map of  Hong Kong

Geography：Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is located in Guangdong Province on the south and the Pearl River estuary on the east side, it faces China Sea on the south and Shenzhen City GuangDong Province on the north,covering an area of 1070 square km. Hong Kong, including four major sections:Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories and outlying islands. Hong Kong is a typical coastal hilly terrain, many mountains, plains rarely; most of the coastal plains are the result of the land reclamation for nearly a hundred years.Coastline of Hong Kong is very tortuous, deep bay and more harbor.Victoria Harbor is an important harbor of Asia and the world ,between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon,lying in the interface of the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, facing long the Pacific.

Population: Hong Kong’s population is more than 6.6 million

Name Origin: Hong Kong, which means “fragrance of the harbor,” was probably relevant to create sandalwood and incense aroma emitted a long time ago on the island.

National: 97% Chinese, mostly in Guangdong; 3% of foreign

Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam

Language: English, Cantonese and Putonghua

Nickname: Pearl of the Orient, City of Life

District flower: bauhinia

Historical background:

in 1842: The Qing government signed the unequal “Nanjing Treaty” with the United Kingdom , ceded the Hong Kong Island to Britain.

in 1860: Signed “Beijing Treaty”, the Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to Britain.

in 1896: Britain forced the Qing government to sign treaties, leased line Street north of the Kowloon Peninsula and nearby islands region, term 99 years, during World War II, was occupied by Japan.

in 1945: Japan surrendered  and reoccupied by the British.

In 1984: the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of the Hong Kong issue.

in 1997: Hong Kong returned to China , implementation of “one country, two systems” and “a high degree of autonomy.”

Climate Temperature:

Hong Kong is a subtropical monsoon climate, annual average temperature of 22.8 degrees Celsius, the average rainfall is 2225 millimeters, the average relative humidity of 78%.

Spring (March to mid-May): the weather is warmer and humid, often foggy and drizzly, with an average temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, humidity 82%;

Summer (late May to mid-September): After the mid-summer is the typhoon season, the weather hot and humid in summer, the temperature can rise above 31 degrees afternoon, with occasional showers and thunderstorms, with an average temperature of 28 degrees, humidity percentage of 80;

Autumn ((late September to late December): The weather was clear and cool and dry, it is the tourist season arrived. The average temperature of 23 degrees, humidity 72%;

Winter (mid-December to late February): The most cool, dry weather, there will be occasional cold winds from the north, inland, when the temperature may be reduced to eight degrees Celsius, as the average winter temperature is 17 degrees, humidity of 72%.

Festival activities:

Cultural diversity in Hong Kong is also reflected in many of the festival. For Hong Kong people more lively and fun, but also for visitors to create a more pleasant surprise. China’s traditional festivals lively, happy, lucky, of course you can not miss; Western holiday fashion, stimulating and interesting, it is very exciting.

Lunar New Year (the first lunar month): New Year is the most important Chinese holiday. In addition to the family reunion, visiting friends and relatives and other essential content;

Chinese New Year in Hong Kong also features the project:

Lunar New Year Flower Market: it is held in various districts a few days before the Lunar New Year,  including the annual Lunar New Year Fair at Victoria Park.it is the most popular, and sale peach, chrysanthemum, daffodils and other Lunar New Year flowers and other commodities.

flower car parade:it is held in the city on New Year’s Day. There is the annual parade of floats from all over the world, as well as show the culture and customs in different parts of the parade, becoming a variety of large-scale performances, celebrating abundance and prosperity of he new year.

Fireworks Display: on the second of the lunar New Year, it is held in the waters of Victoria Harbor. Both sides of the harbor and the sea side of high-rise buildings, have become the best viewing location.

Christmas Day (December 25): Christmas is one of our most exciting and most solemn festival. On both sides of Victoria Harbor, tall buildings, more than a month ahead of schedule on the layout of the colorful lights, the stores put on a Christmas decoration, just the scenery, it attracted many visitors amazed. At this point in Hong Kong, showing the face of the most glorious city, if there is interest in prosperous of Hong Kong, then the best time to visit is Christmas.

The most popular is the Christmas Eve, have a sacred church mass on Christmas Eve, a number of hotels and shopping malls have a choir singing carols, all Hong Kong people have flocked to the streets, including the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and near the Main Street Garden is surging crowds.

If we can come to Hong Kong during the Christmas, shopping is a great fun. At this time the implementation of major shopping malls will be on sale, can be as low as half price, which has become the practice in Hong Kong, Hong Kong residents will choose this time to buy Christmas presents for loved ones into the warmth thick.

