Compare: Hong Kong→Taipei (811 km) vs Hong Kong→Manila (1,119 km). Hong Kong → Taipei wins by 308 km (28%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
811 km
504 miles · Flight: ~1h 31min · Drive: ~13h 11min
✓ Shorter route
1,119 km
695 miles · Flight: ~1h 54min · Drive: ~18h 11min
Difference: 308 km (28%) · Flight time difference: ~23 min
Verdict
Hong Kong → Taipei is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 308 km (28%) shorter, saves about 23 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 78 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Hong Kong → Manila only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Hong Kong → Taipei is the shorter route at 811 km, which is 308 km (28%) shorter than Hong Kong → Manila. You would save approximately 23 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Hong Kong → Taipei | Hong Kong → Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 811 | 1,119 |
| Distance (miles) | 504 | 695 |
| Flight time | ~1h 31min | ~1h 54min |
| Driving time | ~13h 11min | ~18h 11min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,054 km | ~1,455 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 67° (ENE) | 139° (SE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~207 kg | ~285 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~180 kg | ~249 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$105 USD | ~$146 USD |
Flying from Hong Kong to Taipei produces roughly 207 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Hong Kong → Manila flight emits about 285 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 78 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 4 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 180 kg and 249 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Hong Kong to Taipei route covers 811 km (504 miles), staying within Asia. Hong Kong (population: 7,488,865) is located in Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong, while Taipei (population: 2,646,204) is in Northern Taiwan, Taiwan.
The Hong Kong to Manila route covers 1,119 km (695 miles), remaining within Asia. Hong Kong (population: 7,488,865) is in Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong, and Manila (population: 1,780,148) is in Luzon, Philippines.
Flying from Hong Kong to Taipei takes approximately 1h 31min, while Hong Kong to Manila takes 1h 54min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 13h 11min for the first route and 18h 11min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Hong Kong, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Taipei and Manila as a destination.
The 308 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,054 km and 1,455 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 401 km of driving.
Taipei (Taiwan) has a population of 2,646,204 and is located in the Northern Taiwan region of Asia. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Manila (Philippines) has a population of 1,780,148 and is situated in Luzon, Asia. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Taipei (Taiwan) — a city of 2,646,204 in the Northern Taiwan region of Asia. It is also the shorter option at 811 km, which translates to a 23 min flight-time saving and roughly 78 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,054 km of road and a fuel cost band around $105 USD. The initial bearing is 67° (ENE), so a great-circle flight leaves Hong Kong heading roughly ENE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Manila (Philippines) — a city of 1,780,148 in the Luzon region of Asia. Even though it is the longer route at 1,119 km, it remains the obvious pick when Manila is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Hong Kong are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,455 km of road and a fuel cost in the $146 USD range. Departing Hong Kong, the great-circle bearing toward Manila is 139° (SE).
Hong Kong (22.32°, 114.17°) and Taipei (25.03°, 121.57°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Hong Kong (22.32°, 114.17°) and Manila (14.60°, 120.98°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Taipei is closer at 811 km, which is 308 km (28%) shorter.
811 km (504 miles). Flight: ~1h 31min.
1,119 km (695 miles). Flight: ~1h 54min.
Flying to Taipei is faster at ~1h 31min, saving about 23 min compared to Manila.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.