4K HONG KONG #HONKKONG

4K HONG KONG

Hong Kong (Chinese: ), officially known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China, in particular South East Asia, bordered by Guangdong to the north and encompassed by the South China Sea. A direct translation of Hong Kong from its Chinese characters essentially means “fragrant harbour,” possibly derived from the exportation of fragrant incense.

Human settlement in the present day region of Hong Kong dates back to the late Paleolithic and early Neolithic era; however, the name Hong Kong () did not appear on written records until the engagement of Imperial China and the British Colony within the territory. However, this origin as a fishing village would evolve, throughout the course of time, into a salt production site, a trading ground, a military port of strategic importance, and eventually an international financial centre that boasts the world’s 10th highest GDP (PPP) per capita, supporting nearly 40% of the foreign capital inflows into China.

At 1,104 square kilometres (426 square miles), Hong Kong ranked at one hundred and seventy ninth for total landmass covered, being composed primarily of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories as well as an additional 260 other islands. Characterized by its uneven and mountainous terrain with steep slopes, Hong Kong’s summit is Tai Mo Shan, at a height of 958 metres. As a result, Hong Kong is severely constrained in accessible land, as less than 25% of its total area is ideal and available for development, with the remaining land being set aside for country parks and natural reserves. On the shore end, Victoria Harbour, a narrow passage of water separating Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula is acknowledged as one of the deepest and prosperous natural maritime ports in the world.

Coupled with a population of over 7 million, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong has only an average distance of 1.3 kilometres (0.8 miles) from the waterfront to the steep hills of Hong Kong Island; and due to this lack of available sprawl space, the city has grown and expanded skywards. Hong Kong’s dense, high-rise inhabited skyline is populated by a staggering 7,649 skyscrapers, ranking it as the city with the greatest number of skyscrapers. This reputation of expansive skyline and natural setting, has established Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading financial capitals, a major business hub and cultural link, whilst maintaining a highly developed capitalist economy. As a major cosmopolitan centre, Hong Kong combines eastern and western values and customs through its cuisine, music, traditions, and cinema. Therefore, Hong Kong can be described as a conglomeration of eastern and western cultures, as British practices have been gradually been integrated with Chinese traditions during the city’s time as a colony.

The climate of Hong Kong revolves around a monsoonal-influenced humid subtropical climate, closely resembling that of a tropical wet-and-dry climate. During the winter months, the weather is cool with the occasional drop in temperatures due to the onset of cold fronts. Weather conditions range from clear skies and dry days to periods of overcast skies. In spring, the probability of precipitation increases along with a higher humidity. The onset of summer becomes evident between the months of June to September, as the temperature range fluctuates between 26 °C and 35 °C (79 °F and 95 °F), whilst humidity dithers around 90%. These hot and humid conditions prove beneficial towards the development of thunderstorms and heavy rains or, in severe cases, even typhoons. Weather conditions are the most ideal during the autumn months with its mild to warm temperatures and moderate relative humidity, complimenting sunny days with infrequent rainfall.