53 Interesting Facts About Hong Kong

1. Hong Kong is among the richest cities in the world. It has more Rolls Royce per person than any other region in the globe.

2. Three quarters of the city’s landmass is rural. Major attractions in the rural areas include 24 parks, woodlands, reservoirs, hills and a beautiful coastline.

3. The name of the city is a Cantonese phrase that translates to fragrance harbor.

4. Hong Kong is the home city to the founder of fiber optic communications: Professor Charles Kao.

5. The third Disney theme park outside the United States was opened in Hong Kong in the year 2005.

6. The city has the highest number of skyscrapers in the world. More than 7000 buildings in the region have over 14 floors (New York City has almost half of these.)

7. The British government managed to colonize Hong Kong in 1841 during the Opium War.

8. The region has the highest average intelligence quotient in the world at 107.

9. The city is known to have the largest fleet of ferries in the world transporting people and goods to Macau and various Chinese cities.

10. The city hosts the largest number of tourists per year with 2011 recording over 41.92 million visitors who spent more than $33.7 billion.

11. Hong Kong is made up of more than 200 islands which is why it is often necessary to travel over water bodies. Other countries that have a large number of islands include Indonesia – 17,508 and Finland – 18000 as per CIA World Factbook.

12. The city is famous for producing some of the best Kung Fu movies and actors including Jacky Chan and Bruce Lee.

13. It has won the title of “The Best Business City in the World” for over four years. This award is organized and announced by Business Traveler Asia Pacific Magazine.

14. The Hong Kong Sevens which is a rugby tournament held in March of every year is the largest rugby tournament in the world. It features over 28 teams from across the world competing for the prize of $150, 000.

15. The region operates the largest fleet of double-deck tramcars which carry over 230, 000 passengers daily.

16. The Hong Kong International Airport is among the top ten busiest in the world. It handles over 59 million passengers every day.

17. Hong Kong was under British rule from 1842 to 1997. Today it is a special administration region in China.

18. Hong Kong locals believe that eating noodles on your birthday is a sure way to boost long life and blessings.

19. The Tsing Ma bridge is a remarkable work of art that is considered among prestigious landmarks in the region. It is the longest road and rail suspension bridge in the world.

20. Hong Kong governance system guarantees free education for students up to 12 years.

21. The region was ranked fourth in the global billionaires list in 2016. This was due to over 64 residents holding personal fortunes amounting to over US$1 billion.

22. Some islands that make up the Hong Kong region are completely uninhabitable and unreachable.

23. Dim sum which are a popular snack for many people across the world originated from this region.

24. Hong Kong is commonly hit by typhoons between the months of March to November. However, authorities have systems in place to warn residents and manage any outcome that occurs.

25. Hong Kong is home to Forbes’ 2015 richest Asian man called Li Ka-shing.

26. Cathay which is Hong Kong’s home airline has won the “World’s Best Airline” four times which is more times than any other in the world.

27. Acrobatic lion dances are a popular way of commemorating festivals or auspicious occasions in the region. They are often characterized by playing of Chinese drums.

28. Hong Kong International Airport is the size of 20 football fields combined.

29. One of the world’s largest seated Buddha statues is the bronze big Buddha situated in Lantau Island of Hong Kong.

30. In this region, parents that give birth to a son and then daughter are considered to be among the luckiest people in the world.

31. The peak tram established in 1888 was a first in the entire Asian region and remains the oldest and steepest across the globe to date.

32. The region is regarded as one of those with the highest number or restaurants or cafes per capita. This gives residents and tourists an opportunity to sample various types of delicacies from around the world.

33. Ocean Park Hong Kong won the award for world’s best theme park in 2012.

34. The Pearl of Orient is a famous symphony of light formation in the night skyline that occurs on a daily basis.

35. There are currently 120 UNESCO Global geoparks (UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development) across the world and Hong Kong is home to one of them.

36. The Peak Circle Walk in Hong Kong is regarded among the world’s most scenic walks.

37. Hong Kong is home to the world’s largest outdoor covered escalator. It measures about half a mile long and has an elevation of about 135 meters.

38. Hong Kong celebrates the new year, Christmas, Easter and other festivals. The new year celebration is often marked by spectacular display of lighting.

39. Hong Kong is situated in a sub-tropical area with monsoon winds.

40. The people of mainland China moved to Hong Kong in 221 BC.

41. Did you know that a Portuguese man by the name of Jorge Alvarez was the first recorded foreigner to set foot in Hong Kong?

42. In the 1900s, this region became a special refuge to Chinese exiles.

43. In 1941, the fear of the communist party led a huge number of immigrants to flee China and settle in Hong Kong.

44. The region was officially recognized as a free port in 1950.

45. The region is home to two fierce media competitors by the name of Televisions Broadcasts Limited and Asia Television Limited.

46. In 1997, archeologists discovered over 20 graves in Ma Wan.

47. The region has a total of 17 public holidays in every year.

48. Hong Kong is known as a free market economy.

49. It is considered a bad omen to have apartment buildings that end at the fourth floor.

50. Hong Kong is not classified as a country. It is a Special Administrative Region of China.

51. Hong Kongers or Hong Kongese use seawater to flush toilets. 

52. Real estate is expensive in Hong Kong, which is the reason why burials in public cemeteries are exhumed after 6 years. Online is the new place where loved one are commemorated once they are dug out. Be ready to shell as much as HKD650,000 for a burial spot in the regions soil. However, you still may be denied if the space is not available.

53. Hong Kong has a number of guards for security in almost all of the buildings. And the majority of these are in their 50s.