Kowloon (九龍, "nine dragons" in Cantonese) is the peninsula to the north of Hong Kong Island. It lacks some of the glamour of the Island, but makes up for it with unmatched and distinctly Chinese vibrancy: Kowloon is by some measures
the most densely populated place on the planet, and has a matching array of places to shop, eat and sleep.
Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀), the tip of the peninsula, is Hong Kong's main tourist drag and backpacker ghetto, while
Mong Kok (旺角) packs in a huge array of shops and markets in an area of less than a square kilometer.
Get in
The classic way to get to Kowloon is by the
Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui, only $2.2. Most of Hong Kong's rail lines also converge on Kowloon.
See
Kowloon ParkCruise ships berthed at Ocean TerminalThe Kowloon Waterfront offers splendid views of the Hong Kong shoreline and skyline. At night the best spots to take photographs from are occupied by enterprising locals who will take your picture for money.A Symphony Of Lights. Every night at 8pm there is a light show involving Hong Kong Island's key buildings. On Monday evenings, spectators can listen to the show's music and English narration live at the Avenue of Stars, on radio on FM103.4 MHz or by calling 35 665 665.From the waterfront you can take the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island, getting an excellent view of the skyline in the process.Built in the 1950s, Shek Kip Mei Estate is the only place where you can see the living conditions in Hong Kong during the 50s - 60s. There are still a few blocks of buildings built in 1950s and residents are still living in them! Walk from Shek Kip Mei MTR Station.Hong Kong Space Museum Hong Kong Cultural Centre Do
Tai Chi Free lessons in English every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning from 8am-9am on the Avenue of Stars.Buy
If your budget doesn't quite stretch to the Tiffanys, Guccis and Shanghai Tangs of Hong Kong Island, head to Kowloon for more affordable shopping.
StoresTsim Sha Tsui's main drag Nathan Road is packed with stores, particularly cheap electronics shops. Be careful when shopping here: these slippery guys know every trick in the book and some stores are notorious for overcharging tourists. Normally locals seldom go to Tsim Sha Tsui for electronic products. It is more advisible to go to Mong Kok or Sham Shui Po instead.Harbour City is an enormous shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, the largest in Hong Kong. It is next to the Star Ferry pier. There are almost shops of any description there. The goods are mostly mid price range to high price brand name goods. If you are book lover on travel and like to meet other backpackers,
you can try The Travellers Home Bookshop located on 2/f 55 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Festival Walk is another excellent shopping all in the suburb of Kowloon Tong. A very pleasant place to shop, similar to Pacific Place but more catered for locals.New Century Plaza, adjacent to the Mong Kok train station, is popular with Mainland Chinese tourists. Offers a decent range of mid range to low range products.Langham Place, located in Mong Kok, is an entertainment complex comprising of a 15-storey shopping mall, a 59-level Grade A office tower and the 5-star Langham Place Hotel. Over 300 shops where you will find everything from fashion labels to casual wear, from accessories to electronics. On special occasions, large crowds will gather under the Digital Sky to celebrate festive events such as New Year's Eve countdown. Throughout the year, there will also be live musical performances, art exhibitions, and a host of special events to keep everyone entertained.Lok Fu Centre, next to Lok Fu MTR station, is a place for cheaper goods and food. Located in a public housing estate, goods are generally cheaper and affordable by the local general public. There is also a large department store there.MarketsThe Night Market is a set of street blocks in Kowloon barricaded after end of day working hours, with vendor tables in the street selling almost anything (usually until midnight). Lots of touristy stuff, but also some bargain items like Chinese silk pajamas, toys and cheap leather goods.The colorful Flower Market and the adjoining Bird Garden (Prince Edward St West) are worth a visit even if shrubs and parrots aren't high on your shopping list.In Mong Kok, Tung Choi Street (通菜街), also known as the Ladies' Market (女人街), is Kowloon's biggest outdoor bazaar shopping experience. The market sells many non-authentic goods which look very close to the original thing (Louis Vuitton bags are big around here), so just be sure you know what you are