Wan Chai

Located in the city center, Wan Chai is one of the busiest commercial areas in Hong Kong. Also, it has its own unique atmosphere of nightlife. The area is the part of the Wan Chai District, and there are Causeway Bay in the east and Admiralty in the west. In the beginning of the 20th century the coastline was located at Hennessy Road, but due to several phases of land reclamation, which took place during the 20th century, the land area had significantly progressed to the north. And now, a lot of significant buildings, hotels and skyscrapers are built on the reclaimed land, and the area is often called Wan Chai North. Further to the south is Hennessy Road, which is one of the main transportation hubs on the island. A lot of shops, fine restaurants and popular hotels are located along that road or nearby. The south part of Wan Chai is famous for the number of older homes that are still standing. Several continue to be used as private homes, and have undergone restorations.

What To Do & See

Perhaps, the main landmark of the area is the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). It was opened in November 1988, and is located on the renowned Victoria Harbour. Being one of the best centres for exhibitions and conventions in Asia, it provides over 60,000 square meters of exhibition space. Many guests arriving in Hong Kong due to special events frequent this district due to the proximity to the Centre. Be sure to see the Golden Bauhinia Square (Expo Promenade), which is located outside the Centre on the waterfront. From there opens the excellent view of the Kowloon Peninsula. Also, there is a monument symbolizing the return of the former British colony to the Motherland. If you are lucky enough to be there early in the morning, you might see the flag raising ceremony. It starts daily at 7:45-7:50am with the duration of 15-30 minutes.

Located nearby, Central Plaza is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city. It is a 78 storey building (378 meters) in the shape of a triangle. There is a four bar neon clock on the top of the tower, which changes color every fifteen minutes. Also, it houses the highest church in the world. But the main attraction for tourists is the Sky Lobby on 46th floor. Thanks to the location, from there opens the amazing view of the city. The Lobby is open to the public during the business hours.

There is the Wan Chai Ferry Pier in the north part of the area. It is located near the HKCEC, and provides ferry services to Tsim Sha Tsui. Also, you can take a harbour tour on the "Shining Star" ferry. It is a circular route around Victoria Harbour, where you enjoy the magnificent views of the harbour and Hong Kong's skyscrapers.

One of the reasons why Wan Chai is so popular is because it is one of the centers of Hong Kong's nightlife. The area has been famous for its bars for many years, and still continues to attract people looking for a fun. There are many theme and girlie bars, British pubs, nightclubs and restaurants, mainly located on Lockhart, Luard and Jaffe roads.

If you'd like to enjoy a special dining experience, stop by the Hopewell Centre. A restaurant is located at the top that revolves. You can enjoy a great view of the city while having dinner. Several of the smaller side streets have a number of restaurants to choose from, simply look for the signs. You can also find some restaurants housed in the older buildings on the southern side of the district.

Transport

MTR

The easiest way to get around the city is Hong Kong MTR. It's fast, inexpensive, with the convenient navigation in trains and on stations. The Wan Chai MTR station is located in the heart of the area, and is only one stop from Admiralty or Causeway Bay, and two stops from Central. All these stations are the part of the MTR Island Line, which serves the north part of Hong Kong Island from Sheung Wan in the west to Chai Wan in the east. The station has several exits, which lead to Hennessy Road, Lockhart Road and Johnston Road.

If you are in Kowloon or the New Territories, take the MTR and get to the Admiralty station (in most cases) or the Quarry Bay station. At these stations interchange to the MTR Island Line.

From Lantau Island (Tung Chung or Hong Kong Disneyland) or Tsing Yi Island use the MTR Tung Chung Line to get to the Hong Kong station. The station is connected to the Central station via tunnels.

Trams

If you are in the north part of Hong Kong Island, you can also take a tram. Trams are one of the major Hong Kong's attractions, which run exclusively on the north side of the island. The tram routes in the area run along Johnston Road and Hennessy Road in both directions. See the map below.

Star Ferry

Another landmark of the city is the Star Ferry. It connects the island and Kowloon Peninsula, Tsim Sha Tsui. The ferry service runs from ~7:30am to ~11:00pm.

Buses

The south part of the island is not covered by the MTR.

To visit Aberdeen, take the bus No. 70 (HK$4.7) at the following bus stops: Asian House, Hennessy Road or Immigration Tower, Gloucester Road.

To visit Repulse Bay or Stanley Market, take the bus No. 6 (HK$7.9) at the following bus stops: Three Pacific Place, Queen's Road East; Lun Fat Street, Queen's Road East; Amoy Street, Queen's Road East; Wanchai Market, Queen's Road East or St. Joseph's College Primary School, Queen's Road East.

To visit one of the major attractions in the city, Victoria Peak, take the bus No. 15 (HK$9.8) at the same bus stops as the route No. 6. The route also runs along Queen's Road East. The alternative way is the Peak Tram in Central.

To visit Ocean Park, get to the Admiralty station, and get out of the station through Exit B. Get on the bus no. 629 at Admiralty (West) Bus Terminus.

To get back, use the same routes. See the map below.

How to get to the Wan Chai area from the Hong Kong International Airport.

Taxi is one of the common ways to get to/from the airport. The estimated fare is HK$280-300 plus HK$5 for each piece of luggage stored inside the baggage compartment, and each piece of luggage with total dimensions (length + width + height) exceeding 140cm stored inside the cabin. The journey time is about 35-40 minutes. The fare and time depend on traffic conditions. Hong Kong taxi drivers know all the major hotels, but it is a good idea to note the address of your hotel or destination on a piece of paper.

If you've decided to use the Airport Express, the journey to Central (Hong Kong station) costs HK$100 and takes 24 minutes. The trains run every 12 minutes from 5:50am to 1:15am daily. There are discounts up to 40% for those who travel in a group or family. HK$160 for a group of 2, HK$210 for a group of 3 and HK$250 for a group of 4. Then take a taxi or Free Airport Express Shuttle Bus to your hotel or destination point.
Take the shuttle bus H1 to the following hotels:
Empire Hotel Wan Chai
Wharney Guang Dong
Novotel Century Hong Kong
Renaissance Harbour View Hotel
or H2 to:
Gloucester Luk Kwok
The shuttle buses H1 and H2 run daily from 6:12am to 11:12pm with a frequency every 20 minutes.

The cheapest way is the Airport Bus. The bus stop (Ground Transportation Centre) is situated outside the Arrival Hall on the right side. Follow the direction signs. There are two bus routes "Cityflyer", which stop in the Wan Chai area: A11 and A12. Take the Citybus A11 and get off at stops #9-12, Hennessy Road. Most hotels are located along this road or nearby. But if your hotel or destination point is close to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, use the route A12. The Citybuses A11 run daily from 6:10am to 12:30am with a frequency 20-25 minutes. The fare is HK$40 and the journey time is about 50-60 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The Citybuses A12 run daily from 6:00am to 12:10am with a frequency 20-25 minutes. The fare is HK$45 and the journey time is almost same. The buses come with an announcement system, which announces in advance an upcoming bus stop in English and Chinese. Also, there are luggage racks that allow to store luggage. The stops are shown on the map below.

Hotels marked with gray color are at a distance of more than 400 meters from the bus stop.

Note: This information is for reference only and is subject to change without prior notice.

- bus stops of A11 route. - bus stops of A12 route. - tram lines.