HONG KONG

Hong Kong is city-state a situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. Hongs Kong has a population of seven million people making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world. As one of the world's leading international financial centres, Hong Kong has a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade, and the currency, Hong Kong dollar, is the ninth most traded currency in the world. The lack of space caused demand for denser constructions, which developed the city to a centre for modern architecture.

Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Area:
1,104 sq km

Geography - note: composed of more than 200 islands

Regional border: China 30 km

Coastline: 733 km

Climate:
subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Population:
7,122,508 (July 2011 est.)

Ethnic groups:
Chinese 95%, Filipino 1.6%, Indonesian 1.3%, other 2.1% (2006 census)

Religions:
eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Languages:
Cantonese (official) 90.8%, English (official) 2.8%, Putonghua (Mandarin) 0.9%, other Chinese dialects 4.4%, other 1.1% (2006 census)

Getting to Hong Kong
Hong Kong maintains a separate and independent immigration system from that of mainland China. This means that, unlike mainland China, most Western and Asian visitors including Americans, Japanese and Singaporeans do not need to obtain visas in advance. However, it also means that a visa is still required to enter mainland China from Hong Kong. Those who require visas should apply for one at a Chinese embassy, but note that the Hong Kong visa has to be applied for separately from the mainland Chinese one; there is no single visa that serves both areas. Anyone arriving at Hong Kong International Airport who requires an onward visa for mainland China can proceed to the desk manned by China Travel Services HK (CTS) found at the arrivals area. A photograph will be required and the staff will be happy to accommodate you. Note that leaving the mainland for Hong Kong is considered to be leaving China, so you should apply for a multiple entry visa if you wish to enter Hong Kong, then re-enter mainland China.

Hong Kong International Airport is the main port for visitors to Hong Kong by air. There are many direct flights to Hong Kong from every continent in the world. Most major cities in Oceania, Europe and North America are all served with at least one daily flight, and flights between Hong Kong and other major Asian cities are also frequent. Cathay Pacific operates one of the longest air routes in the world, linking Hong Kong and New York (JFK). There are also flights between Hong Kong and several mid-Pacific islands and nations.

You may also wish to consider to travel by train or boat as there are numerous ways to get to Hong Kong Island. MTR Corporation runs regular Intercity Passenger Train services from Hung Hom station on Kowloon side. The destinations are Guangzhou (East), Dongguan, Foshan and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province, as well as Beijing and Shanghai.

Customs regulations:
Entry : Tourists must fill out a baggage declaration form (in two copies) and hand it in to customs, retaining the carbon to show upon exit. Personal belongings will be admitted duty free, including food, two bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes. Wristwatches, radios, tape recorders, cameras, movie cameras, and similar items may be brought in for personal use but cannot be sold or transferred to others and must be brought out of China. Gifts for relatives or friends in China, or articles carried on behalf of other, must also be declared. Visitors can bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency and Chinese renminbi traveler's checks, and the unspent portion can be taken out. Bringing in the following articles is prohibited :
1. Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds
2. Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
3. Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash
4. Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc. which are detrimental to China's politics, economy, culture, and ethics
5. Poisonous drugs, habit-forming drugs, opium, morphine, heroin, etc.
6. Animals, plants and products thereof infected with or carrying germs and insect pests
7. Unsanitary foodstuffs and germ-carrying food-stuffs from infected areas
8. Other articles the import of which is prohibited by state regulations

Exit: On leaving China, tourists must again submit the baggage declaration form for customs inspection (the second copy). Travelers by ship are exempted. Items purchased in China with RMB converted from foreign currencies may be taken out or mailed out of the country after receipts are presented for customs inspection. In cities where a Customs Office does not exit, this can be arranged through the local Friendship Store. Taking out the following articles is prohibited :
1. Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds
2. Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts
3. Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash and negotiable securities in RMB
4. Unratified foreign currency, foreign notes or drafts
5. Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc. which are detrimental to China's national security
6. Rare and precious copies of books about Chinese revolution, history, culture and art that are not for sale
7. Valuable animals, plants, and seeds
8. Precious metals, pearls, and jewels (things declared to the customs are exempted)
9. Other articles the export of which is prohibited by state regulations

Health and safety:
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should always carry a special note from their physicians certifying in detail the treatments in progress or that may be necessary.

Electricity:
Electricity in Hong Kong is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Hong Kong with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Outlets in China generally accept 2 types of plug: Flat blade plug and V-shaped flat prongs. If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter. Depending on how much you plan to travel in the future, it may be worthwhile to get a combination voltage converter and plug adapter.

