Country Guide

Hong Kong consists of one major island, a number of smaller inhabited islands, and a portion of the mainland. Its total area is only 1,013 sq km/391 sq mi.

Situated in 22° N, it is just within the tropics and has a similar monsoon climate to that of south China.

Rainfall is particularly heavy from early May until late September, but some rain occurs in all months. Although occasional cold spells, lasting a few days, occur in winter, snow and frost are virtually unknown and the period from October to March is generally warm and dry.

Humidity is high during the rather hot, wet summer and the weather is often very sultry and oppressive. Particularly between July and September, typhoons, moving northwards from the South China Sea, bring heavy rain and very violent winds which can cause damage to property and loss of life.

Although mainly dry, the months from February to April are rather cloudy and sunshine then averages only three or four hours a day, as compared with an average of six to eight hours a day during the months July to December.

Click on the links below for a detailed look at China's regions:

China
North Eastern China
Central China
South China
Hong Kong
South Western China
Tibet
Xinjiang Uygur and the Western Interior
Inner Mongolia