All Posts

The relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has always been complicated. Add Hong Kong—a former British colony at the doorstep of mainland China—to the mix, and you have the perfect recipe for outlandish rumors. One such rumor revolves around secret "escape tunnels" that allegedly run from the U.S. Consulate on Garden Road to various locations across the city. Depending on the source, these underground passages supposedly lead to the Go

In 1934, the Nationalist government of China commissioned the renowned architectural firm Palmer and Turner to design its headquarters in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Construction of the Shanghai headquarters began in 1936. However, the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 delayed construction of the new Bank of China branches in Hong Kong and Singapore. Although the war ended in 1945, the Chinese Civil War immediately intensified between the Nationalists a

In 2015, The Monsters, a picture book series inspired by Nordic folklore and mythology, made its grand debut in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Four years later, in 2019, Pop Mart acquired the exclusive license to produce and sell Labubu toys. However, it was not until 2024 that the Labubu craze truly took the world by storm. Since then, it isn’t unheard of for people to queue for hours just to purchase a "blind box." Although the character of Labubu is heavily rooted in Nordic mytholo

On June 30th, 1997, shortly before midnight, the flag of Great Britain, along with the colonial flag of Hong Kong, was officially lowered for the last time. Moments later, on July 1st, 1997, shortly after midnight, the flag of the People's Republic of China, along with the flag of Hong Kong SAR, was officially hoisted for the first time. But why was July 1st, 1997, chosen for the handover of Hong Kong to China? In 1842, when the Qing Dynasty signed the Treaty of Nanking, they

Hongkongers have always benefited from a high level of freedom of movement. Whether you want to experience the frantic activity of Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, or prefer the peace and quiet atop Hong Kong’s mountains, no one will prevent you from doing so. This is true across the territory, with one notable exception: the town of Sha Tau Kok on the northeastern tip of the New Territories. Located right against the boundary of Shenzhen's Yantian District, the town-along with oth

In aviation, a callsign is a unique identifier assigned to an airline for use by pilots and air traffic controllers during radio communications. This ensures aircraft can be distinctively recognized both in the sky and on the ground. For instance, the callsign for Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s largest airline, is CATHAY—a direct reference to the company’s name. While most airlines choose a callsign that readily reflects their brand, Hong Kong Airlines opted for a different appr

It may come as a surprise, but throughout its history, colonial Hong Kong was plagued by maritime piracy. In fact, the last case of piracy that affected Hong Kong occurred in November 1998—a little over a year after the handover of Hong Kong—when a group of thirteen pirates hijacked the Hong Kong-owned cargo ship Cheung Son, bludgeoning its entire crew to death. All thirteen pirates were executed by firing squad in Shanwei, China. The last pirates who were executed on the ter

Hong Kong stands out as a geologically stable region. Although minor tremors stemming from earthquakes in mainland China are occasionally felt, earthquakes with epicentres within Hong Kong itself are extremely rare and weak. In fact, the strongest tremors ever felt in Hong Kong date back to 1918. That earthquake, centred in Shantou—300 kilometres (185 miles) east-northeast of Hong Kong—registered a Modified Mercalli Intensity of VI to VII locally. Yet, it may come as a surpri

Anyone who has studied at the University of Hong Kong will be familiar with Eliot Hall. Opened in 1914, the hall was named after Sir Charles Eliot, a British diplomat and colonial administrator. It was not, however, named after British diplomat and colonial administrator Sir Charles Elliot. This may sound confusing, but the statement is entirely correct. Sir Charles Elliot (with two "l"s) and Sir Charles Eliot (with one "l") were two different individuals whose legacies are d

It is a well-known fact that the history of Hong Kong is closely intertwined with the opium trade. Indeed, Hong Kong as the global financial hub it is today simply would not exist if it were not for the British opium trade in China through Canton (now known as Guangzhou). Following the cession of Hong Kong Island to the British in 1841, the colonial government established an opium monopoly. As a highly taxed and widely used commodity, opium represented up to 30% of the govern

