Hong Kong's dynamism is unforgettable. From the vantage point of Victoria Peak, overlooking the world's busiest deepwater port, you can see a city geared not only to making money but feeling good about it. At night, it's like looking down into a volcano. Despite being one of the last British colonies to go, Hong Kong has always stuck to its roots, and the culture beneath the glitz is pure Chinese. People here may be a little wary of the consequences of the Chinese handover, but at the moment the feeling is one of relief. Give yourself at least three days to get accustomed to the whirlwind pace, then check out the beaches and Outlying Islands for a change of tempo and scene. The best time to visit is autumn (October-December) or spring (March-May), when temperatures are around 22 degrees celsius and rainfall is slight. Hong Kong has chilly, cloudy, depressing winters and hot, humid summers. Thunderstorms are frequent from mid-July to mid-October and June tends to be the wettest month. Typhoons are common in September.