Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To get to Shek O, catch bus #9 (30min;
HK$7.20) from the bus terminal outside
the
Shau Kei Wan
MTR station (exit A3)
on the northeastern shore of Hong Kong
Island. It's a picturesque journey over hills
during which you'll spot first the
sparkling waters of the Tai Tam Reservoir,
then Stanley (to the southwest) and
finally Shek O itself, appearing below.
Alternatively, jump off at Cape
Collinson near To Tei Wan Village, and
walk to Shek O along the
Dragon's Back
ridge, one of Hong Kong's most famous
hikes (2-3hr), which boasts spectacular
views and is part of the 50km Hong
Kong Trail (see box, p.142); you can
also paraglide and abseil from here. To
reach the trail, head into Shek O
Country Park and follow signs to Shek O
Peak. he tourist o
ce brochure
(
W
discoverhongkong.com),
he Inside
Guide to Hikes and Walks in Hong Kong
,
has full details.
populated urban areas in the world (in
places shoehorning 100,000 people into
each square kilometre).
Kowloon is more down-to-earth and
ethnically diverse than the financial
playground of Hong Kong Island's
northern shore. he view from the Tsim
Sha Tsui East Promenade towards the
wall of skyscrapers across the harbour is
one of the most unforgettable city
panoramas, especially at night.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Tsim Sha Tsui
is the tourist heart of Hong
Kong, complete with ethnic enclaves,
and
Nathan Road
- lined with shops and
budget hotels - is its main artery, leading
down to the harbour. Hong Kong's major
museums (
W
museums.gov.hk) are also
found here; if you're keen to visit them
all, buy a HK$30 pass from one of seven
participating museums (including all
those listed here) for unlimited weekly
access or take advantage of free museum
entry on Wednesdays.
he part of Kowloon north of Tsim Sha
Tsui - encompassing
Yau Ma Tei
and
Mong Kok
- is rewarding to walk around,
with authentic Chinese neighbourhoods
and interesting markets.
3
KOWLOON
A 4km strip of the mainland grabbed
by the British in 1860 to add to their
offshore island,
Kowloon
was part of the
territory ceded to Britain “in perpetuity”
and was accordingly developed with
gusto and confidence. With the help of
land reclamation and the diminishing
significance of the border between
Kowloon and the New Territories at
Boundary Street, Kowloon has, over
the years, just about managed to
accommodate the vast numbers of people
who have squeezed into it. Today, areas
such as Mong Kok, jammed with soaring
tenements, are among the most densely
Tsim Sha Tsui
he
Star Ferry Pier
, for ferries to Hong
Kong Island (see box below), is right on
the southwestern tip of the
Tsim Sha Tsui
peninsula. he
Hong Kong Cultural
Centre
, about 100m east of the Star Ferry
Pier, contains concert halls, theatres and
galleries, including, in an adjacent wing,
the superb
Museum of Art
(daily except
hurs 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-8pm;
THE STAR FERRY
Dating back to 1888, the Star Ferry, with its legendary fleet of vessels such as the
Twinkling
Star
that ply Victoria Harbour, is a beloved part of the city's history. It was a Star Ferry that
brought governor Sir Mark Aitchinson Young to Tsim Sha Tsui in 1941, to surrender to the
Japanese, and it was at the Tsim Sha Tsui pier that rioters gathered in 1966 to protest a
five-cent hike in ticket prices. The Star Ferry was founded by Dorabjee Nowrojee, a Parsi from
Bombay who bought a steamboat for his family's use, at a time when the locals were crossing
the harbour in sampans. Riding one of the boats today is a quintessential Hong Kong
experience, not to mention the cheapest way to get a tour of one of the world's most
spectacular harbours (HK$2.50) as you make the ten-minute journey between Kowloon and
Central; photos are best taken from the bottom deck.
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