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| Around & About |
| POPULATION
Over 6.6 million people make their home in Hong Kong. Though the country was a British colony for over 100 years, nearly 98 percent of the population is Chinese and fewer than two percent are British.
PORT
Kowloon. Most cruise ships pull into the Ocean Terminal Pier in Victoria Harbor, which provides easy access to area shops, restaurants, and attractions. Hong Kong Island and the New Territories are also accessible from here.
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| CLIMATE
Subtropical. Mid-September through February is the best time to visit, as the temperatures are mild. Summers are hot, humid, and sticky. Early September is cyclone season so plan accordingly.
LANGUAGE
Chinese and English. Cantonese is the most spoken Chinese dialect in Hong Kong, though Mandarin is slowly gaining popularity.
CURRENCY
The Hong Kong dollar. American dollars and British pounds are also widely accepted.
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 | | FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Hong Kong has more than 8,000 restaurants, representing every region of China including Cantonese, Szechwan, Shanghainese, Peking, and Chiu Chow, among others. You should be able to find something that suits you, both for the taste and the dining experience.
Dai Pai Dong: Not a food, but a street-side food stall. They’re famous for dishes like roasted duck, pork, and other meaty delicacies.
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| Dim Sum Restaurants: Again, not a food but an eatery. Small plates of Chinese food are brought from table to table by carts. Choose what looks good!
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| GETTING AROUND ON YOUR OWN
Hong Kong is relatively compact and the public transportation is excellent and serves the area well. Try the buses, mass transit railway (excellent and air-conditioned), double-decker trams, hoverferries, and more traditional ferry boats. There are also metered taxis for those who prefer less crowded – but often slower – travel arrangements. Only someone with a death wish would attempt cycling in the city; leave that to the local experts!
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| SEASONAL EVENTS
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 | | Chinese New Year’s: If you find yourself in Hong Kong during January/February, make sure to take part in the Chinese New Year celebration – the most important Chinese holiday. Hong Kong hosts a three-day festival complete with fortune telling, food fairs, and temple blessings.
Hong Kong Food Festival: This is a three-week celebration each March featuring organized food-related tours, street carnivals, theme parties, and the Yue Lan Festival (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts) which features religious ceremonies, street performances, and food offerings to appease the spirits of discontented ghosts.
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| Lantern Festival: You’ll never see Hong Kong the same way again if you arrive during the Lantern Festival (January/February). Homes, businesses, temples – the whole town is festooned with glowing lanterns.
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| Dragon Boat Festival: Each year in June, dragon boat races are held in Hong Kong and the Outlying Islands. | |  |
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