26 Jun 2022 | ESLteachers
Hong Kong is one of the worlds best cities, known for its vibrant nightlife, legendary food scene and stunning skyline but there are many things that people don’t know about this fantastic city. In this blog, we’ll look at 5 things that you probably didn’t know about Hong Kong.
1. Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers in the world
Hong Kong is famous for its skyline, but many people don’t realise just how many skyscrapers the city has. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Hong Kong has 553 skyscrapers, which is 193 more than second place Shenzhen and 244 more than New York. This makes Hong Kong the world’s most vertical city and makes for one of the most awe-inspiring skylines in the world.
2. Hong Kong has some of the best Public Transport in the world
Hong Kong is a famously chaotic and frenetic city but it also has some of the most efficient and clean public transport in the world. According to a study by consultancy firm Oliver Wyman and The University of California, Berkeley, Hong Kong, Hong Kong has the best public transportation system in the world (2022). This is no surprise to anyone who has had the privilege to use the astonishingly punctual, spotlessly clean and surprisingly affordable MTR system, the city’s numerous buses that offer both free wifi and USB cables to charge your phone, or the islands trams that are affectionately known as “Ding Dings”.
3. Traditional life lives on
Despite its not undeserved reputation as an ultra-modern super city, Hong Kong also offers glimpses of traditional life. The city has been inhabited since the stone age and away from the hustle and bustle of the city, parts of Hong Kong’s history can still be seen in real time. Tai O is still a traditional fishing village that is a far cry from the intensity of Central. In fact Hong Kong is home to over 250 islands, all with different personalities and vibes.
4. Hong Kong is home to both the highest bar and swimming pool in the world
The International Commerce centre in Kowloon is in itself one of the tallest buildings in the world, but on the 118th floor of the Ritz Carlton hotel in the ICC, you can find the highest bar and swimming pool in the world. The bar offers breathtaking views of Hong Kong.
5. Many buildings in Hong Kong don’t have a fourth floor
The traditional practice of Feng Shui is still widely utilised in Hong Kong and influences a lot of the city’s architecture. In Chinese, the number four sounds similar to the word for death. This gives it the perception of being an unlucky number and as such many residential buildings don’t have fourth floors or any floor with the number four in for that matter.
Hong Kong is a wonderful place that offers something for everyone, and whether you’ve lived here for many years or are just stopping by, hopefully you’ve learned something new about this great city.
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