Hong Kong is a city and region on the coast of the South China Sea. The name means "fragrant harbour" in Cantonese, the dialect most prevalent among the population of Hong Kong.

Geographically, Hong Kong consists of a peninsula and several islands, located on the southern coast of South China Sea near the cities of Canton and Macao. Until July 1, 1997 Hong Kong was a colony of the United Kingdom, when it gained its independence and it currently has a population of about 10 million people.

The territory of Hong Kong can be divided into three distinct parts: the island of Hong Kong, mainland Kowloon (south of Boundary Street),
and the New Territories, including Lantau Island. The area of the New Territories is very mountainous and as such have remained very sparsely populated.

Hong Kong is one of the major financial centres of Asia, and its economy is heavily dependent on international trade, in stark contrast to its communist neighbour, China.

With its huge skyscrapers and streets filled with shops, Hong Kong is primarily a business city, but also a resort town. The region also offers other possibilities, such as expansive nature areas occupying 70% of its 1100 square kilometres, beaches, and many outdoor sports in the water or inland.