Cities > Hong Kong
Overview
Chinese Name: 香港特别行政区Foreign Name: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
Climate Conditions: Subtropical monsoon climate
Airport: Hong Kong International Airport
Train Stations: Hung Hom Station, West Kowloon Station
Background
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, abbreviated as "HK," is located in southern China, east of the Pearl River estuary, across the sea from Macau to the west and adjacent to Shenzhen to the north, while facing the Wanshan Archipelago of Zhuhai to the south. Its territorial scope includes Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and 262 surrounding islands, with a land area of 1,114.57 square kilometers and a sea area of 1,640.40 square kilometers, totaling 2,754.97 square kilometers. Hong Kong is a highly prosperous free port and an international metropolis, often referred to as "New York, London, and Hong Kong" , and is the world's third-largest financial center. It is an important international finance, trade, shipping center, and global innovational technology center, as well as one of the world's freest economies and most competitive cities, ranked third among global cities by GaWC.Climate
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has a distinct maritime subtropical monsoon climate, with an annual average temperature of 23.3°C. Winter temperatures can drop below 10°C, while summer temperatures may rise above 31°C. Rainfall is concentrated from May to September, accounting for about 80% of the total annual precipitation. Overall, the precipitation is abundant throughout the year, with fragrant flowers in each season. Spring is warm and foggy, summer is hot and rainy, autumn is clear and pleasant, and winter is slightly dry and cold.Popular Music
Cantonese opera was a prevalent form of mass entertainment in Hong Kong during its early years, with the 1930s marking its golden age, making it the most common form of entertainment for Hong Kong's citizens at that time. During this period, Hong Kong's popular culture was closely tied to Guangzhou and had yet to form a unique Hong Kong culture. After the 1950s, Hong Kong absorbed popular culture from Shanghai, combined with long-standing influences from Europe and America. Starting in the 1970s, the Hong Kong vernacular style created by Sam Hui played a decisive role in promoting and developing "Cantonese pop songs."The 1980s not only saw a blooming of Cantonese pop songs in Hong Kong but also marked the peak of Hong Kong’s music scene. At that time, Hong Kong's pop songs led the trend of Chinese songs in Asia, capturing the hearts of residents in parts of the mainland and Taiwan, even if they did not understand Cantonese. Artists such as Sam Hui, Gu Jiahui, and Huang Zhan actively participated in songwriting, while the band Beyond persisted in creating original music, promoting local music. Singers like Xu Xiaofeng, Alan Tam, Leslie Cheung, and Anita Mui dominated the Hong Kong music scene. These artists had fans in various Chinese-speaking regions and starred in films, often guaranteeing box office success through their talent. Other popular singers and bands from the late 1980s to early 1990s included Luo Wen, Lam Chi-wing, Wang Jie, Chan Baoliu, Ye Qianwen, Linda Lin, Cheung Wai-ling, and the "Four Heavenly Kings" — Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, and Aaron Kwok. These artists and groups made significant contributions to the Chinese music scene. In the 2000s, artists like Nicholas Tse, Louis Koo, Eason Chan, and the group Twins were also exceptional talents.
