Study Abroad in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an electrifying, vibrant city where the fun never stops. With many diverse ethnicities and influences, this city is a unique destination. Once under British rule, ten years ago this city was handed over to Chinese rule and the trading boom began. Hong Kong is now a key player in the international export of goods. A crazy thing about Hong Kong you might not know is that this city has the most people living in the smallest square footage area than any other city in the world. There are approximately 7 million people that live within 1100 sq km. However basically only 10% of this land is livable, since the city is surrounded by water. Once you get past all the commotion and crowdedness, you will be able to enjoy Hong Kong for its beauty and wealth of rich history. Study abroad in Hong Kong and let Student Universe get you there!
Hong Kong Pictures
Things to do in Hong Kong
Festivals are a big deal here. Chinese New Year is the biggest and best festival of all. This New Years is celebrated in early February and goes for two weeks. Unlike the European and American New Years you can still find restaurants and some shops open. Although if you are a tourist it might not be the best time to visit since many attractions are closed. Studying Abroad here won’t be an issue and is a nice time to do some traveling. The Spring Latern Festival is a beautiful sight. The procession can be seen in Causeway Bay. Moon festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. You can purchase moon cakes. And duck egg yolks are a delicacy at this time. There is also a lanterns celebration attached to this and you can see decorative lanterns glow in the night sky. At Victoria Peak, a top the giant, wok shaped Peak Tower, you will get a fantastic view of Hong Kong Island. There are also restaurants, shops, and viewing points in this building. Make sure you also get a chance to stop by traditional historical sites, museums, including Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Hong Kong Disney Land (definitely not a sight to be missed). Disney Land has been open since 2005 and is located on Lantau Island.
Nightlife in Hong Kong
Being one of the largest population based cities in the country means that Hong Kong must live up to all reputations, especially its excellent nightlife. For Asia this city just happens to be one of the best for night clubs. In the past locals were not as eager to go out and so there were not as many bars and clubs. However since the tourist boom and younger generations have been crowding in these streets, more and more clubs have been coming in. Lan Kwai Fong in Central is a popular place for students to come and mingle with tourists from around the world including America. The bar here is very nice. Wan Chai is a lot of fun but can be a bit more sketchy then Lan Kwai Fong. Causeway Bay and Eastern Soho areas are less touristy. Tsing Tao is the local lager and San Miguel is one of the only imported beers you will find.
Colleges and Classes in Hong Kong
Art classes are popular in Hong Kong. Drawing and painting as well as calligraphy. Here is where you can try something new and fun and you probably wouldn’t take back home. This is your only semester to really experience being here so you might as while go out of your element and take a new class. Chinese cuisine classes are a fun way to learn a certain aspect of this country. History classes and religion classes are always a good idea because you learn more about where you are and can appreciate it better. Also check with your home university about prerequisites. Many schools require prior Chinese speaking knowledge. And you will most likely be required to take a Chinese class during your semester here.
Travel From Hong Kong
Macau is a former Portuguese colony and is only one hour away by ferry. Check with studentuniverse.com for excellent deals on hostels and hotels here. It has the highest population density among all the countries and regions in the world. Zhuhai is a little over an hour by ferry from Macau and is equally as interesting. Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China and has a population of over 10 million. The language here is Cantonese. Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral and Sun Yat Sen Memorial are great sights. Mainland China is a good trip for spring break or a long weekend. You will have to narrow down your list of cities of course since there are so many. Beijing is spectacular and make sure not to miss the actual Olympics 2008 buildings.
Hong Kong Study Abroad Tips
- Mandarin is the official language in Hong Kong although there are several dialects in the region.
- Pollution is a problem because of high population density and industrial pollution from mainland China.
- Manners are important to locals, so brush up on your Chinese etiquette before going.
