If you’re visiting the East Asian metropolis of Hong Kong, you’re sure to have a fab time. Highlights to visit include Victoria Peak, a stunning lookout point, Victoria Harbour, with its nighttime light shows, and even Hong Kong Disneyland! Here are more handy tidbits to prepare you for your trip:

  • Hong Kong isn’t technically a country. Instead, it’s officially a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong shares its SAR status with Macau, and they enjoy a high degree of autonomy from China.
  • The official languages are Cantonese and English. As such, English is widely spoken by the local population, so you’ll be able to get by without speaking Cantonese. That said, in case you want to, ‘hello’ in Cantonese is ‘néih hóu’ (nay hoh)!
  • The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar (currency code: HKD). This is a widely used international currency, thanks to Hong Kong’s status as the financial hub of Asia. You can exchange currency to HKD before or after you arrive.
  • The region’s main airport is Hong Kong International (airport code: HKG). This is also known as Chek Lap Kok International, and it’s about 40km from the city centre. To get you there, there’s an Airport Express train service, along with buses and taxis.
  • One of the best things to do in Hong Kong is sample the local cuisine. Top dishes include sweet and sour pork, ‘wontons’ (a type of Chinese dumpling), roast goose and chicken feet – locally called ‘phoenix talons’!

Learn more about Hong Kong ahead of your visit in our fascinating articles below.