buying. In a nearby street shops sell sports goods and shoes at reasonable prices. The pedestrian zone is mostly for electronic goods. There are several small shopping malls selling computer products but are probably more suitable for locals. Everything is cheaper here but beware of being ripped off — you need to bargain heavily. The easiest way to get to the ladies market is via MTR to the Mong Kok stop. From there, signs are present to lead you to the ladies market.Cheung Sha Wan Road is famous for garments. There are many shops selling clothes along Cheung Sha Wan Road. It is within walking distance from Sham Shui Po MTR Station. A number of bus routes also pass through Cheung Sha Wan Road.Electronics and ComputersSham Shui Po has the largest number of computer and electronic vendors. Golden Computer Centre is the largest computer mall in Hong Kong, with both hardware and software vendors competing extremely vigorously. The nearby Apliu Street is a collection of electronic stalls, where you can find mobile phones, small electronic devices as well as tools.Mong Kok is popular for AV products and computers. Shops can be found along the road, but normally the shops on upper floors, which tourists may miss, often sell things cheaper. A block of famous "upper floor" AV shops, which is popular among locals, is Fa Yuen Commercial Building (75-77 Fa Yuen Street), easily accessible from Mong Kok MTR Station.Eat
Kowloon is the place to go for cheap and authentic Chinese food
BudgetChoi Lung Restaurant (Shek Kip Mei MTR Station, B2 Exit) is a typical local Chinese Restaurant offering dim sum and Cantonese style dinner. Dim Sum starts from HK$4.80. It is a nightclub after seven with lots of beautiful music.Temple Street in Mong Kok is a great place to eat local street food of dai pai dong. There are also many small stalls selling cheap local souvenirs. Food Court on 8/F, Dragon Centre, Sham Shui Po (near Sham Shui Po MTR Station, accessible on foot) provides a variety of Chinese, Southeast Asian and Western cuisines at attractive prices. Dishes range from HK$10 up.Fa Yuen Street Complex (123A Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok, near Mong Kok MTR Station and Mong Kok KCR Station) is a complex consisting of a wet market, cooked food centre, sports centre and library. It is a place where you can find cheap and genuine Hong Kong local style food in Kowloon downtown.Chunking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui houses many budget Indian restaurants. Touts at the entrance will lead you to the restaurants inside.Swaget restauarant on the first floor of Chungking Mansions is seen by many as one of the best Indian restauranst in Hong Kong.CitySuper has its own food court in Harbour City on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.Istanbul Express, Shop F-1. G/F. Rose Mansion, 1 Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui for Turkish kebabs.Ka Ka Lok is a Chinese fast food chain with numerous locations in Kowloon. The one on the corner of Ichang Street and Ashley Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is believed by many to offer some of the best food (for its price) in Hong Kong.Mid-rangeJade Palace (Star House, 4th floor) is a tasty and tourist-friendly dim sum spot. Order by selecting from a card (also in English), not from a cart. Try the shrimp and chive dumplings and the tripe in ginger soup. Dim sum served from 11 AM to 3 PM daily, dishes $16-40 each.Yat Tung Heen, Eaton Hotel, . Cantonese dishes and dim sum, from traditional favorites to original creations.Drink
Felix, atop the Peninsula Hotel on Salisbury Rd, is known for its Philippe Starck interior and the views of the harbour skyline, especially from the men's bathroom. According to legend the world's first screwdriver was also mixed up in here; these days sampling this simple mix of orange juice and vodka will set you back around HKD$99 a pop.Sleep
BudgetA large number of
guesthouses are located in Mong Kok. They offer cheap accommodation.
Dragon Hostel, 83 Argyle St, Mong Kok tel. +852-2395 0577, . A short walking distance from the Mong Kok MTR Station.Lee Garden Guest House, 36 Cameron Road, KowloonChung King Mansions and Mirador Mansions on Nathan Road is home to some budget hotels and many budget hostels. Among those that have a long history are
Travellers Hostel, Block A, 16 Fl in Chungking and
Garden Hostel, 2Fl, Mirador Mansions. These, and others like them, have been popular with backpackers for decades; bookings are generally not needed, nor usually honoured! Instead, budget travellers are advised to start at the top of a popular building such as Mirador Mansions and work their way down until they find a hostel that suits them.
