About Hong Kong

Hong Kong or “Fragrant Harbour” is situated on the south-eastern coast of China and covers an area of 1,104 square kilometres (425 square miles). It comprises Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, which includes 262 outlying islands with a total of 7.2 million inhabitants and an area of 2,700 km². Travel in the spring and you can expect pleasant temperatures with some humidity. During the summer, the weather tends to be hot, humid and sunny, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The daytime temperature may exceed 30°C. Autumn is a beautiful time to visit, with pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Winter tends to be cool, dry and cloudy, with average temperature around 15°C in urban areas.

Getting around town is incredibly easy despite this amazing population density. The Mass Transit Railway, or MTR, was founded in 1979 and comprises 155 stations on nearly 220 km of rails. The system is air-conditioned, clean and very safe. A traditional Tramway that started operating in 1903 uses double-decker trams. It covers parts of Hong Kong Island on a circular route around the Happy Valley Racecourse and is a great way to see some of the older parts of town. A network of busses also operates in and around the New Territories, allowing residents and visitors alike to reach destinations such as the Aberdeen Fishing Village. 

Since Hong Kong is built around a deep harbour, the transportation system would not be complete without ferries.  A must-see, these ferries provide a great view of both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island from the water! 

Transport is relatively inexpensive, particularly with the versatile Octopus card. This tap-enabled card is accepted on of all the above systems and counts down based on the distance travelled.  Easily reloaded and with no expiry date, this card is an invaluable travel companion. Taxis are also reliable and affordable. When you are ready to travel, download the app: “My Hong Kong Guide” - it is an excellent way to plan your route to features and attractions.

For more information on travel to the area, please visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board website:  www.DiscoverHongKong.com