Hong Kong Cinema
Hong Kong cinema began with the first Hong Kong film, "Zhuangzi Tests His Wife," in 1913. After World War II, many filmmakers and financial resources from the mainland came south, leading to the establishment of several film companies in Hong Kong and a flourishing market for Cantonese films in the 1950s. Among these, the "Wong Fei-hung" series, which started in 1949, produced more than 60 films and became the longest-running film series in history. For a time, East Asian governments allowed only Hong Kong films to be imported, leading to Hong Kong being dubbed the "Oriental Hollywood." Renowned figures such as Poon Yat-fu, Chow Yun-fat, Zhao Yazhi, Leslie Cheung, Bruce Lee, Wong Kar-wai, John Woo, Tsui Hark, Ann Hui, Fruit Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Nicholas Tse, and Stephen Chow gained international fame. The Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Hong Kong Film Awards, held annually in March and April, are major events in the Hong Kong film industry.Hong Kong Culture
The traditional foundation of Hong Kong culture is Cantonese culture, which has integrated elements from Fujian culture, Hakka culture, and Shanghai culture over time, alongside influences from Europe and America.Theatrical Arts
Cantonese opera is a representative traditional performing art of Hong Kong, forming an important mark of local culture. It has long been a preferred entertainment form among the people of Hong Kong, as it was in the past and continues to be today. There have been two peaks in the history of Cantonese opera performances in Hong Kong. The first peak occurred in the first half of the 20th century when, despite British colonial rule, there was no boundary in culture, at least in theater, between Hong Kong and Guangdong. The most influential Cantonese opera troupes were collectively known as "Provincial and Hong Kong Troupes," and almost all famous Cantonese opera actors called them "Da Lao Guan," freely moving between Hong Kong and Guangzhou and contributing to the common prosperity of Cantonese opera in both places. The second peak is ongoing, partly stimulated by UNESCO's recognition of Cantonese opera as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity," creating a new wave in Cantonese opera performances in Hong Kong. The HKSAR government places great importance on the development of Cantonese opera and has established the Cantonese Opera Development Consultative Committee and Fund to support research, promotion, and sustainable development of this art form.Customs
The Spring Flower Market is one of the most important traditional customs of the Chinese New Year for people in Hong Kong. Especially on New Year's Eve, almost every household visits the flower market to choose fresh flowers or potted plants, wishing for health, academic progress, and success in the coming year.Lion dancing, also known as "waking the lion," is traditionally performed during festivals or store openings in Hong Kong. Due to the dense population and crowded buildings, setting off firecrackers is not allowed during the Spring Festival. However, Hong Kong people seek vibrancy and festivity during the new year, so dragon and lion dances have become fixed programs since the last century. Watching dragon and lion dance performances has become a must-see event for many tourists visiting Hong Kong.
Hong Kong retains many traditional customs of the Dragon Boat Festival, such as dragon boat racing, the "paper dragon" ceremony, using dragon boats for sacrificial rites, dragon boat water sports, and eating zongzi (rice dumplings). In Hong Kong, dragon boat racing is referred to as "pa longzhou," and this custom has a long history. The earliest recorded dragon boat racing event took place in 1919 in the North Point area of Hong Kong Island and has since evolved into an annual racing competition, with international dragon boat races being held in recent years.
Urban Architecture
The urban landscape of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is dominated by modern architecture, with numerous skyscrapers lining both sides of Victoria Harbour. There are over 3,000 buildings taller than 90 meters. At least half of the world's top 100 residential buildings are located in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has the highest number of skyscrapers in the world, including the Bank of China Tower designed by American-Chinese architect I.M. Pei, and the HSBC Headquarters designed by architect Norman Foster. The architectural design of Hong Kong International Airport was also crafted by him.Religious Cultural Sites
Cultural sites include Man Mo Temple, Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay, and St. John's Cathedral on Hong Kong Island; Wong Tai Sin Temple, Hau Wong Temple, and Kwan Yin Temple in Kowloon; Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Che Kung Temple, and Po Lin Monastery in Sha Tin; Bamboo Forest Zen Temple, Tung Po Temple, and Tin Hau Temple in Tsuen Wan; Ching Shan Temple, Ching Chung Koon, and Mi Law Temple in Lung Mun; Ling Yu Temple and Yufeng Xian Gu in Yuen Long; and temples such as the Tin Hau Temple at Sai Kung, the Poh Ling Temple on Lantau Island, North Emperor Temple on Cheung Chau, and Tin Hau Temple on Ping Chau.Folk Cultural Sites
