Hong Kong (Outlying Islands)

There are 234 outlying islands, many of them are little more than uninhabited rocks.Cheung Chau (2.5 sq km) however, has 20,000 residents and is fast developing into a mini Honolulu, although there is no motorised traffic. Lantau which is the largest of the islands (142 sq km) has a population of 30,000, a 933m peak, and a 70km walking trail, but has avoided many of the development excesses of other islands. It is home to several important monasteries, including Po Lin Monastery with its enormous bronze Buddha. Thanks to the new airport development, Lantau is now connected by bridge to the mainland. Other islands worth visiting include Lamma, Peng Chau, Poi Toi and the uninhabited Tung Lung Chau.

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.