Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. With 7.5 million residents in a 1,114-square-kilometre territory, Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world.
Typical weather
1981–presentCity Rhythm
measuredOpening hours, by kind of place
median across mapped venuesVital absurdities
measured · the Anti-AwardsSame time system
by rhythmWhat to do each season
3dry-mild
the comfortable dry window; openmeteo mean 16.0-24.8 °C (Jan coolest 16.0); dry (Oct-Mar, Dec driest 0.9 mm/day); per Wikipedia 'autumn is the sunniest season' and winters are 'short, mild and usually sunny at the beginning'
- the best season for the outdoors — the Peak, the country parks (40% of the territory) and the hiking trails (the MacLehose Trail) are at their best
- the dry mild autumn-winter is the high season for tourism and outdoor street life
spring
cloudy and warming; openmeteo mean 23.2-25.9 °C; humidity and rainfall rising (Apr 4.6 → May 7.1 mm/day); per Wikipedia 'spring is generally cloudy'
- the cloudy spring — the pre-monsoon build-up; the lead-in to the hot humid summer
summer
long, hot and very humid; openmeteo mean 27.4-28.3 °C (Jul 28.3); wet (Jun wettest 9.7 mm/day, Aug 8.9); typhoons 'occur most often then, sometimes resulting in floods or landslides'
- typhoon season — the elevated walkway / air-conditioned mall / MTR layer (per SCHEMA §4.1) becomes the operative civic layer; the street is often impractical
- the humid climate 'intensifies summer heat'; life shifts into the sheltered, air-conditioned network
What it is known for
Important moments in a year
Hong Kong Sevens
- the Hong Kong Sevens — the territory's flagship rugby event
- a major visitor draw
2008 Olympics Equestrian
- Hong Kong hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics equestrian events
1997 Handover
- the territory was handed over from the United Kingdom to China under 'one country, two systems'
Dragon Boat Tuen Ng
- dragon boat races for the Tuen Ng Festival — 'revived as a modern sport' by the Tourism Board; the first modern competition in 1976
On the record
source-trackedHong Kong has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), characteristic of southern China, closely bordering on a tropical monsoon climate.
Summers are long, hot, and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Typhoons occur most often then, sometimes resulting in floods or landslides. The humid climate of Hong Kong intensifies summer heat.
Autumn is the sunniest season, whilst spring is generally cloudy.
Hong Kong has the world's largest number of skyscrapers, with 554 towers taller than 150 metres.
Over 90% of daily trips made by its residents are made with public transport, the highest percentage in the world.
The Central and Western District has an extensive system of escalators and moving pavements — the Mid-Levels escalator system, the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system.
Dim sum, as part of yum cha (brunch), is a dining-out tradition with family and friends. Local versions of Western food are served at cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafes).
Hong Kong is the world's third-ranked global financial centre behind New York City and London.
About 40% of the remaining land area is country parks and nature reserves.
Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world.
The city has a severe amount of income inequality, which has risen since the handover.
Air pollution in Hong Kong is considered a major problem.
Our own long-form profile of Hong Kong — 256 pp. Not published yet.