Crossing Yee Wo Street toward SOGO in Causeway Bay, you will find yourself on the seemingly ill-named East Point Road, which forms the junction between Lockhart Road and Great George Street. After all, Causeway Bay sits smack in the center of Hong Kong Island’s northern shoreline, and East Point Road is located in the western half of the neighborhood. Why, then, does it bear such a name? In fact, East Point Road is one of those streets—like Boundary Street or Reclamation Stre

If you are into fishkeeping, you have probably heard of the highly popular Crystal Red and Crystal Black shrimp. Despite their small size—measuring just 2.5 to 3.5 cm (1 to 1.4 inches) in length—these tiny shrimps stand out due to their vibrant red-and-white or black-and-white patterns. What you may not know, however, is that their wild ancestor is endemic to Hong Kong and the Guangdong province in southern China. In fact, its scientific name, Caridina cf. cantonensis, direct

Hong Kong produces virtually nothing. Yet, remarkably, this tiny territory of 7.5 million inhabitants remains one of the world's leading exporters. In fact, as of 2026, Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok) stands as the world's busiest cargo airport, while the Port of Hong Kong remains a major global shipping hub. This maritime prowess peaked in the early 2000s when Hong Kong was the busiest container port in the world. Its dominance was largely driven by its unique

No one familiar with Hong Kong football would be surprised to find Hong Kong ranked in the bottom third of the FIFA Men's World Ranking. Indeed, during the 2026 World Cup held jointly in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Hong Kong was ranked 156th out of 211 member associations. Yet, there was a time when Hong Kong beat the odds. On February 21, 1996, Hong Kong reached 90th in the rankings, marking the men's team's only appearance in the FIFA top 100. This unique achieve

Between approximately 2,000,000 and 250,000 years ago, during the early to middle Pleistocene, a giant orangutan-like ape roamed the forests of central and southern China. Aptly named Gigantopithecus—which literally means "giant ape"—this largest representative of the primate family stood 3 meters (10 feet) tall and weighed between 200 and 300 kilograms (440–660 lbs). Nearly 300,000 years after our largest distant cousin vanished from the surface of the Earth, anthropologist

According to tradition, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Yuan Qu, a poet and minister of the ancient state of Chu, who lived between 340 and 278 BC during the Warring States period. After the fall of Ying, the Chu capital, Yuan Qu committed suicide by throwing himself into the Miluo River. Local people who admired him raced their boats to save him. Although they were unsuccessful, this event is said to be the origin (among other stories) of the Dragon Boat F

On March 3, 2020, the floating restaurant Jumbo , berthed at the South Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, closed after 44 years of operation. A popular tourist attraction in the 1980s and 1990s, Jumbo had been visited by millions of tourists as well as by famous personalities such as Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and actor Tom Cruise. Unfortunately, the 21st century was not as kind to the renowned restaurant. As of 2022, Jumbo had been unprofitable since 2013, acc

In Hong Kong, the central banking institution—known as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) since 1993—authorizes commercial banks to issue their own banknotes. While numerous banking corporations have issued currency throughout Hong Kong’s history, only three commercial banks have retained this privilege since 1994: Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), and Bank of China (Hong Kong). With 56% of the banknotes currently

Hong Kong is an exceptionally expensive city. In fact, it consistently ranks alongside Monaco, Singapore, and New York City as one of the world's most costly urban centers. However, there is one category where Hong Kong unequivocally tops all global peers: housing (un)affordability. As of 2026, Hong Kong’s price-to-income ratio stands at an astronomical 14.1. This means that a typical home costs 14.1 times the average annual household income—and that is assuming a household a

In 2009, the Legislative Council approved the construction of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, a 4-kilometre (2.5-mile) road connecting the shorelines of Sheung Wan and Fortress Hill on northern Hong Kong Island. As excavation progressed in late 2014, construction workers discovered a 40-by-11-metre metal object buried under five metres (15 feet) of mud. Rumours quickly surfaced that this wreckage belonged to HMS Tamar. The iconic troopship served as the Royal Navy’s base in Hong