Kennedy Town

Kennedy Town is often overlooked. Built heritage from the nineteenth century, surviving examples of inter-war architectural styles, temples and some very significant military relics all await further exploration.

Kennedy Town was one of the first efforts at urban decentralization in Hong Kong; by the 1870s it was recognized that the city of Victoria was developed almost beyond its existing capacity.

Much built evidence of former times still remains, tucked away amongst new development. One of the most surprising sites to be visited is the Lo Pan Temple, on the steep network of hillside terraces between Kennedy Town and Hong Kong University. Dedicated to the Patron Saint of Carpenters, the Lo Pan Temple is, fittingly, a minor architectural jewel. Marvellously unexpected, the tranquil setting is an added bonus.

Long-established shops and other businesses add to the district’s bustling atmosphere – some have been in operation for decades.

Other points of historical and cultural interest abound, including an exploration of the last remaining stretch of rocky shoreline on the northern coast of Hong Kong Island. Kennedy Town is changing dramatically with the arrival of the MTR, and a walk around this corner of Hong Kong should be undertaken sooner rather than later.