Hong Kong is located on China's south coast, surrounded by water on three sides. It has a population of over 7 million people who are mostly ethnically Chinese. While Cantonese is the most common language, English and Mandarin are also widely spoken. Hong Kong has a mixed cultural heritage from British colonial rule and Chinese influence seen in practices like Mahayana Buddhism and Cantonese cuisine. The territory has a high degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" principle established when Britain handed control back to China in 1997.

1. Hong Kong 香港 Geography, People. Culture and HistoryBy Sammy Lee

2. Geography Hong Kong is located on China's south coast

3. It is surrounded by the South China Sea on the east, south, and west, and borders the Guangdong city of Shenzhen to the north over the Shenzhen River

4. The territory of Hong Kong is about 426 Miles2

5. Spanning over three main areas: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories

6. Hilly to Mountainous

7. Much of Hong Kong's terrain is hilly to mountainous with steep slopes, less than 25% of the territory's landmass is developed

8. The highest elevation in the territory is at Tai Mo Shan, at a height of 3,140 ft above sea level.Geography (Cont.) Pollution 80% of the pollution in Hong Kong comes from other parts of the Pearl River delta

9. Hong Kong suffers from increasing pollution compounded by its geography and tall buildings. Weather Summer is hot and humid with occasional showers and thunderstorms, and warm air coming from the southwest.

10. Winter weather usually starts sunny and becomes cloudier towards February, with the occasional cold front bringing strong, cooling winds from the north.