1. The name Hong Kong translates to “fragrant harbor,” derived from the two Chinese characters heung and gong.
2. Hong Kong has a population of more than 7 million people occupying a small mass of land, making it one of the most densely packed areas in the world.
3. Numerology guides the daily activities of Hong Kong Chinese. Lucky numbers are 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9, while 1, 4, and 7 are avoided like the plague.
4. The Tsing Ma Bridge, which travelers pass by coming from the airport to the city, is the world’s longest road and rail suspension bridge.
5. There are more skyscrapers in Hong Kong than in any other city in the world. Buildings with more than 14 levels amount to more than 8,000 in Hong Kong – almost twice the number found in New York.
6. Seven out of ten people take buses in Hong Kong while 35% take the cab every week.
7. Vehicles in Hong Kong are driven on the left side of the road, unlike China’s vehicles, which are driven on the right side.
8. English playwright Noel Coward coined the phrase “only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun” in reference to Hong Kong. It pertains to the Noonday Gun in Causeway Bay that has been fired every day since the British Colonial times.
9. The number of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong is around 140,000. During their Sundays off, they gather in Central and Victoria Park in a massive assembly.
10. Inside the Felix restaurant located at the top floor of The Peninsula Hotel, the gentlemen’s toilet urinals have a panoramic view of Kowloon.
Hello fellow travelers! My name is Mary and I am the main author of Traveling East. Just like any other travel enthusiasts, traveling has also been our passion! For inquiries, suggestions or anything travel related, please feel free to send us an E-mail at support@travelingeast.com.