Kowloon City

Kowloon City, the district surrounding the old Kai Tak airport on the foreshores of Kowloon Bay, has much to offer by way of local colour and historical interest. Yet the area remains little-explored by many local residents. With few tourists and no touts – in stark contrast to nearby Tsim Sha Tsui – you’ll want to return time and again to this fascinating corner of the “real Kowloon”.

Kowloon Walled City, originally constructed in the 1820s, had degenerated into a notorious crime-ridden slum by the 1970s. The Walled City was finally cleared and demolished in the mid-1990s, and the new open space was transformed into a magnificent public park. Kowloon Walled City Park incorporates some of the nineteenth century Chinese Yamen buildings, as well as newly-constructed Soochow-style pavilions and ornamental ponds. Sympathetic seasonal plantings, winding pathways and mounds of dramatically mis-shapen rocks complete the Olde Cathay garden effect.

Kowloon City is home to a number of temples such as the historically-interesting Hau Wong Temple, vibrant street life and an historical rock carving, the Sung Wong Toi or
“Sung Emperor’s Terrace”. This dates back to the 12th century AD and was Hong Kong’s first-ever officially-declared historical monument.

For three hours we will explore the sights and sounds of Kowloon City, and finish off the morning with an optional self-pay Thai lunch at one of the excellent small eateries found in the district. In recent decades Kowloon City has become Hong Kong’s “Thai village” and numerous good-value cafes and shops are scattered around – just the place to stock up with fresh ingredients for your “Thai” kitchen shelf, all at very reasonable prices.