Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Island is an island south of Kowloon that contains four administrative districts: Central and Western, Eastern, Southern, and Wan Chai. The terrain rises sharply from the waterfront to forested hills inland, with most built-up areas confined to narrow strips along the northern shore and a few flatter sections in the south.

British forces occupied this island in January 1841 and received it formally one year later through the Treaty of Nanking. The colony grew rapidly in the following decades as traders from southern China arrived and settled along the northern shoreline.

The name dates back to when European merchants and Chinese traders shared this coastline, conducting business in low buildings that have long been replaced by towers. Today you see temples beside office blocks in older neighborhoods, where commuters light incense in the morning before heading to work.

The subway network connects the western and eastern shores, providing access to residential and business areas all along the coast. Buses serve steeper sections inland where the metro does not reach, and ferries cross the harbor if you need to reach the peninsula.

The northern shore forms Victoria Harbour, deep enough for large cargo ships and cruise vessels that call at the port daily. In the evening locals and visitors gather along the waterfront to watch the skyline on the opposite side reflected in the wide channel.