History and Geography Hong Kong

This vibrant, dynamic city just a 'barren rock' housing a collection of fishing villages when claimed by Britain in 1842 following the first Opium War with Cina.

Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Nanking. The Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island were handed over in 1860 and a 99-year lease was granted on the New Territories, comprising the are north of Kowloon up to the Shenzhen Rive and 235 outlying islands, in 1989.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July 1997, and is now a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic if China operating under the 'one country, two systems' principle.

Today, Hong Kong is a flourishing international center with a population of more than seven million people. With a land area of more than 1,100 square kilometers and over 260 outlying islands, Hong Kong is compact and accessible. It contains of Hong Kong Island, separated from Kowloon Penisula by Victoria Harbour, and the New Territories that begin north of Kowloon and extend to the Mainland China boundary.

A unique combination of more than 150 years of colonial influence and 5.000 years of Chinese tradition, Hong Kong is a fantastic holiday experience that you will treasure forever.

SIGHTSEEING

Discover life, familiar, yet exotically new. Make your way through busy streets; stroll through lush greenery; each corner brings a surprise! Float across green waters as a setting sun washes skyscrapers with golden light. Witness the fusion of east and west, Immerse yourself in ancient culture and festivals. Learn first-hand how locals live and love life.

Asia's world city, so dynamic and yet so compact, beckons. Its fantastic sights will leave you spellbound with wonder. At any time, day or night, you can feel the pulse of this modern, cosmopolitan center. You'll be delightfully surprised with what you find. Rich in cultural content and fun things to do. Hong Kong offers a cornucopia of attractions and sights that will leave a memorable impression of a city you will always want to call your very own.