Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Island

The Hong Kong Island, which lies south of Hong Kong, China mainland, is the original territory out of which Hong Kong grew. As a result, though it is not the largest of the group of islands that make up Hong Kong, it is nevertheless its epicenter in terms of history, business and government. The Hong Kong Island is also houses the most urbanized regions of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Island is in fact the territory's second largest island spanning a total area of 80.4 Sq Km. Of this, 6.98 Sq Km comprises of reclaimed land.

Locally referred to as 'the island side' by people of the mainland, Hong Kong Island has a rich yet checkered colonial history. Originally inhabited by people from mainland China, the Hong Kong Island is the place where the British first touched shore. Military acquisition of the city was made on the 20th of January 1841, under the leadership of Captain Charles Elliot of the British Royal Navy. The fortunes of the island underwent an all time depression during the World War-II when Japanese forces invaded Hong Kong on the 8th of December 1941.

The tides of the island's fortune turned again when on the 14th of August 1945, Japan surrendered to the US. The damage was, however, done by then; because by the time the surrender was signed on the 2nd of September, the population of Hong Kong Island had depleted to less than half of the pre-war number The final major movement in the island's history is the formal ceremonial handover of Hong Kong to China. This momentous event took place in 1997 on the 1st of July, thus ending a 99-year-old colonial legacy. Ever since, Hong Kong has been a semi-autonomous Special Administrative region of the People's Republic of China.

However, Hong Kong Island is not just the seat of the government and the business hub of Hong Kong; it is also a popular tourist destination and houses some of Hong Kong's best sights, attractions and shopping malls. Aside of the famous of these Ocean Park, the other prominent destinations in Hong Kong Island that are worth your time are Old Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Garden, Aberdeen Country Park, Aw Boon Gardens, Victoria Peak, Wong Tai Sin Temple, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, HongKong Museum of Art, Museum of Chinese Historical Relics, Police Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, University Museum and Art Gallery, Fringe Club, Former French Mission Building and Statue Square.

Hotels in Hong Kong
Accelerators International Hotel	Tatami Hampton Hotel
Dorsett Seaview Hotel	Dorsett Olympic Hotel
Louie Business Hotel	Evergreen Hotel

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