Hong Kong is one of the most visited cities in the world. It also has one of the most booming economies in the world, which in time has become a world wide known center for trade, business, and culture. To help you learn some new things about the city, we’ve compiled a list of the 16 interesting facts about Hong Kong.
1. Hong Kong means “fragrant harbour” in Chinese.
2. The world’s longest covered escalator is in Hong Kong. It covers a distance of over a half-mile.
3. Hong Kong has 355 skyscrapers, which makes it the city with the most skyscrapers in the world.
4. There are more than 7.7 million people living in Hong Kong, which makes the city one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
5. There are over 250 islands in Hong Kong.
6. Contrary to common belief, Dim Sum did not originate from Hong Kong, it originated from Southern China.
7. Due to the common Chinese belief in which the number four is unlucky, some buildings in Hong Kong do not have floors with the number four in it.
8. From 1842 to 1997 Hong Kong was a British colony and from 1941 to 1945, Hong Kong was occupied by Japan. However, it became a special administrative zone of the People's Republic of China since 1 July 1997 after the UK and China signed an agreement that China would grant Hong Kong special status under the 'one country, two systems' rule in 1984.
9. From "The Fist of Fury" to "The Ip Man" most of the best Kung-Fu movies were produced in Hong Kong.
10. The Portuguese-explorer Jorge Alvarez was the first foreigner to enter Hong Kong.
11. Although it is allowed to operate independently, in its history, Hong Kong never became an independent country.
12. Even though it is a cosmopolitan city, the Chinese population makes up 92% of the city.
13. According to health expertsIn Hong Kong, the average life expectancy is 81, and it is thanks to a healthy lifestyle and low smoking rates.
14. Almost 92% of the Hong Kongers speak Cantonese as their native language. However, the national languages of Hong Kong are Mandarin and English.
15. Hong Kong's 'limited' democracy is based on English Common law.
16. Although Most people practise Confucianism, about 30% of the people in Hong Kong are Taoist or Buddhist and 12 % are Christians while 5% are Muslims.