Hong Kong is the SAR of China noted for its diversity and international flavor. It's a bustling city with many different areas, each of which has its own unique flair. In a big city like Hong Kong, it can be difficult to stand out, but that's just what Kowloon does. This area of the city has an urban vibe all its own, and it is one of the most vibrant and popular destinations for tourists and visitors. The name of the city comes from the nine dragons of the area: eight peaks (Kowloon Peak, Tung Shan, Tate's Cairn, Temple Hill, Unicorn Ridge, Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, Crow's Nest) and one emperor (Emperor Bing). Kowloon is separated into two main areas: the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. Urban development in this area began in the early twentieth century and, as a result, it's one of the most developed and technologically advanced districts in the area.
Things To See & Do
Visiting this area is a must for anyone coming into the Hong Kong area. For many people, a visit to Kowloon is what they think of when they visit Hong Kong. Not only do new visitors want to see what it's all about, but people who come here year after year can't leave without stopping here. In fact, some of them are only visiting Hong Kong to come to this area, and to immerse themselves in the rich city life that this area provides. The city itself is bustling with people, sights, sounds, and even smells. The restaurant and dining scene here is diverse: you can find everything from five-star restaurants with world-renowned chefs to tiny eateries serving traditional Cantonese fare in a humble setting.
Kowloon also features a lot of tourist attractions. The presence of a harbour also adds the aesthetic appeal of the area. Some of the most attractive sites include:
- Avenue of Stars. This is a kind of a walkway that was designed in the early 2004 to pay tribute to some of the all time greats of a very prosperous movie industry. It has a very elegant statue of Bruce Lee in one of his favorite karate moves. The statue is complemented by an amazing lighting system and is a perfect location to view the Victoria Harbor.
- Every night at 8:00 visitors of the city as well as locals may watch the show called "A Symphony of Lights". This spectacular laser, light and music show, involve tens of buildings on both sides of the Harbour. The scope of the project is indeed striking. The show is divided into several acts, during which the illumination of buildings is used in different colors, and background music changes from calm to energetic.
- For those who want to know more about Chinese culture and history of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Museum of History is at your service. If you have not enough time to visit several museums, but have time to visit at least one, it should be Museum of History. Also, the area has other museums, such as Museum of Arts, Space Museum, Science Museum.
- Kowloon is a center for urban development and activities. This means there is a lot of hustle and bustle, pollution and a very noisy neighborhood. However, in the middle of all these activities there is a very cool place where tourists can relax and forget all the hustles. The Kowloon Park is an absolute delight when it comes to freshening up and taking in some fresh air. There is a large swimming pool, a games area for kids, and a sculpture zone as well as paths and ponds with beautiful animal species like ducks that marvel the site of the ponds.
- One of the most vibrant areas in Kowloon is Mongkok. The area is a destination in itself. It is a labyrinth of shopping streets, open markets and shopping centers where thousands of people strolling along the streets and hundreds of neon lights enhance the beauty of Mong Kok.
For more information visit - Attractions in Kowloon.
Shopping
Shopping is one of the major activities in Kowloon. It diverse, ranging from luxury shops selling the world's most sought-after brands to outdoor markets where visitors can haggle with merchants for the best price.
Tsim Sha Tsui has the highest concentration of shops in Kowloon. In south-west part of the area on the waterfront is located the largest shopping mall in Hong Kong, Harbour City. It comprises about 700 shops, 50 restaurants, a few cinemas and three hotels, Marco Polo Hong Kong, Prince Hotel and Gateway Hotel. Outside of the shopping mall is Canton Road. It has a number of shops selling brand products, such as fashion clothes, jewelry and watches. Also, there are a number of other shopping centers in the area, such as iSquare, SOGO Tsim Sha Tsui, New World Centre, Lippo Sun Plaza and so on.
The main artery of the area, Nathan Road, has a wide variety of shops located on both sides of the street. It starts from Salisbury Road on the south and leads from Tsim Sha Tsui to Mong Kok. Further to the north from Tsim Sha Tsui are Jordan and Yau Ma Tei. These areas also good for shopping. They have two popular street markets. The first is Temple Street Night Market. It has a number of stalls selling inexpensive goods, such as men's clothes, leather goods, bags, souvenirs, fakes and so on. Do not forget to haggle to get a better price. The second market in the area is Jade Market. The name tells itself and this market represents tens of vendors selling jade products.
Perhaps the most famous district of Hong Kong that offers a large variety of inexpensive goods and has a number of open markets and shopping streets is Mong Kok. It houses such famous street markets like Ladies Market, Bird Market, Flower Market, Goldfish Market and a number of shopping streets, including Fa Yuen Street selling sports goods and equipment, Sai Yeung Choi Street which is full of shops selling electronics.
For more information visit - Shopping in Kowloon.
Accommodation
Kowloon has a huge amount of hotels ranging from 2-star hotels or hostels to luxury hotels, like The Peninsula. The choice depends on your preference and budget.
For more information visit - Hotels in Kowloon.
Note: This information is for reference only and is subject to change without prior notice.