Eastern Asia · Asia

Hong Kong

Discover Hong Kong - a dazzling metropolis where bamboo-scaffolded skyscrapers crowd a harbor, dim sum is an art form, and East meets West on every neon-lit street corner.

Where Is Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is in Eastern Asia.

Where Hong Kong isEastern Asia

Plan a trip · 1 guide

Population 7.5M
Area 1,104 km²

Hong Kong is what happens when you cram 7.5 million people onto a cluster of islands and a thin strip of mainland that adds up to barely 1,100 square kilometers. The result is the most vertical city on Earth - a dizzying forest of skyscrapers that climbs steep hillsides and crowds around one of the world's most spectacular natural harbors. It has more buildings over 150 meters tall than any other city in the world. The skyline at night, viewed from Victoria Peak or across the harbor from Kowloon, is one of the great sights of the modern world.

For 156 years a British colony, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" framework. That history left behind a unique hybrid culture: double-decker trams rattle past traditional Chinese temples, barristers in wigs argue in courtrooms modeled on London's, and the dim sum is arguably the finest in the world. This is a city that takes food with deadly seriousness - there are more restaurants per capita than almost anywhere on Earth, and a street stall serving wonton noodles can be as legendary as any Michelin-starred establishment. Hong Kong's energy is relentless, its efficiency is staggering, and its harbor remains one of the great gateways between East and West.

At a glance

Language

Chinese (Cantonese) & English

Currency

Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)

Calling Code

+852

Drives On

Left

Internet

.hk

Timezone

HKT (UTC+8)

Script

Traditional Chinese & Latin

Government

Special Administrative Region of China

Independence

1997 (handover from UK to China)

Travel guides

Plan a trip to Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island towers and Victoria Harbour seen from Lugard Road on Victoria Peak on a soft, hazy day, with Kowloon across the water

Hong Kong · 5 days

5 Days in Hong Kong

A funicular up to the skyline, dim sum for breakfast, a ferry for pocket change and one day across the water in Macau.

Updated Oct 2026Read the plan →

By population

Largest cities in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island

The financial heart with Central's skyscrapers, Victoria Peak's views, and the lively streets of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay

1,300,000

Kowloon

Dense urban peninsula across the harbor with the famous Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, Temple Street night market, and endless shopping

2,200,000

New Territories

Surprisingly green northern region with country parks, walled villages, and wetlands stretching to the Chinese border

4,000,000

People

Famous people from Hong Kong

Bruce Lee
Film
Martial arts legend who revolutionized action cinema, born in San Francisco but raised in Hong Kong where he became a global icon
Wong Kar-wai
Film
Director of In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express, one of the most celebrated auteurs in world cinema
Jackie Chan
Film
Action star who invented a style of comedic kung fu filmmaking that made him one of the most recognized faces on the planet
Anita Mui
Music
Called the Madonna of Asia, she was Hong Kong's biggest Cantopop star and a celebrated actress before her early death in 2003
Sir Run Run Shaw
Film
Founded Shaw Brothers Studio which produced over 1,000 films, creating the Hong Kong martial arts film genre

Food

Traditional cuisine of Hong Kong

Dim Sum: Hong Kong's greatest culinary tradition - steamed, fried, and baked small dishes served from carts with tea in noisy, bustling restaurants
Wonton Noodles: Springy egg noodles in clear broth with shrimp-filled wontons, a dish so perfected in Hong Kong that the best versions are legendary
Char Siu: Cantonese barbecued pork glazed with honey and maltose until lacquer-red, served over rice or in buns
Egg Tart: Flaky pastry shell filled with silky custard, a Portuguese-Cantonese hybrid perfected in Hong Kong's bakeries
Roast Goose: Whole goose roasted until the skin shatters and the meat stays juicy, a Cantonese specialty elevated to an art in Hong Kong

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Hong Kong

Victoria HarbourCoast: One of the world's great natural harbors, the waterway between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon framed by an iconic skyline
Victoria PeakMountain: The 552-meter summit of Hong Kong Island offering panoramic views of the skyline, harbor, and outlying islands
Lantau IslandIsland: Hong Kong's largest island, home to the giant Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O fishing village, and miles of hiking trails
Hong Kong GeoparkNational Park: UNESCO-listed volcanic rock columns and coastal formations in the northeast, a dramatic geological surprise in this urban territory
Sai Kung PeninsulaCoast: Rugged eastern coastline with hidden beaches, coral communities, and hiking trails just an hour from the city center

Sport

Sports in Hong Kong

Rugby Sevens: The Hong Kong Sevens is one of the most famous rugby events in the world, a three-day festival of sport held annually since 1976
Horse Racing: Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses draw massive crowds, horse racing is deeply woven into Hong Kong's social fabric
Dragon Boat Racing: Ancient tradition that has become an international sport, with Hong Kong hosting one of the world's most prestigious dragon boat festivals

Facts

Did you know?

Hong Kong has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world, with more than 1,000 buildings taller than 100 meters
The Star Ferry has been crossing Victoria Harbour since 1888 and was named one of the top 50 experiences in the world by travel guides
Despite being one of the most densely populated places on Earth, 75% of Hong Kong's land is actually countryside and nature parks
Hong Kong's MTR subway system has an on-time rate above 99.9%, making it one of the most reliable transit systems in the world
The city has more Rolls-Royces per capita than anywhere else in the world
Bamboo scaffolding is still widely used for building construction in Hong Kong, preferred over metal for its flexibility and strength

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