The New Territories in turn are made up of the larger peninsula from which Kowloon extends and more than 230 surrounding islands.
Tall mountains rise from the sea and create a topography of rugged beauty and dramatic vistas.
The heart of the metropolis is the capital on Hong Kong Island, Victoria, which climbs almost vertical streets halfway up Victoria Peak. The island shelters the harbor from the South China Sea. The major commercial center is the city of Kowloon, directly across the harbor. Except for the huge island of Lantau, most of the remaining islands are small and sparsely populated. A few have bedroom communities with inhabitants who take ferries to work on Hong Kong or Kowloon.