Hong Kong
A city with the most skyscrapers in the world and the highest life expectancy on Earth.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China situated on the southern coast just south of Shenzhen. It consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. With 7.5 million residents in a 1,114-square-kilometre territory, it is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world. Established as a British colony after the Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong Island in 1842 following the First Opium War, the territory expanded to Kowloon in 1860 and gained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945, it was handed back to China in 1997. Under 'one country, two systems,' Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from mainland China. Once farming and fishing villages, it is now the world's third-ranked global financial centre behind New York City and London, the ninth-largest exporter, and the eighth-largest importer. It has the highest life expectancy in the world, a public transport usage exceeding 90 percent, and an HDI of 0.955, ranking eighth globally.
- Status
- Special Administrative Region of China
- Role
- Global Financial Hub & Logistics Center
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Hong Kong's modern identity was forged by colonial history and massive post-war migration. This influx sparked an economic miracle, making Hong Kong one of the Four Asian Tiger economies during the 1950s. The 1997 handover marked a pivotal shift, yet the city retained its autonomy and free port status under 'one country, two systems.' Today, it is home to the third-highest number of billionaires in the world and has the second largest number of ultra high-net-worth individuals.
In Their Own Story
The skyline rises like a jagged mountain range of light, holding the record for the most skyscrapers in any region. Here, the scent of salt air mixes with the faint aroma of incense drifting from old factories once lining northern Kowloon. A young tech worker rushes past while a street vendor shouts over traffic; housing is so expensive it makes this the world's most costly residential property market. In this city, time spirals, layering the past of fishing villages and colonial outposts with the future of high-frequency trading.
Reader's Guide
Hong Kong's skyline is arguably the most iconic on the planet—a vertical forest of steel and glass climbing up steep slopes to frame Victoria Harbour. The economy thrives as a premier international financial center, hosting multinational headquarters while serving as a vital trade link. Innovation pulses alongside tradition: the Financial District hums with trading while the city remains one of the most visited in the world. With public transport usage exceeding 90 percent and severe income inequality existing despite high per capita incomes, it is an Alpha+ city where the third-highest number of billionaires reside.
Did You Know?
- Hong Kong was occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945 during World War II.
- The name 'Hong Kong' originally referred to a small inlet between Aberdeen Island and Hong Kong Island, likely meaning 'fragrant harbour'.
- Despite having the highest life expectancy in the world, Hong Kong also has one of the most expensive residential property markets globally due to high housing demand.
- The territory is the only place in Asia currently ranked in the top ten for Human Development Index (HDI).
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