine. There are specially equipped zones for smokers.
• You can and even should bargain in shops and markets in Hong Kong unless these are big shopping centers. When you buy some goods, and the price is set for weight, you should pay attention to the units used. The thing is that they often use zin and catty in China instead of a kilogram. They stand for 0.5 and 0.6 kg, respectively.
• The majority of cafes in Hong Kong offer their menus in Chinese only. It’s hard to gain an understanding, so one should start their acquaintance with local cuisine with fast food. Almost all establishments have long lines. You can grab a quick snack only in some restaurants. If you want to save money, you should order sets and not every dish separately. Another piece of advice concerns flatware. As a rule, guests are given only chopsticks with their order. So, if you are not sure about your skills, you should bring a plastic fork with you.
• The best way to save your budget during a trip to Hong Kong is to purchase a special adVenture Card. You can buy it on the official website. This card allows you to visit 15 sights for free or with up to 50% discount. The venture program also includes rides on a cableway, a tour bus, and a trip to Macau.
• Hong Kong has left-hand traffic. This rule concerns drivers, pedestrians in the streets, metro, underground passages. So, before you cross a street, first look right, and only then — left