Discover Hong Kong: 11 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Hakuna Boar-tata

In an unexpected twist to "The Lion King's" famous motto "Hakuna Matata," Hong Kong residents are adopting a new catchphrase: "Hakuna Ma-BRISTLE-BACKED-a": Boars are increasingly roaming the city's urban jungles, making authorities scurry to control the party animals through catch-and-relocate programs, surgical sterilization initiatives, and the creation of boar-proof garbage bins.
Source => cnn.com

2. Time-Traveling Ferries

Who needs a time machine when you can cruise into the past for less than the price of an egg tart? Hop on a ferry in bustling Hong Kong and find yourself transported to traditional Chinese villages: For a mere HK$12 to HK$37, you can explore the outlying islands of Lantau, Cheung Chau, and Lamma, teeming with cultural treasures like Lantau's giant Buddha, Cheung Chau's charming fishing community, and Lamma's seaside hikes and seafood feasts.
Source => frommers.com

Did you know in Singapore, elite bird whisperers use speakers to emit distress calls, protecting airports from feathery chaos? Discover how air-cannons & chickens play a crucial role in aviation safety!

=> Fun Facts about Singapore

3. The Everlasting Party City

If Hong Kong were a party, it would be a particularly lively soirée where guests intimately discuss both deep existential topics and the secret to everlasting youth while simultaneously sipping on fine wine: Despite its seemingly overcrowded nature with a population density of 17,311 people per square mile, Hong Kong is not a city but an autonomous territory, boasting the second-highest life expectancy in the world and a "very high Human Development Index" ranking to boot.
Source => worldpopulationreview.com

4. The Towering BOC King

Move over, King Kong, and make way for the mighty Bank of China Tower: Standing at a colossal 315 meters tall from 1990 to 1992, it reigned supreme as the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia, and the first building outside the U.S. to crack the sky-scraping 305-meter mark.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Left-Driving Loyalty

Hong Kong: where drivers refuse to 'take it right' amidst their chaotic roads, staying loyal to the left in a sea of mainland Chinese right-driving rebellion: Despite their close geographical and political ties to China, Hong Kong keeps it old school with British-style left-hand driving, so much so that even the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge had to adapt to their traffic preferences, potentially leading to future harmonization across borders.
Source => zolimacitymag.com

6. Dragon Boats & Dim Sum

If you're ready to dive into a city that's been tossed like a cultural stir-fry, buckle up for a land of dragon boats and dim sum: Hong Kong houses the largest home cruise port in Asia as well as one of the busiest airports worldwide for both passengers and cargo, proudly donning the nickname "Asia's World City."
Source => neverstoptraveling.com

7. The Time-traveling Peak Tram

Who needs a time machine when you've got the Peak Tram acting as your cable-powered TARDIS? All aboard Hong Kong's peculiar yet fascinating journey into the past: The Peak Tram, inaugurated in 1888, stands proudly as Asia's first cable funicular, still traversing its original path from Murray Barracks to Victoria Gap and offering unmatched cityscape views while providing a serene escape from the urban jungle below.
Source => thepeak.com.hk

8. Bamboo-Man to the Rescue

Forget Spider-Man, welcome Bamboo Man: In Hong Kong, registered scaffolders masterfully scale formidable heights using only bamboo poles, which are thrice-aged to perfection and provide a stronger, lighter, and more flexible alternative to steel scaffolding – making it the superhero of construction in this bustling metropolis.
Source => multimedia.scmp.com

9. Jumbo Kingdom's Blockbuster Fate

Hong Kong's Jumbo Kingdom had all the makings of a blockbuster movie – a floating palace of gastronomy, frequented by royalty and superstars, only to face doom right as the credits rolled: This popular attraction housed the Jumbo Floating Restaurant and the Tai Pak Floating Restaurant, serving Cantonese and dim sum cuisine to over 30 million visitors, including Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise. Yet, after decades of success, financial woes began in 2013, leading to a 2020 suspension amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2022, the restaurant was towed out of Hong Kong for a chance at a sequel but tragically capsized in the South China Sea.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Under-the-Sea Typhoon Villages

In a chaotic spin on The Little Mermaid, a community in Hong Kong once ditched their land legs and made typhoon shelters their under-the-sea kingdom, complete with floating schools and specialty cuisine: These boat dwellers, living amidst the typhoon shelters, developed a distinct culture with unique rituals, language, and dishes like the famous "typhoon shelter crab." However, most of them now live onshore, while the shelters continue to provide safe anchorage for smaller vessels during tempestuous weather.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Escalator Movie Magic

Got stuck in a bizarre crossover between "Chungking Express" and "The Dark Knight" while hunting for the perfect curry puff? Turns out, you were just taking a stroll in Hong Kong: The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System, with its 800-meter length, holds the title for the longest outdoor pedestrian escalator in the world and serves as a popular movie set too. Keep an eye out for Shelley Street's graffiti scene featuring ex-SMAP star Katori Shingo's artwork, and savor the multicultural flavors from Mosque Street's Indian eateries to Hong Kong's oldest Muslim temple, a Grade 1 historic building.
Source => pmq.org.hk