Hong Kong and Macau: The Rough Guide (Rough Guide Travel Guides) [Paperback]

Far Eastern Economic Review

Hong Kong and Macau's subtropical climates are broadly similar. Apart from a couple of months a year during which the weather is reliably good, for most of the time it's generally unpredictable, and often downright stormy. The heat is always made more oppressive by the humidity: in very humid weather you'll find your strength sapped if you try to do too much walking, and dehydration can be a serious problem. You'll need air-conditioning in your hotel room or - at the very least - a fan. Macau does have the bonus of the cool breeze off the sea in summer, which makes nursing a beer on the waterfront the pleasant experience it rarely is in Hong Kong.

The best time is undoubtedly autumn, when the humidity is at its lowest and days are bright and warm. In winter, things get noticeably cooler (you'll need a jacket), and though the skies often stay clear, there will be periods of wind and low cloud - don't expect reliable, clear views from the Peak at this time. Temperatures and humidity rise during spring, and while there can be beautiful warm blue days towards April, earlier in the season the skies usually stay grey and there are frequent showers and heavier rain. The summer is dramatically different: it's terribly hot and humid, and best avoided, if possible. If you do visit, you'll need an umbrella to keep off both the rain or the sun; raincoats are hot and aren't much use in heavy downpours.

The summer also sees the typhoon season, which lasts roughly from July to September. Getting stuck in a typhoon can be quite an experience. The word comes from the Chinese dai foo, or "big wind", an Asian hurricane, and over the years typhoons whistling through Hong Kong have had a devastating effect - scores of people dead and millions of dollars' worth of damage. Listen to the radio or TV weather broadcasts to find out what's happening and check the box below for Storm Signal details.