In this post, I’ll discuss Hong Kong Island, with particular attention to Central District. Hong Kong Island is home to about 1 million people. Central District, or Central as it is locally known, was first established by the British as a trading post in 1842 by the Tready of Nanking and has since grown into one of most important financial and business districts in Asia. It is also a center for politics as many government and diplomatic headquarters are based here. As you travel through the district, you will notice the modern architecture, hotels, expensive shopping areas with designer shops, restaurants and bars. The expansive office buildings will also stand out. In fact, Hong Kong’s tallest building, the 88 story International Finance Centre (IFC) is in this area. Centrally located, IFC is within walking distance of:
Exchange Square (1 minute)
Central Ferry Pier (2 minutes)
General Post Office (3 minutes)
Star Ferry (5 minutes)
Mandarin Oriental Hotel (5 minutes)
The Landmark (6 minutes)
Lan Kwai Fong (10 minutes)
Soho (10 minutes)
Macau Ferry Pier (10 minutes)
Hong Kong International Airport via Airport Express (23 minutes)
For an active nightlife, head towards Central’s Lan Kwai Fong. It is known as the entertainment area, especially for expatriates, and an after work stop for hard working executives. SoHo (short for South of Hollywood Road) is a new trend in Central. Although not as crowded as Lan Kwai Fong, it is filled with dining and nightlife hotspots as well. Cafes, bars, and restaurants with ethnic and innovative cuisine are abundant. Not all is new and modern in Central, traditional Chinese restaurants, outdoor markets and family-run businesses are not out of reach, they too have their place.
If you’re looking to go shopping, Causeway Bay is the place for you. It is the shopping and cultural hub in Central, especially for locals. The stores are open late and branches of many of the top department stores can be found here. Easily accessible, the most convenient way to get to Causeway Bay is via the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which connects all the major districts in Hong Kong. The pedestrian crossing at Yee Woo Street is its epicenter, surrounded by a wide assortment of stores, shops, restaurants and hotels.
Victoria Peak (Mount Austin or just “The Peak”), on the northwest side of the island in Central, was once known as the exclusive domain of the British and Europeans. The breathtaking views of the island are one of its most endearing attributes. The peak itself is 552 meters high and its temperature difference is a welcome change, especially for those looking to escape Hong Kong’s tropical summer heat. Nowadays, it remains an upscale ritzy residential area, but more inclusive. With the addition of the Peak Tram and leisure and shopping areas, it is also a tourist attraction.
Wan Chai, a district which was extended outward through land reclamation (creating new land from sea or riverbeds) lies in the north of the Island. Having earned itself a bad reputation after World War II for attracting less than stellar patrons, it is now breaking out of this mold with the insertion of more business-style hotels, high rise apartments, the Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Today, Wan Chai is noted as having the second most educated residents and the highest income, along with the second lowest population, third oldest residents and a population where one in five have liquid assets of more one million HKD ( $ 164,833.04 CAD). Wan Chai is also marked for its religious diversity. For example, Buddhists, Taoists, Catholics, Protestants, Sikhs and Muslims can all find houses of worship in the district. In fact, the largest Muslim temple in Hong Kong, Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple can be found here.
As there is always more to learn, we will continue this series with other inside looks into Hong Kong’s areas. Here are a few links for more info on Central District:
http://www.12hk.com/area/CausewayBay/CausewayBay.shtml
http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/wc/english/welcome.htm
Top photo by [ a r t S n a p ™ ]. Bottom by das farbamt.
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