Hong Kong
Discover Hong Kong
Hong Kong (香港 Hēunggóng in Cantonese) is a place with multiple personalities. The population is mainly Chinese, but British influence is still quite visible. It has absorbed people and cultural influences from places as diverse as Vietnam and Vancouver and proudly proclaims itself to be Asia's World City. Hong Kong is a global financial hub, and has been a major destination for tourists and business people from around the world for at least a century. Today it is also a major tourism destination for mainland China's increasingly affluent population.
What to Experience in Hong Kong
Taste of Hong Kong...
Cuisine plays an important part in many peoples' lives in Hong Kong. Not only is it a showcase of various regional Chinese cuisines, but there are also excellent Asian and Western options, and creative fusion between the various cuisines. Although Western food is often adapted to local tastes, Hong Kong is a good place for homesick travellers who have had enough of Chinese food. Due to its history as part of that region, unsurprisingly, much of the local cuisine in Hong Kong is very similar to that of neighbouring Guangdong. That being said, over a century of British rule means that the British have also left their mark on the local cuisine, with cakes and pastries being fairly popular among locals. Hong Kongers are also somewhat less adventurous than their fellow Cantonese speakers in mainland China, with several exotic ingredients such as dog and cat meat being banned in Hong Kong. Indian immigrants brought over by the British have also left their mark on Hong Kong cuisine, and curry (咖喱) is a popular condiment. While authentic Indian curries can certainly be found, Hong Kong curries are generally adapted for the Cantonese palate, with the spice level dialed down drastically. It is also possible to find cuisine from practically every part of China, as many famous chefs fled from the mainland to Hong Kong to escape persecution by the communists in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War.
Culture & Religion
Religion
Many world religions are practised freely in Hong Kong, and discussing religion with local Hong Kong people is usually not a problem. Contemporary Hong Kong is, for the most part, rather secular in daily life, though you are expected to dress and behave in a respectful manner when visiting places of worship. As in many other parts of Asia, swastikas are used in Hong Kong as a religious symbol for Buddhists, as well as for the Hindu minority, and have no connection with Nazism or anti-Semitism whatsoever. When visiting Chinese temples, take off your hat. Avoid pointing at the statues of deities with your index finger. Use your thumb or an up-facing open palm instead. It is common for both strangers and acquaintances who are Christian to ask you to come to their church, although offence will not usually be taken if you decline. Some traditional beliefs can be observed everywhere.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Hong Kong into what it is today.
The area of Hong Kong was incorporated into China during the Qin Dynasty in 214 BC. In 1841, Great Britain defeated China's then-ruling Qing Dynasty in the First Opium War, gaining possession of Hong Kong Island. After the defeat of China in the Second Opium War, the Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to Great Britain in 1860. The Opium War Museum is located across the border in Dongguan. The New Territories were leased to Great Britain in 1898 for a term of 99 years. Hong Kong was only a sparsely-populated backwater prior to the arrival of the British, but grew rapidly into one of the world's most densely populated areas following the establishment of a free port under British colonial rule. When World War II broke out, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared that Hong Kong was an "impregnable fortress". However owing to Britain's main war effort in Europe, Hong Kong was not given sufficient resources for its defence. After two weeks of fighting, Hong Kong was surrendered to the Japanese on 25 December 1941, and subject to a brutal occupation that lasted until the end of the war. Upon the resumption of British control, Hong Kong experienced an astonishingly swift post-war recovery. After the communists took control of mainland China in 1949, many Chinese people, especially businessmen, fled to Hong Kong to escape persecution by the government. The British government took a hands-off approach in Hong Kong, and allowed a high degree of economic freedom....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's official system of measurement is metric, but both the traditional Chinese and British Imperial systems of measurements survive to some extent. In particular, the traditional Chinese system of weights continues to be widely used in wet markets, while the British square foot (平方呎/呎) is widely used in real estate advertisements. While mainland China metricated traditional Chinese units, Hong Kong continues to use the traditional versions of those units, meaning that one jīn (斤, gān in Cantonese) is 604.8 g in Hong Kong, not 500g like in mainland China. While the jīn is now divided into 10 liǎng (兩, léuhng in Cantonese) in mainland China, it is still divided into 16 liǎng in Hong Kong, meaning that the Hong Kong liǎng is 37.8 g, and not 50g. Public weighing scales in wet markets are required by law to display traditional Chinese, British Imperial and metric units side by side.
Climate
Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are usually hot and humid, lasting from June to September, with average highs of 32 °C (90 °F) and lows of 27 °C (81 °F). Some particularly hot days can see summer temperatures climb upwards to 34 °C (93 °F) and 29 °C (84 °F) at night. The humidity can make the summer temperatures feel much hotter, the apparent feels like temperature is typically around 38 °C (100 °F) during the day and 31 °C (88 °F) at night, but cases of extreme humidity and heat can make it feel like 46 °C (115 °F) and 38 °C (100 °F) at night. Such high feels like temperatures only need an air temperature of 36 °C (97 °F) with a dew point of 27 °C (81 °F). The area, like most of southern China, is affected by typhoons, which usually occur between June and September, sometimes as late as October. They seldom halt local business for more than a day. Winters in Hong Kong are generally very mild, with temperatures usually in the range 10–20 °C (50–68 °F).