Emergency numbers in China:

Emergency Service (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 999

General Police Enquiries : 2527 7177

Department of Health : 2961 8989


Buying in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong dollar is the territory's official currency. In Chinese, one dollar is known formally as the yuen and colloquially as the men in Cantonese. Automated Teller Machines (ATM's) are common in urban areas. They usually accept VISA, MasterCard, and to certain degree UnionPay. Maestro and Cirrus cards are widely accepted also. Credit card use is common in most shops for major purchases. Most retailers accept VISA and MasterCard, and some accept American Express as well. Maestro debit cards however are not widely accepted by retailers. The 'chip and pin' system for credit card authorisation is not used in Hong Kong and so customers must sign for their purchased goods.

Fierce competition, no sales tax and some wealthy consumers all add up to make Hong Kong an excellent destination for shopping. Popular shopping items include consumer electronics, custom clothing, shoes, camping equipment, jewellery, expensive brand name goods, Chinese antiques, toys and Chinese herbs/medicine. There's also a wide choice of Japanese, Korean, American and European clothing and cosmetics but price are generally higher than in their respective home countries. Most shops in Hong Kong's urban areas open at about 10AM until 10PM to midnight every day.

China has five major annual holidays:

New Year's Day - January 1

Chinese New Year - First day of the first moon (Chinese calendar)

Second day of the first moon (Chinese calendar)

Third day of the first moon (Chinese calendar)

Ching Ming Festival - April 5 (April 4 in leap years)

Good Friday

Day following Good Friday (Holy Saturday)

Easter Monday

Labour Day - May 1

Eighth day of the fourth moon (Chinese calendar)- Buddha's Birthday

Fifth day of the fifth moon (Chinese calendar) - Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng Festival)

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day - July 1

Sixteenth day of the eighth moon (Chinese calendar)- Day following the Mid-Autumn Festival

National Day - October 1

Ninth day of the ninth moon (Chinese calendar) - Chung Yeung Festival

Christmas Day - December 25

Day following Christmas (Boxing Day)- December 26

These are not one-day holidays; nearly all workers get at least a week for Chinese New Year, some get two or three, and students get four to six weeks. For Labor Day and National Day, a week is typical.

World Cultural Heritage sites:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Cultural Heritage List is a short index of some of the world’s most precious sites. It is no small feat to satisfy the stringent criteria of the UNESCO for any site to be included on this list. Monuments, groups of buildings, works of man or combined works of nature and man have to be of “outstanding value from the point of view of history, art or science.” This is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China. China has 40, ranking third in the world. These sites comprise some of the most essential part of China's valuable and rich tourism resources. Of these 40 there are 28 cultural heritage sites, seven are natural heritage sites, and four are cultural and natural (mixed) sites.

Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including the Forbidden City and Mukden Palace
- Beijing (the Forbidden City) and Shenyang (Mukden Palace)

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor - Xi'an, Shaanxi province

Mogao Caves - Dunhuang, Gansu province

Mount Taishan - Shandong province

Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian - Beijing municipality

The Great Wall - Northern China

Mount Huangshan - Anhui province

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area - Sichuan province

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area - Sichuan province

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area - Hunan province

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, including the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka - Lhasa, Tibet

Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples in Chengde - Hebei province

Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion - Qufu, Shandong province

Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area - Sichuan province

Lushan National Park - Jiangxi province

Ancient City of Ping Yao - Shanxi province

Classical Gardens of Suzhou - Jiangsu province

Old Town of Lijiang - Yunnan province

Summer Palace - Beijing

Temple of Heaven - Beijing

Dazu Rock Carvings - Chongqing municipality

Mount Wuyi - Fujian province

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun - Anhui province

Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
including the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum - Beijing

Longmen Grottoes - Luoyang, Henan province

Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System - Sichuan province

Yungang Grottoes - Datong, Shanxi province

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas - Yunnan province

Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula

Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom - Jilin province

Historic Centre of Macau - Macau

Yin Xu - Henan province

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Sichuan province

Kaiping Diaolou and Villages - Guangdong province

South China Karst - Yunnan, Guizhou provinces and Chongqing municipality

Fujian Tulou - Fujian province

Sanqingshan - Jiangxi province

Mount Wutai - Shanxi province

Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” - Henan province

China Danxia - Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Guizhou provinces