Welcome to Hong Kong

Hong Kong welcomes with an iconic skyline, a legendary kitchen, and lush, protected nature where rare birds and colourful traditions thrive.

Hong Kong (香港 Heūng Góng in Cantonese, meaning Fragrant Harbor) is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. It is a place with multiple personalities as a result of being both Cantonese Chinese and having been under British colonization. Today, the former British colony is a major tourism destination for China's increasingly affluent mainland population. It is an important hub in East Asia with global connections to many of the world's cities. It is a unique destination that has absorbed people and cultural influences from places as diverse as Vietnam and Vancouver and proudly proclaims itself to be Asia's World City.

Hong Kong is one of the two Special Administrative Regions (SAR) of China (the other being Macau). Before the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, Hong Kong had been a British colony for nearly 150 years. As a result, most infrastructure inherits the design and standards of Britain. During the 1950s to 1990s, the city-state developed rapidly, becoming the first of the "Four Asian Tigers" through the development of a strong manufacturing base and later a financial sector. Hong Kong is now famous for being a leading financial center in East Asia, with the presence of local and some of the most recognized banks from around the world. Hong Kong is also famous for its transition port, transporting a significant volume of exports from China to the rest of the world. With its political and legal independence, Hong Kong is known as the Oriental Pearl with a twist of British influence in the culture.

Hong Kong is much more than a harbor city. The traveler weary of its crowded streets may be tempted to describe it as Hong Kongcrete. Yet, this territory with its cloudy mountains and rocky islands is mostly a rural landscape. Much of the countryside is classified as Country Park and, although 7 million people are never far away, it is possible to find pockets of wilderness that will reward the more intrepid tourist.

Entry Requirements

Hong Kong maintains a separate and independent immigration system from that of mainland China and Macau. If required, the Hong Kong visa has to be applied for separately from the mainland Chinese one, and there is no single visa that serves both areas. Similarly, if required, the Hong Kong visa has to be applied for separately from the Macau one. There are border checks when traveling between mainland China and Hong Kong, and also between Hong Kong and Macau. If you wish to enter Hong Kong from mainland China, then re-enter mainland China, make sure you have a multiple-entry Chinese visa.

All visitors (regardless of whether visa-free or not) may be required to demonstrate evidence of adequate funds and confirmed booking for the onward journey.

Visitors with a work/study/residence visa are considered Hong Kong residents, and are able to use the Hong Kong residents counters at immigration.

See this Hong Kong Immigration Department webpage for the most up-to-date list of visa requirements/exemptions by country of citizenship.

Some of the unique and traditional spots you should visit :

Po Lin Monastery

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Monastery in Hong Kong

Po Lin Monastery is a Buddhist monastery, located on Ngong Ping Plateau, on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. The monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland and was initially known simply as "The Big Hut". It was renamed to its present name in 1924. Wikipedia

Address: Ngong Ping, Hong Kong

Opened: 1906

Dedicated to: Guanyin

Phone: +852 2985 5248

Burials: Anita Mui, Brook Bernacchi

Did you know: The Tian Tan Buddha of Po Lin is a gargantuan bronze statue of Buddha located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, China. famouswonders.com