Hong Kong (Hong Kong Island)

Every visitor to Hong Kong Island makes the trip to Victoria Peak, which has one of the most spectacular views in the world. It's also a good way to orient yourself to Hong Kong's sometimes confusing geography. Another major tourist attraction is Aberdeen, on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, where 6000 people live or work on junks anchored in the harbour. Sampan tours of the Aberdeen Harbour are definitely worth the expense. The other major draw is the floating restaurants.

The most popular beach is Repulse Bay, also on the southern side of the island, but it gets extremely crowded on weekends. Stanley, with its laid-back atmosphere, is another good spot for escaping Hong Kong's hustle and bustle. City attractions include the Central Market which visitors will have no trouble finding (just sniff the air), the old Man Mo Temple and the Zoological & Botanic Gardens.

Hong Kong is perched on the south-cast coast of China just south of the tropic of Cancer, on much the same latitude as Hawaii or Calcutta. The climate is subtropical, but tends toward temperate for nearly half the year. This is because the huge land mass of Asia generates powerful blasts of frigid wind that blow from the north during winter. In summer, the seasonal wind reverses and blows from the south bringing hot, humid tropical air.

Late October to December usually sees sunny, dry weather with cool breezes, though for most of November it's still warm enough to go swimming. January and February are more cloudy and see occasional cold fronts. Temperatures can drop as low as 10'C in the New Territories, but snow and frost are quite rare. Not much rain falls, but when it does, it's usually a chilly, depressing drizzle that lasts for days. The mountains are often shrouded in mist, which can spoil visits to Victoria Peak and other scenic outlooks. Winter weather usually continues into March and often ends abruptly when the cold wind stops blowing. Even during winter, there are windless days when the weather becomes balmy.

March to April/May are usually pleasant months, as the scorching summer heat often doesn't arrive until June. But there's a higher chance of rain and humidity than in autumn.