Sites include Kowloon Walled City, Song City, Song Wang Tai, and Lee Zhengwu's ancient tomb in Kowloon; Song Emperor Rock, the Red House in Tuen Mun, the ancestral home of the Tsang family, and the Six Nations Village in Sha Tin; the San Dong Wu Village and Haikan Village Houses in Tsuen Wan; Xin Tian Dafu Building, Jintian Jiqing Wei, Shuitou Village Heritage, and Juxing Tower in Yuen Long; as well as the Shang Yao Folk Museum in Sai Kung; historic forts on Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island, including the East Cheung Fort and Buddhist Hall on Donglung Island.Landmark Streets
Victoria Harbour, referred to as "Victoria Harbour," is a deep-water harbor located between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula, making it the largest harbor in Asia and the third-largest in the world. Due to its vastness and depth, it serves as a natural good harbor, and Hong Kong is therefore heralded as the "Pearl of the Orient," "One of the World's Three Major Natural Harbors," and "One of the World's Three Major Night Views." The name "Victoria Harbour" is derived from Queen Victoria of Britain. It is open year-round for free passage. The British recognized its potential to become a prime port in East Asia early on, later taking control of Hong Kong from the Qing government to develop maritime trade in the Far East. Victoria Harbour has consistently influenced Hong Kong's history and culture, shaping its economic and tourism development and being a key factor in Hong Kong's emergence as an international metropolis.The International Finance Centre (briefly IFC) is a well-known landmark representing Hong Kong as a world-class financial center, located at 8 Finance Street, Central, facing Victoria Harbour. Designed by renowned American architect César Pelli in collaboration with Hong Kong architect Ian W. H. Y. Wong, it has a total floor area of 436,000 square meters. It currently serves as the headquarters for Hang Lung Properties and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
The Tsing Ma Bridge, which opened in May 1997, has become a major arterial road connecting Lantau Island's Hong Kong International Airport with the city. It is not only a significant architectural symbol for Hong Kong but also the longest road and rail suspension bridge in the world. At 2.2 kilometers long, its impressive grandeur surpasses that of the Golden Gate Bridge in the United States.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum is established through collaboration between the Palace Museum and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, expected to open in late June 2022. Upon opening, over 800 precious cultural relics from the Palace Museum will be exhibited in nine galleries, with themes including the architecture of the Forbidden City, court life during the Qing Dynasty, and cultural heritage work, of which 20% are classified as first-class national cultural relics.
Specialty Cuisine
Among the diverse culinary offerings in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Cantonese cuisine persists as the primary culinary style, continuing its legacy for centuries. In the 2017 edition of the Hong Kong Michelin Guide, two restaurants serving traditional Cantonese cuisine were awarded the highest Michelin three-star rating. Traditional local dishes in Hong Kong are primarily based on Cantonese food, with "Poon Choi" being a traditional dish for festivals prepared by the local indigenous residents in the New Territories. Due to Hong Kong's proximity to the sea, seafood is also commonly featured, with dishes such as Typhoon Shelter Crab being developed as a specialty.The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region brings together a multitude of global cuisines, with areas like Mongkok, Causeway Bay, East Tsim Sha Tsui, and Kowloon City being lined with eateries. Restaurants with Asian flavors are found throughout Hong Kong, offering spicy Thai soup, rich Indian curry, Korean barbecue, Vietnamese spring rolls, Japanese sushi, and many other unique delicacies. Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong offer a variety of regional specialties, with Guangdong restaurants being particularly numerous. Other regional cuisines include Chaozhou, Hunan, Sichuan, Beijing, and Shanghai dishes, including vegetarian options emphasizing subtle flavors. Having traditional Cantonese dim sum for breakfast is also popular.
The dining scene in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is greatly influenced by foreign culinary cultures. The SoHo district in Central, Wanchai, and East Tsim Sha Tsui are known for their bars, and the Munich Beer Festival has been held annually on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui since 1991. In terms of fast food, American fast food is primarily operated by McDonald's and KFC, while Hong Kong has developed its own fast food options, with notable chains such as Cafe de Coral, Fairwood, and Maxim's Fast Food.
Traditional foods popular among the public have taken root in Hong Kong, such as nian gao (rice cake), zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), fish balls, egg tarts, little peach crisps, almond cakes, blind man cakes, chicken-shaped pastries, little coconut stacks, peanut cakes, sesame cakes, "bittersweet" pastries, chess cakes, fried rice cakes, grid cakes, peanut candy, bag noodles, egg waffles, peanut beans, and south fermented fragrant crispy pastries, among others.
