Kids swing and play surrounded by the cement, steel, and glass of tall city buildings. They’re used to it. This is Hong Kong, after all.

Adults ride buses, taxis, and trains through crowded streets. People here depend on trade for food, fuel, building materials, and almost everything else you can think of. They’re used to it. The business of Hong Kong is business!

Hong Kong Facts:

Size: 430 square miles—the size of San Antonio, Texas

Geography—part of Southeast Asia, it has a mainland area and more than 200 islands

Climate—subtropical with monsoon rains; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring to summer, warm and sunny in fall

Land Use: mostly urban, less than 5% of the land is farmed

Population 7.2 million

Languages: Chinese 90%, English 5%

Religion: Buddhist 28%, Christian 12%, Muslim 5%

Life expectancy: 83 years

Money: the Hong Kong dollar

Hong Kong Timeline:

Before 1842—Hong Kong has few people and is mainly known for the fishing trade.

1842—China turns Hong Kong Island over to Britain when a war between the two nations ends.

1898—Following a second war, Britain leases more land and 235 islands from China for 99 years.

1941―45—During World War II, Japan invades Hong Kong but is defeated by the Allied nations. Hong Kong goes back to British control.

1970s—Hong Kong becomes known as an “Asian Tiger.” Its strong economy is based on technology industries.

1984—Britain signs an agreement to turn Hong Kong over to China in 1997. This comes with China’s promise that Hong Kong will be allowed freedom and will not be ruled by a communist governing system for 50 years.

1997—As promised, Hong Kong is turned over to China. But it is not long before people start to protest that China is not living up to its end of the bargain.

2014—China has limited voters’ choices for democracy and freedom. Protesters in favor of democracy hold the center of the city for weeks. Step by step, China continues to tighten its control of Hong Kong.