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Switzerland
Switzerland is a landlocked country whose territory is geographically divided between the Alps. The country is situated in Western Europe where it is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland comprises three main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, and Italian, to which the Romansh-speaking valleys are added. The Swiss therefore do not form a nation in the sense of a common ethnic or linguistic identity. The strong sense of belonging to the country is founded on the common historical background, shared values (federalism, direct democracy, neutrality) and Alpine symbolism.Main Cities and Population
Switzerland consists of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The Swiss population of approximately 7.7 million people concentrates mostly on the Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found. Among them are the two global cities and economic centers of Zürich and Geneva.
Languages
Switzerland comprises four main linguistic and cultural regions: German (64%), French (19%), and Italian (8%), Romanish (1%). English is the communication language in tourism and hospitality industries.
Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners and Eurocard are welcomed in most of the shops within Switzerland.
Currency exchange is available in most of the bank, exchange company and hotels.
Time Difference
Summer time (start from April):
CEST (UTC+2) Swiss time is 6 hours slower than HK Time
Winter Time (start from October):
CET (UTC+1) Swiss time is 7 hours slower than HK Time
Climate
Spring (April to June): 4°C to 20°C
Summer (June to August): 12°C to 25°C
Autumn (September to November): 0°C to 18°C
Winter (December to March): -5°C to 10°C
Transportation
Being in the center of Europe, Switzerland has a dense network of roads and railways. The crossing of the Alps is an important route for European transportation, as the Alps separate Switzerland from some of its neighbors. Zürich Airport is Switzerland's largest international flight gateway. The second largest airport is Geneva Cointrin, and the third largest is Basel Airport, both being shared with France. Travel to Switzerland by flight from Hong Kong takes about 13 hours. Transit from Zurich to Geneva takes only about 45 minutes. |
