Hong Kong - Useful information for your trip
Discover with Vivitravels Hong Kong, in Asia. It is one Special Administrative Regions. The city boasts the highest concentration of skyscrapers in the world.
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China with Macaw and it is situated on the southern coast of China. The city is just south of the Tropic of Cancer, the climate is sub-tropical and it is subject to monsoons. Winter is very mild and relatively dry, while summer is pretty hot and wet. Sometimes Hong Kong is hit by typhoons.
In 1839 the refusal by the Qing dynasty authorities to import opium unleashed the First Opium War between Britain and China. Hong Kong island was occupied by the Brits in January 1841. With the treaty of Nankin, signed in August 1842, Hong Kong was formally assigned for 100 years to the United Kingdom. Only in 1997 did Hong Kong become part of the People's Republic of China, dropping the 156 years of domain of the British Empire.
The territory of Hong Kong is defined only by the homonymous city. The city has the biggest skyscrapers concentration in the world and it is an important centre for modern architecture. The economy is dynamic and deeply linked to international trade. Hong Kong has an internationally important role also in the banking sector and it is considered as one of the tax havens of the world. The natural resources and raw materials availability is limited, but this does not compromise the city's economy. Hong Kong has always had economic and trade connections with the People's Republic of China. In 2001 the sector of services represented 86.5% of GDP. The territory, thanks to great infrastructures and to a sophisticated banking sector, attracts investments of many international companies.
Hong Kong has always been described as a place where "the East meets the West", this reflects the cultural mix of Chinese roots of the territory with the influences of the past period as a British colony. The city is a proper "entertainment centre". Its movies based on martial arts got a high level of popularity between the 60s and the 70s. Some artists coming from Hong Kong succeeded in Hollywood, like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
Hong Kong government supports cultural institutions like the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
