landmark
Ocean Park Hong Kong
Marine mammal park and theme park on the southern side of Hong Kong Island with aquarium exhibits and thrill rides.
2 km · about 5 min drive
AsiaHong Kong
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong · Asia
About Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island works well as a base: 4km from Monster Building.
Hong Kong Island is in Hong Kong, with about 1.2 million people.
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of Hong Kong. The island, known originally and on road signs simply as Hong Kong, has a land area of approximately 78.59 square kilometres (30.34 sq mi) and a population of 1,289,500 with a population density of 16,390 per square kilometre (42,400/sq mi), as of 2023.Read more
It is the second largest island in Hong Kong, with the largest being Lantau Island. Hong Kong Island forms one of the three areas of Hong Kong, with the other two being Kowloon and the New Territories.
In 1842, following the Qing dynasty's defeat at the First Opium War (1839–1842), Hong Kong Island was formally ceded in perpetuity to the United Kingdom under the Treaty of Nanking. The City of Victoria was then established on the island by British forces, named in honour of Queen Victoria. At that time, the island had a population of about 3,000 inhabitants scattered in a dozen fishing villages.
The northern-east part of the island, being known as the Central area is the historical, political, and economic centre of Hong Kong, with many government buildings being in the area, namely the Government House, Central Government Complex, Legislative Council Complex, Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, and Hong Kong High Court. Many financial institutes and banks such as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, HSBC, and Bank of China (Hong Kong) are also based in the area.
The northern coast of the island forms the southern shore of the Victoria Harbour, which is largely responsible for the development of Hong Kong due to its deep waters favoured by large trade ships. The island is home to many famous tourists sights, such as "The Peak", Ocean Park, Former Central Police Station Compound, Murray House, and many other historical sites and various large shopping centres. The mountain ranges across the island are also famous for hiking.
Where to Stay in Hong Kong Island
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Hong Kong Island?
Within an hour or so of Hong Kong Island: Ocean Park Hong Kong (2 km), Victoria Peak (4 km), Monster Building (4 km), Lin Heung Tea House (4 km).
Are there any good drives near Hong Kong Island?
The nearest famous roads are Guia Circuit.
Where is Hong Kong Island?
Hong Kong Island is in Hong Kong.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,195,529
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Hong Kong
- Timezone
- Asia/Hong_Kong
- Coordinates
- 22.2630, 114.1842
Tags
Worth the detour from Hong Kong Island
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Victoria Peak
Hong Kong's highest point on the island, offering spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline and harbour.
4 km · about 10 min drive
photogenic
Monster Building
Five interlocking 1960s housing blocks in Quarry Bay whose courtyard walls of stacked flats close overhead, Hong Kong's most photographed piece of density.
4 km · about 5 min drive
restaurant
Lin Heung Tea House
A survivor of old-Canton yum cha culture where dim sum still comes round on pushed trolleys and regulars compete for it, in a room of ceiling fans and communal tables.
4 km · about 5 min drive
cafe
Mido Cafe
A 1950s cha chaan teng on Temple Street with mosaic tiles, steel window frames and a corner upstairs table overlooking Yau Ma Tei, the archetypal Hong Kong diner.
5 km · about 10 min drive
restaurant
Australia Dairy Company
A Jordan institution serving steamed milk pudding and scrambled egg sandwiches at ferocious speed, where waiters clear your table while you are still chewing.
5 km · about 10 min drive
photogenic
Choi Hung Estate
A 1962 public housing estate painted in rainbow bands, with a rooftop basketball court over the car park that frames the colours against the towers.
8 km · about 15 min drive
photogenic
Ping Shek Estate
A 1970s Kowloon estate whose grey concrete stairwells and repeating balcony grids draw photographers for their brutalist symmetry, far quieter than Choi Hung.
8 km · about 15 min drive
Driving roads near Hong Kong Island
- 66 kmGuia CircuitA 6.2km street circuit through Macau lined by armco and walls, with the impossibly tight Melco hairpin and the fast Mandarin bend. Everyday public roads outside the November Grand Prix weekend.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Hong Kong Island.
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