Wan Chai Hong Kong in mid February, it was so cold, you must be joking I thought. Last week the temperature was 18 degrees, when I arrived it was 8. The first stop on my “seven Super Cities” adventure in a city I had not visited since 1980, 34 years ago.
Wan Chai Hong Kong
Wan Chai Hong Kong is one of the busiest commercial areas in Hong Kong with offices of many small and medium-sized companies. Wan Chai North features office towers, parks, hotels and an international conference and exhibition centre. As one of the first areas developed in Hong Kong.
Gloucester Rd Wan Chai
Wan Chai’s Gloucester Road, a east-west trunk route along the northern coast, is connected to Cross-Harbour Tunnel, the first undersea tunnel in Hong Kong. This tunnel is connected to the south by a direct viaduct from its landing point on Hong Kong Island to the Aberdeen Tunnel towards the southern coast.
Wan Chai Hong Kong opposite my hotel
Prostitution has been one of the oldest occupations in Wan Chai. There are numerous historical accounts of women trading sex for western merchandise, especially from visiting sailors who got off the trading ships and visited this area.
Lockhart Rd Wan Chai
In the 1960s, Wan Chai became legendary for its exotic night life, especially for the US servicemen resting there during the Vietnam War.
One Aussie, one Kiwi & 3 Filipinos.
For bars, restaurants and night clubs Wan Chai Hong Kong is a great part of the city. The area towards the western end of Lockhart Road, including a small part of the parallel Jaffe Road, is one of Hong Kong island’s two main bar districts (the other being the more upmarket Lan Kwai Fong in Central). Once considered primarily as a red light district, this area is now more diverse with bars, pubs, restaurants and discos.
A number of the raunchier bars still remain, however, their doorways festooned with women from Thailand and the Philippines. The famous novel and film “The World of Suzie Wong” sets many scenes in this area. The bar district has been popular with visiting sailors and navies, when Fenwick Pier, west of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, was in use as a military pier.
Wan Chai Hong Kong
Only a 10 minute walk from my hotel to the ferry.
Short ride across the bay
About a 30 minute ferry ride to Star terminal at Kowloon.
Hong Kong bus
Or is it a tram?
View of Hong Kong island from the ferry.
The island is home to many of the most famous sights in Hong Kong, such as “The Peak“,Ocean Park, many historical sites and various large shopping centres. The mountain ranges across the island are also famous for hiking. The northern part of Hong Kong Island together with Kowloon forms the core urban area of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong island from the ferry.
The island is often referred to locally as “Hong Kong side” or “Island side”. This description was formerly applied to many locations (e.g. ‘China-side’ or even ‘Kowloon Walled City-side’) but is now only heard in this form and ‘Kowloon side’, suggesting the two sides of the harbour.
Star Ferry pier in Kowloon
Quite a contrast between these two vessels.
Star Ferry Pier
The “Star” Ferry Company, is a passenger ferry service operator and tourist attraction in Hong Kong. Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It was founded in 1888 as the Kowloon Ferry Company, adopting its present name in 1898.
Kowloon
Large-scale development of Kowloon began in the early 20th century, with the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway and the Kowloon Wharf, but because of Kowloon’s close proximity to Kai Tak Airport, building construction was limited by flight paths. As a result, compared to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon has a much lower skyline.
One Peking building
Located at the heart of the Tsimshatsui district, One Peking has stunning panoramic views of Victoria harbour.
Wan Chai Hong Kong Lotus Vietnamese restaurant
Good food and service at this nice Vietnamese restaurant at 118 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai Hong Kong.
Mango & sticky at the Lotus.
One of my favourite deserts in Wan Chai winter Hong Kong.
Brighton Hotel 128 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai
This is a terrific small hotel in a great location. Book here for a good discount.
Hong Kong 1980
Here is a shot from my first visit to Hong Kong in 1980, how things have changed.
Somebody has to do it. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my Wan Chai winter Hong Kong photo blog.
Here are some more posts to check out
A-One hotel on Beach Road
For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.
That’s all folks
Click here to see Surfers Paradise in Australia.
Counter only started June 16 2020.