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Hong Kong Overview

Being one of the most visited cities in Asia and all over the world, the charm of Hong Kong did not fail to amaze me when I set foot in this vibrant city. As it is my first time visiting HKG (and definitely not the last), I expected nothing but a warm bowl of noodles while busking along the humid Victoria Harbour and seeing the city’s iconic skyline.

Read also: Hello Hong Kong | 25 Things to experience in Asia’s World City (Part 1 of 3)

Here are some stuff you need to know first before visiting Hong Kong!

Geographic Location

The Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong (HKSAR) is located on China’s southern coast, 60 km east of Macau, and located on the east side of the mouth of the Pearl River estuary.

GPS Coordinates

The GPS coordinates of HK are 22.3193° N, 114.1694° E

Nickname/s of HKG

• “Asia’s World City”
• “Pearl of the Orient”
• “Fragrant Harbour” (in Chinese)

Fast Facts and Trivia about Hong Kong

• The world’s longest covered escalators, the Central Mid-Levels Escalator is 800 meters long and traverses numerous streets and alleys connecting downtown Central and the Mid-Level neighborhoods
• The famous Dim Sum originated in HKG
• The famous food / snacks here are pineapple buns and egg tarts
• The Tian Tan Buddha is one of the world’s largest seating buddhas with a height of 34 meters and weighs around 250 tons
• Hong Kong has the most restaurants / cafes per capita compared to anywhere in the world
• The Symphony of Lights (every night at 2000 H) is the largest laser and light show in the world
• The Tsing Ma Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world

What is HKG known for

The territory of HKG is divided into 4 major regions, namely: The New Territories, Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and Lantau Island. Hong Kong is also known for their centuries-old “Ding Ding” Trams in Hong Kong Island. The SAR is also one of the most densely populated areas in the world, made known by the Yick Cheong Building, a.k.a. The Monster Building. The place is also known for their dim sum and handmade egg noodles (a must-try)! Hong Kong is also a haven for some of the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants!

Personal Notes / Observation

It is my first time traveling to HKG (and solo at that). The experience was quite overwhelming for me because almost all of the locals do not speak fluent English. Good thing there are a lot of Filipinos in HKG that I could easily ask for directions and spots to visit.

The weather (November) is quite cool all day and is similar to my home city (Baguio City). There are also a lot of food choices in every street and corner. The transportation system in HKG is also one of the most organized I have ever experienced.

Best time to go to Hong Kong

HKG experiences all the 4 Seasons:

• Winter – from December to February
• Spring – from March to May
• Summer – from June to August
• Autumn / Fall – from September to November

The best months to visit HKG are from March to April and October to December where weather is considerably warm, humid, and cold at night.

The Temperature Ranges from 16.7 °C to 30 °C (62 °F – 86 °F).

How to get to Hong Kong

Since HKG is a major hub in Asia, you can reach Asia’s World City in a number of ways! Here’s how!

By Land

By Land, there are several bridges that connect HKG to the rest of mainland China and its neighboring Macau (also a Special Administrative Region). Mainly connected by the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and through the Lok Ma Chau and Lo Wu MTRs, Hong Kong is highly accessible by land, especially going to the mainland. You can also access neighboring Macau via the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge / Link Road.

By Air

The main and easiest gateway is through the Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG) or simply Hong Kong International Airport. This is one of the biggest airports in Asia and also one of the busiest. If you are coming from the Philippines, there are direct flights to and from HKG:

Philippine Airlines (via Manila)

*Daily

0750 – 1015 H

1010 – 1225 H

1515 – 1740 H

Cebu Pacific (via Manila)

*Daily

0540 – 0810 H

0720 – 0945 H

1535 – 1800 H

1820 – 2045 H

Cebu Pacific (via Clark)

*Daily

0710 – 0915 H

1825 – 2030 H

Cebu Pacific (via Cebu)

*Daily

0600 – 0855 H

1530 – 1825 H

RoyalAir (via Cebu)

*Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

1715 – 2000 H

Cathay Pacific (via Manila)

*Daily

0545 – 0805 H

0800 – 1030 H

1050 – 1330 H

1235 – 1510 H

1945 – 2215 H

Hong Kong Express (via Manila)

*Daily

2035 – 2305 H

AirAsia (via Manila)

0835 – 1055 H

By Water

You can ride a fast craft going to and from HKG via Macau. The ferry terminal in HKG is located in Shun Tak Center in Sheung Wan bound for Macau. Travel time to and from HKG via the TurboJET is approximately 1 hour. Schedule of ferries departs every 15 – 30 minutes. Note that you need to bring your passport when going from Macau or Hong Kong!