Mid-RangeEaton Hotel Hong Kong, . This four-star hotel is located in Jordan overlooking Nathan Road and is a short-stop from the MTR station.SplurgeLangham Hotel Hong Kong, . This hotel is an elegant European-Style Hotel located in the heart of Kowloon's busiest commercial and entertainment district - Tsimshatsui, with superb designer boutiques and entertainment on its doorstep. It is just a few minutes' walk from Star Ferry and Victoria Harbour, Tsimshatsui MTR underground station. FREE shuttle offered if booking confirmed at ‘Best On-Line Rate” made through official website. Langham Place Hotel, Mongkok, . Newly built in 2004 this five star technological trend setter provides an oasis of tranquility in the bustle of Mongkok, the heart of 'real' Hong Kong and one of the most densely populated areas in the entire world. The good news is that Langham Place is a stones throw from all the traditional markets, selling everything from dried sea cucumber to 'Rolex' watches and the MTR is adjacent to the hotel so you can reach anywhere in Kowloon or on the Island without leaving air-conditioned comfort.Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Rd, . Hong Kong's grand old hotel with a commanding presence, some of Hong Kong's best bars and restaurants, and equally commanding prices starting at around $2500. Or how about the $50,000 honeymoon suite package including a helicopter tour of the city?New World Renaissance, 22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel. +852-2-3694111, . Decently located four-star hotel just off the Kowloon waterfront, but it's about 8 minutes on foot to the nearest MTR station and the rooms are not quite as opulent as the lobby. Internet rates from $700.Kowloon Shangri-La, 64 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, tel. +852 2721 2111, . Accessible through MTR Exit G. From airport to hotel: It takes 20 minutes by the Airport Express Train from the Airport to Kowloon Station. Airport Express passengers can take the free Airport Express Shuttle Bus (route K4) from the Kowloon Station to the hotel (duration: 15 minutes).
In modern day Hong Kong,
Kowloon refers to the urban area made up of Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon, bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of 2,019,533 and its population density was 43,033/km² in 2006. The peninsula's area is approximately 47 km² or 18.1 mi². Together with Hong Kong Island, it contains 48% of Hong Kong's total population.
The more accurate transcription
Kau Lung or
Kau-lung was often used in derived place names before World War II, for example
Kau-lung Bay instead of Kowloon Bay.
Location
Kowloon is located north of Hong Kong Island and south of the mainland part of the New Territories.
Administration
It comprises the following districts:
Kowloon CityKwun TongSham Shui PoWong Tai SinYau Tsim MongPolitics
Kowloon covers two geographical constituencies for the Legislative Council of Hong Kong:
Kowloon East includes Wong Tai Sin and Kwun TongKowloon West includes Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon CityHistory
The name Kowloon came from the
nine dragons represented by the eight peaks (1. Kowloon Peak, 2. Tung Shan, 3.Tate's Cairn, 4. Temple Hill, 5. Unicorn Ridge, 6. Lion Rock, 7. Beacon Hill, 8. Crow's Nest) and the ninth being Emperor Bing himself.
The part of Kowloon south of Boundary Street, together with Stonecutters Island, was ceded by Qing China to the United Kingdom under the Convention of Peking of 1860. For many years the area remained largely undeveloped, used by the British mainly for tiger-hunting expeditions.
The part of Kowloon north of Boundary Street (New Kowloon) was leased by the British
as part of the New Territories in 1898 for 99 years. Within New Kowloon is the Kowloon City, which refers to an area, where the Kowloon Walled City used to be located. The Kowloon Walled City itself was demolished in 1993. (The same area was called 官富場 (Pinyin:
Guanfuchang) during the Song Dynasty.)
In modern day conversations, however, New Kowloon is often not regarded as part of the New Territories, but as an integral part of the Kowloon urban area on both sides of Boundary Street. For rates tax purposes, New Kowloon is not considered part of Kowloon. Properties in New Kowloon are subjected to pay the land leases as those in the New Territories.
Large-scale development of Kowloon began in the early 20th century, with the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway and the Kowloon Wharf.
Due to Kowloon's close proximity to Kai Tak Airport, building constructions were limited by flight paths. Compared to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon resulted architecturally in much lower skyline
. After World War II Kowloon became extremely congested when slums for refugees from the newly established People's Republic of China gave way to public housing estates, mixed with private residential, commercial and industrial areas.
West Kowloon was once home to a dockyard for the Royal Navy and is now used as a typhoon shelter.
On July 1, 1997, both parts of Kowloon were transferred to the People's Republic of China along with the rest of Hong Kong.
See also
Hong KongKowloon BayBoundary StreetNew KowloonWest Kowloon Cultural DistrictList of buildings, sites and areas in Hong KongArgyle StreetExternal links
WikiSatellite view of Kowloon at WikiMapia The West Kowloon Cultural Village website - NEW PROJECT!Cap 1 Sched 4 Area of Kowloon