1. Precious commodities should be bought in Regular department store or specialized shops.though the price is a little dear, but there is no need to worry about fakes.
2. Tobacco, alcohol and perfume and other goods must be bought in “DUTY FREE SHOP”, These are duty-free shops to remove customs duties and excise duties. In Australia there is another duty-free shops, which name is the “TAX FREE”, this store only can exempte from excise duty, so when you are making purchases, you must recognize signs of shop signs.In the duty-free shopping, it is necessary to produce a passport and air tickets for international flights.
3. Mast card,Visa card can been used commonly in the majority of stores in Australia, when you are shopping at a flea market,which is better paid by the Australian dollar. it is necessary to produce the original passport when you are using traveler’s checks.
4. there are commonly not accustomed to bargain in big stores ,but in a flea market or the Chinese shops, you can bargain.

To pay, in principle, you can use local currency and some stores may be paid in U.S. dollars, but the change is still the local currency. (RMB, NT, Hong Kong dollars can been used in the stores which is managed by Chinese people).

King crab
The so-called king crab is the crab’s mast, the foot of the king crab is huge like a basin, and you will not stand to lick your chops, even there are some people take it back home with the emperor crab shells as a memento.

Oyster
Australia’s oyster is not just fat and clean, but also it is very cheap. Oyster can be eaten raws and can be eaten steamed. Many people from all kinds of countries come to Australia to eat raw oysters, Fresh oysters are not even opened the cover, the customer can eat by squeezing the fresh lemon juice to the meat after looking at sales openings the cover, and dip some sauce on oyster  raw, it is really very delicious .

Abalone
Australian abalone is plentiful. However, Australians do not know how to eat abalone. except for balone exports, basically can be seen only in Chinese restaurants. Previously, only a few AUD per kg Australian abalone.  the price had gradually risen to more than 30 AUD Since a large number of Chinese come to Australia. If you want to eat abalone, you need come to Chinese restaurants.

Lobster
Australia’s lobster is most famous in China. The home of the lobster, lobster prices maybe not so cheap.

Salmon
salmon is mainly used to eat raw, health is demanded highly.. Australia’s salmon-rich should be the most health.

The diversity of Australian food culture date from the late 50s, with the massive influx of immigrants and settlers around the world, they brought their home-style cooking, the greatest impaction is Mediterranean and Asian cooking styles on Australia food, traditional French cooking has been assimilated gradually as ” French cuisine of Australian characteristics,” … …

Australia is a wealthy country. The vast waters around the country has supplied for people with the inexhaustible water resources. lobster is very large as much as two kilograms. There are variety of delicious seafood which one expects to find. As having not many industries in Australia, waters have not been polluted, many aquatic products can be eaten raw and will not damage your body, such as lobsters and sea oyster. ,people find it hard to understand is that you can actually eat the crocodile in the hotel, kangaroo and ostrich meat, which compared with the legal protection of wild animals from many countries. The crocodile meat is soft, no point toughness; kangaroo meat has a bit like mutton, a heavy smell of mutton; ostrich meat eat like beef, tear fixed. I do not know how to be removed to the hotel in such a strict national law of protecting these rare animals .

Australia’s livestock industry developed, so cattle, mutton meat is fresh and delicious. while there are crocodile, kangaroo, buffalo and other meat-based in Queensland, the Northern Territory. In the city by the sea, while the bulk of seafood, especially oysters of Sydney (or lobster), crab of Queensland, herring, South Australia and Western Australia’s largest lobster, Northern Territory barramundi packet of prawn (Barramundi) is most well-known. in addition, fertile land along the coast of Australia, Gu meters, vegetables and fruit are more than rich.

If you want to go to Australia,the purpose of sightseeing, vacation, visiting relatives and friends, or other short-term non-commercial activities, you will need a Short Stay Tourist Visa or Long Stay Tourist Visa:

Short Stay Tourist

The Electronic Travel Authority for Australia tourist visa is the most advanced and simplifying the visa authorisation system in the world.the ETA replaced the visa label or stamp, no application forms. Australia ETA is going to Australia to allow the electronic storage, which means that you do not need a document on paper or stamps your passport.

Long Stay Tourist Visa

Tourist visa (676 points) who did not design the list of countries eligible for ETA, or people who want to go to Australia for more than 3 months.
Tourist visa (676 points), you can stay in Australia:
·Stay more than 12 months or shorter period depending on the purpose of the visit and your personal circumstances;

·Single or multiple entries to Australia.

Climate
Australia’s climate,there is no extreme temperature difference, but just with the Northern Hemisphere season the contrary, now is the winter.

Clothing
its temperature is from warm to hot during Summer(December to February), people should wear light clothing deduring the day , but should carry a sweater or jacket, to prevent the cooler evening;winter (June to August) should be wearing a sweater, jacket, light jacket or warm clothing.In the area to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef coral fish may be prepared by shading hat, sunglasses and suntan lotion, beach shoes also must be prepared to protect the foot.