*From Hong Kong (Sheung Wan) to Macau (Outer Harbour)

0730 H	0800 H	0830 H	0900 H
0930 H	1000 H	1030 H	1100 H
1130 H	1200 H	1230 H	1300 H
1330 H	1400 H	1430 H	1500 H
1530 H	1600 H	1630 H	1700 H
Night Sailing
1730 H	1830 H	1930 H	2030 H
2130 H	2230 H	2330 H

*From Macau (Outer Harbour) to Hong Kong (Sheung Wan)

0730 H	0830 H	0915 H	0945 H
1015 H	1045 H	1115 H	1145 H
1215 H	1245 H	1315 H	1345 H
1415 H	1445 H	1515 H	1545 H
1600 H	1630 H	1700 H
Night Sailing
1730 H	1800 H	1900 H	2000 H
2100 H	2200 H	2300 H	2359 H

*From Hong Kong (Sheung Wan) to Macau (Taipa)

0915 H

1115 H

1215 H#

1445 H

1535 H

*From Macau (Taipa) to Hong Kong (Sheung Wan)

1045 H#

1315 H

1410 H

1615 H

1700 H

# – Available only on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays

TurboJET Fares (effective as of September 15, 2023)

	From Hong Kong (Sheung Wan) to Macau
	Super Class	Economy Class
Day Sailing (Weekdays)	HK$ 365 (Ph₱ 2646)	HK$ 175 (Ph₱ 1269)
Day Sailing (Weekends and Holidays)	HK$ 395 (Ph₱ 2864)	HK$ 190 (Ph₱ 1378)
Night Sailing (Weekdays, Weekends, Holidays)	HK$ 415 (Ph₱ 3009)	HK$ 220 (Ph₱ 1595)

Things to know about when visiting Hong Kong

• HKG’s total land area (including maritime waters) is at 2,755 km² (1,063.70 m²). Its size is twice the land area of Guam.
• The main languages spoken here are Cantonese and English.
• The local Cellular Signal here is very good and fair in some areas.
• The Socket Standard in HKG is Type D (3 round pins in triangular manner) and Type G (3 rectangular pins in triangular manner).
• The standard voltage (V) is 200 volts AC and the standard frequency (Hz) is 50 Hz.
• The main modes of payment in Hong Kong are: Cash, Credit and Debit Cards, and the Octopus Card.
• The currency used in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar (HK$).

Exploring in and out of Hong Kong

• The main modes of transportation in the area are: Trams (Ding Ding Trams, The Peak Tram); Hong Kong Taxi; Ferry (Star Ferry and TurboJET (to and from Macau)); MTR Subway System; and the iconic Double-decker Bus
• The minimum fare (per mode of transportation) is: Trams – HK$ 3 (Ph₱ 22); Taxis – HK$ 22 – 27 flagdown rate (Ph₱ 160 – 195); Star Ferry – HK$ 3 – 4 (Ph₱ 22 – 29); MTR – HK$ 4 – 30 (Ph₱ 29 – 218); City Bus – HK$ 4 – 47 (Ph₱ 29 – 340).
• Traffic conditions throughout the day can get busy during rush hours 0800 – 0900 H, 1200 – 1300 H, and 1800 – 1900 H.
• Road conditions in Hong Kong are mostly concrete and paved.

Read also: Hello Hong Kong | 25 Things to experience in Asia’s World City (Part 1 of 3)

*Note that the places, prices, and information written as of publication date and time are true and are given best during my visit. Changes may occur without prior notice. If you notice any changes to the information given above, you can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!*

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