Category Basic Info

“Typhoon to Hong Kong Soon” Makes Great Clickbait

While Hong Kong is sometimes hit by typhoons, predicting them in advance is tricky. Yet this doesn’t stop social media and even mainstream media posts that latch on to occasional results of computer forecast models that suggest potential typhoons, even…

Lightning-packed Supercell over Cheung Chau, Hong Kong

Yesterday evening (30 April 2024), weather monitoring imagery showed an intense rainstorm/thunderstorm area – a “supercell” approaching Hong Kong from the west. I went from my home to the public pier at the nearby Cheung Chau typhoon shelter, with ideas…

Tropical Cyclone Ma-on Headed for Hong Kong

25 August 2022 (evening) update: Ma-on took a track somewhat south and west of earlier forecasts; passed within 200km of Hong as a severe tropical storm early this morning. So, “no biggie”. Quite dry while it passed Hong Kong too,…

Use Octopus for easier transport etc payments

If you plan on using public transport in Hong Kong, consider getting yourself an Octopus stored value card: it’ll make your life much easier – especially on buses with no change given, and you can even use it in vending…

HK Outdoors Links

More DocMartin sites More sites by Hong Kong Outdoors founder and webmaster Dr Martin Williams Cheung Chau HK Cheung Chau – a small but fascinating island in Hong Kong (where I live) DocMartin – Hong Kong based writer, photographer and videographer…

Typhoon Haiyan Lessons for Hong Kong

Typhoon Haiyan was among the strongest storms on record, and devastated a swathe of the Philippines. A storm surge was most damaging; and surges have hit Hong Kong.

Hong Kong weather outlook warmer wetter wilder

With global warming only just getting started, according to scientists, it’s time for Hong Kong to move beyond talk and switching off lights for an hour one day a year Early this month came news that Hong Kong ranked among…

Typhoon Vicente hurricane force winds blast Hong Kong

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Severe Typhoon Vicente slammed Hong Kong on 23 and 24 July 2012, with hurricane force winds blasting places including Cheung Chau. It was a surprising storm, as even a couple of days earlier it was a large but rather shapeless…

Mobile phone apps for Hong Kong Outdoors

Free smartphone apps that can be helpful for heading outdoors in Hong Kong. My Observatory (我的天文台) Best of all, I think, is this app from Hong Kong Observatory: provides extensive information that can be a boon whilst outdoors. Such as…

Hong Kong Railways

Hong Kong's major rail network is operated by the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) Corporation.

Severe Tropical Storm Pabuk

Severe Tropical Storm Pabuk looked set to have passed Hong Kong, barely causing an impact other than a pulse of thunderstorms, some rain. Headed towards Hainan, and forecast to dwindle to nothingness. But, it stopped, strengthened again, and turned around…

Buying binoculars

Here’s short info I sent someone asking for advice on buying binoculars in Hong Kong: Well, I’m a birder, but rather rarely buy binoculars – my Leicas now maybe 15 years old (not sure)! [Since I wrote this, I lost…

Hong Kong Accommodation outside city

Hong Kong does have some places to stay outside the main urban areas.Some are hotels, including in Sha Tin (still urban, but in the New Territories); while there are small village guest houses in wilder places, including several you can…

South Lantau Bus

My farourite Hong Kong bus ride is east from Mui Wo to Ngong Ping, heading along the south coast of Lantau Island, then up into the hills. Though Hong Kong has some fine bus routes into and wholly within the…

Hong Kong Typhoons including Calamitous Storm Surges

Typhoons have sometimes caused massive damage and loss of life in Hong Kong. Just months after British sovereignty over Hong Kong Island was first declared in 1841, “a violent typhoon flattened all the insubstantial housing and damaged shipping.” (Endacott, A…

Hong Kong tropical cyclones

Hong Kong can be impacted by tropical cyclones including and typhoons. Happily, typhoons are scarce near Hong Kong, and rarely score direct hits (13 from 1946 to now) – but can be spectacular and deadly when they do impact the…

Mosquitoes in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, mosquitoes are pesky, but currently rarely carry diseases. For most of my time in Hong Kong, mosquitoes have been pretty much just an irritant – especially from spring to autumn, in and near woodland, and worst around…

Sai Kung Minibus

Those who live in Sai Kung and need to get to work early in the morning or those who wish to visit the town for an evening meal can now jump on a RED minibus.

HK Taxis

Taxis are abundant in Hong Kong. In most city areas, you’ll find just the regular, red taxis; in the mainland New Territories there are green taxis, while blue taxis serve most of Lantau Island. Red taxis are priciest; flag falls…

Hong Kong Ferries

Ferry companies serving islands in Hong Kong. (And of course there’s the Star Ferry Company, though that mainly shuttles between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Plus the Discovery Bay Transportation Services routes serving the suburb across the water, Discovery Bay…