Hong Kong - The Facts

Size: 423 square miles (1096sq km) Hong Kong consists of 236 islands and is divided into four district areas: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the Outlying Islands. Capital: Victoria (commercial centre) Language: Chinese and English. Cantonese is the most widely spoken Chinese language, but Mandarin is growing in importance.
Currency: Hong Kong dollar
Weather: Cool and humid in the winter, hot and rainy in the summer.

Hong Kong, until recently a British Colony, is once again part of China. It's made up of 236 islands and a bit of mainland peninsula, but most visitors base themselves in one of the densely populated parts - glitzy Hong Kong Island or nearby Kowloon. Winter and early spring are the best times to visit to avoid typhoons and heavy rain.

Hong Kong - Attractions

Honk Kong Island

If you like high rise buildings, shopping and crowds you'll be in your element here. To get your bearings take the funicular up Victoria Peak where's there's a viewing platform and the Peak Galleria shopping arcade. If you're feeling energetic there's a hike to the top of the real peak. Or you can see it all from The Bank of China Tower, a building which has the sort of unusual angles that worry the feng shui experts.

The Central district is where the banks, shops and expensive hotels are. The Times Square Retail Plaza has nine floors of shops. The four storey Central Market is a completely different shopping experience, alluring food alongside stalls selling things you'd never think of eating. Sheung Wan is the place for traditional markets and specialist shops and Wan Chai is the nightlife district.

To escape the bustle, take yourself to the park where artificial lakes, waterfalls, a tai chi garden and aviary offer some respite. There's also the genteel Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware here. Other retreats include the Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan and the beaches at Stanley, which is also popular for its market.

Kowloon

This is on a peninsula of the Chinese mainland. Most of the hotels and shops are at the southern end along with other attractions like the Space Museum and the Museum of Art. The Waterfront Promenade is good for a jog or a stroll providing excellent views of the harbour and across to Hong Kong Island. It's worth going to Kowloon Park for the Museum of History which covers the last 6,000 years. One of the area's more exotic sights is the Yuen Po Street Bird Market, which sells songbirds in ornate cages. Close by there's a flower market and a goldfish market. The Star Ferry boats are a regular sight and a trip on them provides the best harbour and waterfront views.

The New Territories

This area can be explored in a day or you can take your time and indulge in some hiking, camping cycling or swimming. Plover Cove Reservoir is popular and the MacLehose Trail stretches 62 miles from Tuen Mun to Pak Tam Chung. If you're missing the shopping, Tuen Mun and Shaantin have huge malls.

Many of the outlying islands are uninhabited rocks. Lantau, the largest, is home to the airport and connected the mainland by a bridge. It has some interesting monasteries, good beaches, a 3,000 foot peak and 43 mile walking trail. Lamma and Cheung Chau also have pleasant beaches, but all the islands get crowded at weekends.

Hong Kong - Activities

Shopping

This is a favourite pastime, but rip offs are just as common as bargains. The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) publish a free Official Shopping Guide and advise sticking to places which display the HKTA logo.

Hiking

Visitors don't generally come to Hong Kong for the great outdoors, but if you feel the need to stretch your legs there is the chance to do so. Lantau Island has a peak you can climb and you can walk the MacLehose Trail in the New Territories.

Sharp Peak on the Sai Kung Peninsula in the northeastern corner of the New Territories, is relatively wild with deep ravines, woods, and windswept ridges. It's quite a scramble to the summit and you need to be sure footed, but the views are magnificent.

Cycling

This is feasible in the New Territories and bikes can be hired round Tolo Harbour.

Water sports

There are good beaches, particularly on the outlying islands with lots of opportunities for windsurfing and sailing. Equipment can be rented at Stanley Beach and Tun Wan on Cheung Chau.

Hong Kong - Entertainment

The nightlife can be even more hectic than day time activities. Lan Kwai Fong, in Central has the largest concentration of bars and restaurants. Soho (South of Hollywood Road) is more chic and Chinese locals tend go to the bars and clubs of Tsim Sha Tsui. HK Magazine, available everywhere, is good for listings. Wanchai has a sleazy image but if you're yearning for an Irish pub there's a Delaney's here.

In Kowloon, Rick's Café on Hart Avenue has some of the longest queues on Saturday night, so must have something worth waiting for. Ned Kelly's Last Stand is a popular Australian pub complete with meat pies.

Live music is usually found at HITEC or the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Chinese New Year with spectacular firework displays, parades and flower festivals is usually in early February and followed by the Spring lantern festival.

The Hong Kong Arts Festival is held February to March and there's a Fringe Festival too.

The Dragon Boat Festival is usually in June The main competitions take place on Shing Mun River at Sha Tin in the New Territories where teams race elaborately decorated boats to the beat of heavy drums.
The Festival of Asian Arts in October/November celebrates the traditional arts of the region as does the Hong Kong Folk Festival in November.
The Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival runs from October to December.