Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China packed with an incredibly unique hybrid culture of Western and Asian influence. It’s a metropolitan city located in the eastern region of the Pearl River Delta.
As a popular tourist destination, there are many interesting facts about Hong Kong that every new visitor is interested in. If you are one of them, then let’s jump right into the details!
Contents
- 25 Facts about Hong Kong
- 1. Hong Kong Has the Highest Number of Skyscrapers
- 2. Hong Kong Has Many Islands and Territories
- 3. Hong Kong Has Two Official Languages
- 4. Hong Kong Has More Rolls Royces than Any Other City
- 5. The Majority of the Population Practice Confucianism
- 6. Most Apartment Buildings Do Not Have the 4th Floor
- 7. Hong Kong Has the Highest Pool and Bar in the World
- 8. Hong Kong Has the Longest Outdoor Escalator in the World
- 9. British Ruled Hong Kong for More Than 150 Years!
- 10. At First, Hong Kong Was Just Hong Kong Island
- 11. The Peak Tram in Hong Kong is Asia’s First Rail Tram
- 12. “Dim Sum” Originated in the Hong Kong Region
- 13. They Have an Annual Bun Festival for Ghosts!
- 14. Hong Kong’s Clock Tower Is a Historic Landmark
- 15. Majority of Hong Kong Is Rural
- 16. Big Buddha Is One of the Largest in the World
- 17. Hong Kong Is A Densely Populated City
- 18. Tsing Ma Bridge Is the Longest Rail Suspension Bridge
- 19. Hong Kong Is Proud to Own an Award-Winning Airline
- 20. Hong Kong Has a Special Way of Managing Typhoons
- 21. A Hong Kong Professor Discovered Fiber Optic Communication
- 22. Hong Kong International Airport = 20 Football Fields
- 23. Hong Kong Has Warm Waters
- 24. There Are 96 Billionaires in Hong Kong
- 25. Hong Kong University Is the Third-Best Institute in Asia
- 101 Facts about Hong Kong
- Summary
- Related Articles
25 Facts about Hong Kong
1. Hong Kong Has the Highest Number of Skyscrapers
Hong Kong has more than 8,000 stunning skyscrapers adorning its skyline. Its nearest rival is New York City, with half as many buildings over 14 floors! Currently, the International Commerce Centre (ICC) is Hong Kong’s highest skyscraper with 118 floors.
2. Hong Kong Has Many Islands and Territories
Hong Kong shares a border of 20 miles with China. It has many islands and territories, including Hong Kong Island, New Territories, and the Kowloon peninsula. The total area these islands cover is 679 sq. miles or 1,092 sq. km.
3. Hong Kong Has Two Official Languages
Given its history of British and Chinese cultures, Hong Kong has great influence from both regions. Even their official languages are English and Chinese (Cantonese). However, they use Traditional Chinese for writing instead of Simplified Chinese used in mainland China.
4. Hong Kong Has More Rolls Royces than Any Other City
Hong Kong is a former British colony that has enjoyed the extravagance of the British elite. The businessmen and officers who lived there used to cruise around in the latest automobiles of the time. Therefore there is an abundance of Rolls-Royces in Hong Kong.
5. The Majority of the Population Practice Confucianism
There are various religions practiced in Hong Kong, but Confucianism is the one followed by most Hong Kong citizens. They value kindness and respect each other by following this religion. The second most followed religion in Hong Kong is Taoism or Buddhism, followed by 28%.
6. Most Apartment Buildings Do Not Have the 4th Floor
In Chinese, the word four sounds like ‘death’ and is considered an unlucky number by residents. If you do not find the fourth floor in a Hong Kong apartment building, don’t be surprised.
7. Hong Kong Has the Highest Pool and Bar in the World
As you already know, ICC is the tallest building in Hong Kong; there’s another interesting fact about this skyscraper. Ritz-Carlton is in the top section of the building, with an outdoor swimming pool and bar on the 118th floor.
8. Hong Kong Has the Longest Outdoor Escalator in the World
One of the reasons for Hong Kong’s popularity is this escalator! It starts on Queens Road, Central, and runs for half a mile. The longest outdoor escalator in the world has three moving travelators and 20 escalators covering the entire length.
9. British Ruled Hong Kong for More Than 150 Years!
The English influence on Hong Kong comes from this historical event where the British colonized Hong Kong in 1842. The rule lasted for more than 150 years, but the Japanese occupied it for a short period from 1941 to 1945.
10. At First, Hong Kong Was Just Hong Kong Island
Great Britain took control of Hong Kong Island in 1841 during the First Opium War. After China’s defeat in 1842, the Qing Dynasty handed Hong Kong to the British. After the Second Opium War in 1960, China surrendered the New Territories to Great Britain, so Hong Kong became the size it is today.
