Hong Kong Geography & Climate

Hong Kong covers about 1,100 square kilometres on the Pearl River estuary, and the terrain is steep — over a third of it is hillside too sharp to build on, which is why the city rises rather than spreads.

Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, is deep and sheltered, and is the whole reason the territory exists as a port.

The New Territories hold the reservoirs, the highest ground at Tai Mo Shan (957 m), and the walled villages of the Punti clans who preceded the British.

Lantau is nearly twice the size of Hong Kong Island and largely undeveloped outside the airport and Tung Chung, with the Big Buddha and Tai O at the far end.

Around 40% of the land is country park — legally protected since the 1970s, and the reason a city this dense has hiking on its doorstep.

Hong Kong is humid subtropical with a sharp seasonal pattern. Summer (June-September) is hot and very humid, above 30°C with humidity near saturation, and interiors are aggressively air-conditioned to compensate — carry a layer.

Autumn (October-December) is the best weather of the year: dry, clear and around 20-25°C.

Winter is mild but can feel cold in unheated buildings, occasionally dipping below 10°C.

Spring is humid and foggy, and the sea fog regularly hides the skyline completely.

Typhoons occur mainly July to September. The signal system runs T1, T3, T8, T9, T10; at T8 the city stops — public transport, offices and shops close, and staying indoors is the instruction rather than advice.