Hong Kong
Background: the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is made up of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. Handed back to the Chinese in July 1997, it has remained a major destination for the UK market.
Attractions: the Peak Tram takes you to the Peak for spectacular views across Hong Kong Island. The Temple Street Market is open 7am-9pm and offers cheap clothing, luggage, watches, fortune-tellers and palm readers.
Language: the main language is Cantonese, but Mandarin is increasingly used. In the main tourist and business districts, English is widely spoken. Street and road signs are in English and Chinese.
Climate: spring and summer are hot and very humid with heavy rainfall from May to September. It is sunny, with lower humidity, in the autumn while in the winter there are the occasional cold spells.
Getting around: a train takes visitors from Chep Lap Kok Airport to Hong Kong Island in 23mins and costs about £8. A taxi from the airport will cost around £40.
Cost of living: in restaurants, expect to pay £60 for a meal that you would pay £40 for in the UK. In bars, you will pay £4-£5 for a gin and tonic. Taxis are cheap and most journeys will cost less than £2.