Page 11 - Hong Kong Destination Guide PRINT

THE LAND Topography Hong Kong stands on volcanic terra firma, with its Hong Kong island sits just south of the Tropic of Cancer landscape dominated by hills and mountains. A on similar latitudes as Calcutta, Havana, and Hawaii, crest lining from the northeast to southwest forms and sharing the same longitude as Wuhan in central China, Bali, and Perth. Surrounding the country's the backbone of Hong Kong. Kowloon peninsular PAGE 3 southern coast is the South China Sea. and the northwestern New Territories are mainly Population | Time | Visas flat areas. Three percent of Hong Kong's total land Insurance | History area is agriculturally cultivated and this is mostly at Hong Kong is a small-sized island covering 1,095 sq. PAGE 4 km (423 sq. miles). However, there are currently many the New Territories large alluvial plains. History & Government reclamation projects at hand, thus expanding the land A narrow piece of flat land between the mountains PAGE 5-9 area. Hong Kong never used to be as big as it is now. and the sea along the north shore in Hong Kong is Island Areas From 1851 to 1997, the total area of land reclaimed from the sea measured to 60 sq. km (23 sq. miles). In area, the vacated by most of the country's population, PAGE 9 island of Hong Kong is 80 sq. km (31 sq. miles), whereas the south shore has luxury residential Language buildings and some nice beaches, such as Stanley Kowloon peninsular is 47 sq. km (18 sq. miles), the PAGE 10 New Territories is 794 sq. km (306 sq. miles), and the and Repulse Bays. There is a tunnel that was built Climate & Weather remote islands total 175 sq. km (67 sq. miles). through the mountains, which links the north and south shores. PAGE 11 The country consists of a peninsular protruding from The Land southeastern China and hundreds of islands scattered The highest peak is Ta Mo Shan, located in central PAGE 12 off the coast. Kowloon and the New Territories make New Territories at 957 meters (3,140 ft) above sea Currency | Credit Cards level, while the lowest is Lo Chau Mun at 66 meters Changing Money | Tipping up the peninsular, while south off the mainland is (217ft). Victoria Peak, or 'The Peak', is only 552 Hong Kong Island and various other remote islands. PAGE 13 meters (1,811ft) but its spectacular view of Victoria Etiquette | Health & Deep waters surround Hong Kong, and with its wide Harbour, Kowloon, and the Central and Wan Chai Vaccinations strip of Hong Kong Island has made an harbors protected by mountains in the north and south, international reputation for itself. PAGE 14 the region is favorable as a passing point for ships. Its Communications | What to Pack geographical location between the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean make it a In total, there are about 234 outlying islands in the PAGE 15 country, with the island of Hong Kong being the strategic channel for sea traffic in Asia and the world. Shopping | Customs most famous and populated. Even then, Hong Kong Bartering is not reputed to be the largest island around. PAGE 16-17 Lantau Island is by far the biggest of Hong Kong's Food & Drinks islands. It has now surfaced from its remoteness to becoming the site of the new, high-tech Chek Lap PAGE 18 Kok international airport. Culture & The Arts | Religion Although Hong Kong dwells on volcanic plains, there are only minor seismic activities, occasionally causing tremors. To date, no major earthquakes have been reported, but the last that occurred in the region was back in 1874, with a magnitude of 5.75 on the Richter scale, which caused only minor damages.