An autonomous region of China, with its own distinct culture, and currency, Hong Kong is renowned as one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant places to visit in the Far East. A population of nearly seven million people fill just over a thousand square KM that is Hong Kong, making it one of the most densely populated places in the world.
Most visitors to Hong Kong stay in the main area of either Kowloon on the Mainland, or the city of Victoria on Hong Kong Island, but with over 200 other outlying islands and the expanse of the New Territories to explore, it is possible to get away from the hubbub of the city, and find places which while not exactly off the beaten track, are quiet and pleasant.
The bright lights of the twin cities facing each other across the Worlds busies deep water harbour are testament to a city that is geared toward making vast amounts of money, and finding ways to spend it. The nightlife is superb, with many bars and clubs to visit, and there are a number of truly world-class hotels to stay in.
With so much to offer, Hong Kong is a place that attracts millions of visitors every year, keen to experience the vibrancy of a culture that is unmistakably Eastern yet has borrowed a great deal from the centuries of British Rule, which only ended in 1997 with the kind of spectacle of pomp and ceremony that is rarely seen in the modern world.
There are bars, restaurants, nightclubs and theatres that are some of the most entertaining in the world. There are also plenty of parks to relax in and enjoy a spot of early morning Tai Chi with the locals. Hong Kong is a city of contrasts; where ancient and modern, East and west collide head on to create a unique, and beguiling place.
Facts for the Traveller:
Name: Special Autonomous Region of Hong Kong (China)
Capital: Hong Kong
Area: 1098 Sq KM
Population: 6.7 million
Language: English, Cantonese
Flight Time: 13 Hours from London
Currency: Hong Kong Dollar
