Hong Kong

Map

Key data

Items shown in Chinese are kept from the original Chinese source; no English name is available yet.

Highlights

Introduction

• A vibrant international city — skyline, dim sum and endless shopping.

History

• History: Hong Kong has been Chinese territory since ancient times. As early as the Qin Dynasty it fell under the jurisdiction of Nanhai Commandery, and administrative structures were established in subsequent dynasties. After 1841, Britain gradually seized Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, and Hong Kong entered a colonial period lasting more than a century. During this time, port trade, shipping and financial services gradually took root and developed into a major entrepôt in the Far East. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong returned to the motherland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established. Since then it has continued to prosper and remain stable, its status as an international financial center has been steadily consolidated, and the city's appearance is changing rapidly.

Culture

• Culture: Hong Kong is a place where Chinese and Western cultures blend. Its official languages are Chinese and English, with Cantonese the most widely spoken dialect among the people. Its food culture is extremely rich: Cantonese specialties such as morning tea, siu mei, and wonton noodles are world-famous, and street snacks coexist with fine restaurants. Hong Kong films and pop music once swept across Asia, and the glorious achievements of its Chinese-language cinema are still praised today. Traditional festivals such as the Chinese New Year float parade, Mid-Autumn moon viewing, and Tin Hau's Birthday are still preserved, while horse racing culture and the Temple Street night market showcase the vitality of everyday life, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum gives Chinese civilization new brilliance on the shores of Victoria Harbour.

Science & Technology

• Technology: Hong Kong is home to many world-renowned universities, including the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with strong research capabilities, and several rank among the top in international rankings. Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport gather a large number of technology enterprises, and innovative fields such as artificial intelligence, fintech, and biomedicine are developing rapidly, with many research achievements repeatedly winning international honors. Leveraging its international research environment and abundant funding, Hong Kong actively promotes deep integration of innovation and technology with industry, injecting sustained momentum into economic transformation and upgrading.

Economy

• Economy: Hong Kong's 2024 GDP was approximately HK$3,175.1 billion. It is a major global international financial, trade and shipping center with a highly open free-port economy. Financial services, trade and logistics, professional services and tourism are its four pillar industries. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is one of the world's major stock markets, and the linked exchange rate system safeguards financial stability. The population is 7.5342 million, per capita output ranks among the world's highest, shopping and dining consumption is robust, and the city continues to serve as a bridge between mainland China and world markets.