Currency
Australian currency is decimal, for the most basic unit in dollars (100 cents is equivalent to one Austalian dollar). Notes there is $ 100, $ 50, $ 20, $ 10, $ 5 in five denominations and there is 5 Australian cents, 10 Australian cents, 20 Australian cents, 50 Australian cents, 1 Austalian dollar and 2 Austalian dollar in six denominations of coin, such as .

Time Zones
Three different time zones cross Australia:
Eastern (GMT + 10) for New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland.
Central (GMT + 9:30) for the Northern Territory and South Australia.
Western time (GMT+8) in Western Australia.

Cashomat
As long as the ATM card holders have applied for international, will be able to use at automatic teller machines in Australia and the majority of retail outlets. For the use of cash or other services, cardholders must enter a personal password before accessing to individual accounts,you can ask the bank for the scope of application of ATM cards and service charge.

Traveler’s Check
Checks should be converted in a bank or large hotels, as it may be difficult to exchange in other places. Notes: there are some banks will need charged by exchanging travelers’ traveler’s check.

Australia

Australia, the word means “South Continent”, when the Europeans discovery this continent in the early 17th century, they make a misconception that this is a piece of land through the Antarctic, so the name “Australia”, “Australia” is changed from. Latin “terraaustralis” (the southern land )

Australia is located between the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the east is facing the Coral Sea and Tasman Sea of the Pacific Ocean, the west, north and south faces the Indian Ocean and its marginal sea, a long coastline, a vast country, accounting for the vast majority of Oceania, though surrounded by water, desert and semi-desert areas of the country account for 35%. The country is divided into 3 regions which are eastern mountains, central plains and western plateau. The highest peaks, Kosciusko National has 2230 meters altitude, the longest river is Melbourne, 3490 River long. Australia’s inland, drought and little rain, less than 200 mm annual rainfall, relatively high rainfall in eastern mountains.

Australia is a typical country of immigration, was referred as “the nation’s plate ” by sociologist. Since the British immigrants set foot on this beautiful land from the date, there have been 120 countries from all over the world, 140 ethnic groups of immigrants to Australia to make a living and development. The formation of multi-ethnic multi-cultural is a significant feature of Australia society.

Australia is world-renowned big country of agriculture and animal husbandry, and its exports of both wheat and wool is the forefront of world. Australia has largest sheep is the world, which is known as ” country of riding on the sheep’s back ”

◆The Australian Flag

The flag is based on the Blue Ensign of the United Kingdom, is twice as long as it is wide, and consists of a dark blue field that can be notionally divided into four quadrants.

The present Australian flag consists of three main elements：

﹡ The Union Jack in the upper hoist quadrant or first quarter.

﹡ The Southern Cross in the second quarter and fourth quarter. It consists of five stars in a more or less kite-like pattern. The constellation of the Southern Cross stands for “the southern continent”. It means that the country is in the southern hemisphere.

﹡The Commonwealth Star or Star of Federation, central in the third quarter or lower hoist, has seven points to denote the six states and the combined territories of the Commonwealth.

◆The Australian Emblem

The supporters of Australian Emblem are native Australian fauna: a kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right.In the center is a shield，behind it are six designs . They stand for six states.

The red cross stands for New South Wales; the Southern Cross under the crown stands for Victoria ; blue Maltese Cross and crown for Queensland ; a Piping Shrike or Magpie for South Australia ; the Black Swan for Western Australia and a Lion for Tasmania.The seven points star on the top represents the Commonwealth. The tree is wattle. On the bottom is the ribbon with “Australia” on .

◆The National Flower

Wattle is the name generally used for the Australian.

Wattles have greygreen foliage in a variety of shapes and sizes, and cream to golden flowers. These flowers consist of a spherical or tubular bundle of stamens, with a minute centre.

Golden wattles stand for Australian people fond of green shade and gold-like colours. She was officially nominated as national flower in 1988.

Wattle is the name generally used for the Australian.

Wattles have greygreen foliage in a variety of shapes and sizes, and cream to golden flowers. These flowers consist of a spherical or tubular bundle of stamens, with a minute centre.

Golden wattles stand for Australian people fond of green shade and gold-like colours. She was officially nominated as national flower in 1988.

◆The National Bird  — Emu

The Emu is a large, flightless bird, similar to the ostrich but with three-toed feet and grey or brown plumage. It is the second-biggest bird in Australia and the third-biggest bird in the world (only the ostrich and cassowary are bigger). The emu is also very fast; it can run up to 30 mph (50kph). Emus also swim very well.

This huge bird lives in groups in grasslands, savannas (grasslands with some trees), and the Australian bush.The emu’s life span is 10-20 years. Emus grow to about 6 feet(185cm) tall and weigh about 110 pounds(50kg). This is bigger than many adult humans.