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsHong Kong maintains a separate immigration system from that of Mainland China. Citizens of most Western countries do not need a visa to visit Hong Kong. The Hong Kong visa can be applied for at a Chinese diplomatic mission, but must be done so separately from the Mainland Chinese one; there is no single visa that serves both areas. A visa is required to enter Mainland China from Hong Kong and vice versa. Macau is also a separate jurisdiction with regards to visas. If you wish to re-enter Mainland China after visiting Hong Kong, make sure you have a multiple-entry Chinese visa. See Entry requirements to Hong Kong for a list of visa requirements or visa-free stays by country of citizenship. All holders of an APEC Business Travel Card can use the counters for Hong Kong residents at immigration control and can stay for up to 60 days in Hong Kong visa-free if their card has 'HKG' printed on the reverse....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Hong Kong has an excellent and cheap public transport system. Unlike in mainland China, Google Maps can be used in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has the world's highest use of public transport, with over 90% preferring the mode. The most convenient way to pay for this is the Octopus card, discussed below. Contactless payments with Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, and China T-Union are being progressively rolled out. However, as of September 2025, they're only accepted at the light blue gates of MTR stations, and are not available on the Airport Express, buses, trams or ferries. Most visitors are still better off buying an Octopus card. The Octopus Card (八達通, Bat Dat Toong in Cantonese) is a prepaid card that can be used to pay for public transportation such as the MTR, trains, trams, buses, mini-buses, and ferries. Most taxis do not yet accept it although more will in future.
Where to Stay
With more than 50,000 rooms available, Hong Kong offers a huge choice of accommodation from shockingly cheap digs to super luxury. However, budget travellers who are spoiled by cheap prices elsewhere in Asia are often shocked that the accommodation cost in Hong Kong is closer to that of London and New York. A 3% hotel accommodation tax is levied on hotel rooms, excluding service charges. You will pay the tax when you pay for hotel rooms. For long-term accommodation, be prepared to splurge as real estate prices in Hong Kong are among the highest in the world, and many locals are forced to live in cramped "shoebox" apartments due to the astronomical rents in the city. While it is possible to get a dorm bed for $120–150, a single room for $270–400, and a double room for $400–500, you should not expect anything in these rooms except a bed, with barely enough space in the room to open the door.
Money & Budget
The Hong Kong dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" (港元 or 港幣, ISO code HKD), is the territory's currency. In Cantonese, one dollar is known formally as the 圓 (yùn) and colloquially as the 蚊 (mān). It is subdivided into 100 cents (symbol ¢). In Cantonese, one cent is known as a 仙 (sīn), and ten cents is known as a 毫 (hòu). You can assume that the '$' sign used in this travel guide and in the territory refers to HKD. The HKD is also widely accepted in Macau in lieu of its own currency at a 1:1 rate. The official exchange rate is fixed in a range of HK$7.75-7.85 to US$1, although bank rates may fluctuate slightly. When exchanging currency at a big bank, be prepared to pay a small fixed commission, usually about $40 per transaction.
Language & Talk
The official languages of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are Chinese and English. However, the variety (dialect) is not determined in Basic Law article 9. Cantonese is the main language spoken by local Chinese residents. The Hong Kong variant is mostly the same as in Guangzhou across the border, but tends to incorporate some English words and slang, which frequently sounds strange to other Cantonese speakers (like "我唔sure得唔得", means "I am not sure if it's okay"). News broadcasts are in standard Cantonese. Like all Chinese languages, Cantonese is a tonal language and not easy for foreigners to master, although learning a few simple greetings will get you acquainted with locals much more easily.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world, with a large high-density population with diverse socio-economic backgrounds managed very effectively. The city experienced significant large-scale protests against new legislation with increasingly violent clashes with police between 2014 and 2019. The arbitrariness and broad applicability of the National Security Law imposed by China in 2020 has ended most public protest. Even female travellers usually do not encounter any problems roaming the streets alone at night. Violent crime is extremely rare, though petty crime occurs from time to time. Pickpockets operate in crowded areas; be particularly careful on public transport during peak hours. The Hong Kong Police Force is Hong Kong's law enforcement agency. Most officers wear light blue uniforms, though higher-ranking officers wear white uniforms. All police officers are required to carry their warrant cards while on duty, and must present it to members of the public on request.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Hong Kong
aerial photography of city buildings
Classic cityscape of Hong Kong during sunrise
Cityscape of the Victoria Harbour region of Hong Kong during a magical sunset
Hongkong skyline view from Victoria Peak
HONG KONG - DECEMBER 8, 2013: Illuminated Chinese red junk (Aqualuna) on Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, on a foggy Winter night.
Hong Kong city view
aerial view of cityscape
Hong Kong neons
If you use this online, please attribute with a link to my website (ryanmac.com) - Living in the shadow of this iconic Hong Kong vista, it’s sad it took me as long as it did to get this shot. That said, my cab broke down ascending the hill, I dropped (and cracked) my phone climbing out of it, and I had to run the last mile. But I got the shot. Was it worth it? I dunno.
The iconic Hong Kong skyline.
aerial photography of city buildings
Classic cityscape of Hong Kong during sunrise
Cityscape of the Victoria Harbour region of Hong Kong during a magical sunset