Hong Kong Holidays
February 10th, 2010 Posted in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is growing steadily to become one of the top holiday destinations in Asia for Australian’s. It’s a lively mix of ancient Asia combined with 99 years of British rule to become a westernised region perfect for Aussie tourists. Hong Kong is made up of over 260 islands jam packed with history, skyscrapers, statues and amazing shopping. Now under the administrative rule of China (mainly for defence and foreign affairs), Hong Kong translates to ‘fragrant harbour’ referring to the sweet smells of wood and incense that were once traded by the sea.
Subtropical in climate, Hong Kong is prone to typhoons (similar to cyclones) in the summer months. Although starting out sunny the weather can get quite cold in winter. The best times to visit Hong Kong are in spring and autumn, September to November and March to May respectively. The islands are mostly mountainous with only a quarter of the land mass used for development. The majority of urbanisation occurs on Hong Kong Island and pollution can be a problem, so just forget the city and head to a park or nature reserve. 40% of Hong Kong is devoted to parks and reserves.
Hong Kong Holidays must include a visit to Victoria Harbour. Surrounded by tall buildings the Harbour has spectacular views, day and night. For an even better view of the Harbour and the surrounding areas then a visit to Victoria Peak is a must. The biggest peak on Hong Kong Island has several parks and a milder climate which tourists love. Travelling by taxi or by the scenic peak tram visitors to the peak now have shopping options at 2 nearby shopping centres. Away from the heavily populated areas the religious beliefs become more evident with Buddhist statues, monuments and temples dotting the countryside. The Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island features a huge bronze Buddha statue, which is the biggest of its kind in the world and is a favourite for tourists.
See why Hong Kong is so popular for Australians on holidays today.
Tags: accommodation, asia, holidays, Hong Kong