11. The Peak Tram in Hong Kong is Asia’s First Rail Tram
The Peak Tram in Hong Kong opened in 1888 and became Asia’s first cable railway. Not only that, but it is also the steepest and oldest tram in the world. It carries 11,000 people every day to Hong Kong Island’s upper levels.
12. “Dim Sum” Originated in the Hong Kong Region
Technically, it originated in the South China region, where Hong Kong is now situated. It’s a major part of Hong Kong’s Cantonese cuisine used as a snack for tourists before it became a popular brunch item for everyone. ‘Dim Sum’ means ‘touch the heart,’ and they are tiny bites of food loved by locals and tourists alike.
13. They Have an Annual Bun Festival for Ghosts!
The people of Cheung Chau Island organize an annual bun festival between April and May. They build a tower of buns to keep the hungry ghosts of the island fed. They used to bake real versions before, but now the residents use plastic ones.
14. Hong Kong’s Clock Tower Is a Historic Landmark
The Clock Tower, made of red brick and granite, is the last remnant of the former Kowloon station. As part of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, this Clock Tower serves as a historical heritage for Hong Kong.
15. Majority of Hong Kong Is Rural
Despite it being a hub of skyscrapers and tall buildings, almost three-quarters of Hong Kong is rural. It has 24 parks, reservoirs, woodlands, and coastline. It’s the depiction of Feng Shui tradition followed by residents.
16. Big Buddha Is One of the Largest in the World
One of Hong Kong’s famous landmarks regularly visited by many tourists is Tian Tan Buddha, commonly called the Big Buddha. It’s situated on Lantau Island and is considered one of the biggest seated Buddhas in the world. It towers over people with a height of 34 meters.
17. Hong Kong Is A Densely Populated City
Hong Kong is the 8th most densely populated city in the world. It has a total of 68,400 people per sq mi. Before this, the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City was the most densely populated place globally, with 3.2 million people per sq. mi.
18. Tsing Ma Bridge Is the Longest Rail Suspension Bridge
The Tsing Ma Bridge connects Lantau Island with New Territories. It is 41 meters wide with a height of 206 meters. It stretches to 1,377 meters, making it the longest road and rail suspension bridge.
19. Hong Kong Is Proud to Own an Award-Winning Airline
Cathay Pacific is one of the major airlines in Hong Kong that has won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ award many times. It has also won several times at the ‘Hong Kong Customer Service Excellence Awards.’
20. Hong Kong Has a Special Way of Managing Typhoons
Hong Kong has a high-tech system for dealing with the typhoon season, which lasts from May to November. T1 means the storm is brewing, and T3 indicates the storm is gathering speed, so everyone should stay home.
If it’s a T8 or T10, this indicates winds up to 180km/hr, meaning public transport and businesses will be closed.
21. A Hong Kong Professor Discovered Fiber Optic Communication
Professor Charles Kao of Hong Kong was among the first scientists to contribute towards communication using fiber optic cables.
Fiber-optic communication is now a normal way of signal transmission for everyone globally, and we have Profession Kao to thank for it. He won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work.
22. Hong Kong International Airport = 20 Football Fields
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is the 8th busiest airport worldwide. It employs more than 78,000 people and has won over 80 ‘World’s Best Airport’ awards.
23. Hong Kong Has Warm Waters
The normal water temperature around Hong Kong is 29°C (84°F) during summers and 17°C (64°F) in winters. Swimming in these temperatures is enjoyable no matter the weather.
24. There Are 96 Billionaires in Hong Kong
It’s reported in a 2020 census that Hong Kong has 96 billionaires. It ranks 7th on the list of countries with the most billionaires and 2nd on the list of cities with the most billionaires.
25. Hong Kong University Is the Third-Best Institute in Asia
HKU was established in 1911 by the British, who were ruling the region at the time. It was the first university that the British established in East Asia. Today, it’s the third-best university in Asia and the most prestigious one in all of China.
101 Facts about Hong Kong
Today we’re heading over to Asia and the country of China, where you’ll find the best food, the prettiest lights, and perhaps less expectedly, the longest escalator in the entire world. That’s right; we’re off to the province of Hong Kong. So kick back and relax on 101 Airways as we learn 101 Facts about Hong Kong!
Summary
With all these amazing facts about Hong Kong, aren’t you feeling like packing your bags and visiting the city as soon as possible?
Indeed Hong Kong is one of the great treasures of Asia with the best blend of Western and Chinese cultures. It’s one of the most attractive tourist cities in the world, and we are glad we got to share some of its fascinating facts with you!
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Hi I’m Jay. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and live in Los Angeles, California. I have travelled to 23 countries so far and planning to go explore more countries soon! My Favorite trips so far have been to Israel, Japan, Rome, Iceland and Australia. I started this site to share my love of travel with everyone and build a community of like-minded, free thinking, free exploring people.
