55 kilometres

1104.57 miles

Chinese President Xi Jinping has officially opened the world’s longest sea crossing bridge, nine years after construction first began. Including its access roads, the bridge spans 55km (34 miles) and connects Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai.

It is possible to drive yourself from Hong Kong to mainland China, although driving is not recommended as it comes with a few challenges including switching between sides of the road to drive on (China and Hong Kong drivers use opposite sides of the road) and trying to read the nearly-useless road signs.

Safety in public places For the most part, China is a safe place to visit, and crowds in public places should not cause any worry. Of course, small risks are still present, including petty theft and pickpocketing in tourist areas, as well as at train stations and on sleeper buses and trains.

10 Things Not to Do in China

• Don’t Talk about Uncomfortable or Politically Sensitive Topics.
• Don’t Disrespect the Customs of Minority Groups and Temples.
• Don’t Make Close Personal Contact, Such as a Hug or Kiss.
• Don’t Expect Interpersonal Communications to Be the Same.
• Don’t Forget Your Manners When Using Chopsticks.

Driving across the border into China is jarring precisely because it is so seamless. Hong Kong drives on the left; mainland China drives on the right.

Despite the developments in the US, some parts of Canada continued to drive on the left until shortly after the Second World War. Newfoundland drove on the left until 1947, and joined Canada in 1949. In Europe, the remaining left-driving countries switched one by one to driving on the right.

As most people are right-handed, the driver would sit to the right of the seat so his whip hand was free. Traffic congestion in 18th century London led to a law being passed to make all traffic on London Bridge keep to the left in order to reduce collisions.

Since most people are right-handed, swordsmen preferred to travel on the left in order to have their right arm nearer to a potential opponent and their sword and scabbard further from them. Since the scabbard was worn on the left, it also prevented two people from knocking swords accidentally and sparking a duel.

Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines. Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee. From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.