Typhoon Nida has swept through Hong Kong, shutting down most of the financial hub with gale-force winds and disrupting hundreds of flights, while low-lying areas were put on flood alert.
Hong Kong's first major typhoon this year brought gusts of more than 100km/h and prompted the observatory to issue an amber warning on Tuesday, signifying heavy rain, at 5.20am Hong Kong time (0720 AEST).
More than 150 flights were cancelled, the Airport Authority said, with Cathay Pacific and Dragonair warning none of their flights would be operating until 2pm (1600 AEST) at the earliest. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the airport and around 325 flights are expected to be rescheduled.
Ferry, tram and bus services were also suspended.
Streets were largely deserted and shops shuttered since Monday evening when the typhoon signal No.8 was hoisted, prompting many people to leave work early.
Nida was moving gradually to the inland areas of Guangdong and winds near its centre had showed signs of weakening, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited announced that the morning trading in its securities market, including Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect trading, and derivatives market had been delayed due to the issuing of the typhoon signal 8.
The morning trading session at the Hong Kong stock exchange was suspended and the market will be shut for the rest of the day if a typhoon signal 8 is still in place by noon.
The Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society said the local gold market would also cancel trading on Tuesday morning due to the typhoon.
Across the border, part of Guangdong province closed offices, factories and schools as the typhoon swept across the southern part of the metropolis of Guangzhou.
Airports in the southern part of the province, including Shenzhen and Zhuhai, cancelled most flights while more than 35,000 people were evacuated, state media reported.
Last month, Typhoon Nepartak drove at least 420,000 Chinese from their homes and caused more than 7.1 billion yuan ($A1.4 billion) in losses in Fujian province alone.
