Kowloon Things to Do

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I had always though that Hong Kong was a warm city, but not particularly green or lush. How wrong I had been. In truth, HK is insanely humid during the summer, and that means that a large variety of trees and shrubs can thrive in the city, despite its high pollution levels. You can get a good idea of this variety by visiting Kowloon Park, in the centre of Kowloon, to the west of Nathan Road. The park seems like a massive green space in the centre of the city (probably because of the density of the urban space) and it provides a nice escape from the concrete and hectic pace of the rest of Kowloon. There are numerous ponds, walkways, trees and sculpted gardens to enjoy and no shortage of park benches to sit on, relax and eat whatever you've purchased at one of the nearby bakeries. A trip to the park in the morning also allows you to watch the people practicing Tai Chi, which can be quite an interesting experience.

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The Hong Kong Museum of Art is located in an unfortunately unappealing building right on the waterfront. It is part of a complex that includes the Cultural Centre and the Space Museum, and that provides breathtaking views out onto the harbour and across to Hong Kong Island. Inside the Museum of Art, however, you will find an interesting if not impressive collection of Chinese Art, from the beginning of Chinese civilization up to modern artists. The collection of the Museum is not huge, but it does give visitors a considerable overview of the development of painting and sculpture in Hong Kong. There are also special exhibits in some of the halls. The one on display when I came to the Museum was the collection of a modern Chinese artist. It is an interesting view into an arts scene that is not well publicized in the West, but the explanations are generally geared to those with an interest in Chinese art, so don't expect to learn a whole lot from the experience. One thing to note is that the HKMA, as all museums in Hong Kong, is free on Wednesdays.

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The HK Museum of History is a spectacular institution that is worth a visit by anyone who comes to HK. The building that houses the museum is not really all that special. In fact, it is sort of an ugly remnant of the eighties, which might be one reason to scare off potential visitors. Inside the museum, however, you will find an incredibly detailed account of the history of Hong Kong, from pre-history up to the handover. The museum is truly spectacular for its lifesize depictions of life throughout the ages in Hong Kong, especially one it gets to the period after 1000AD. There are models of the living conditions of HK's four main ethnic groups, as well as recreations of parts of Hong Kong at the start of British colonization. There is particular care taken to explain the impacts of different phenomena on all parts of Hong Kong society. For example, the various revolutions in China from 1900 onward are examined in detail from the point of view of their effects on HK history. There are also special exhibits included in the museum. The one I went to was a history of the qi pao, or sleeveless dress worn by Chinese women.

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Temple Street was once known for its temples, which attracted the residents of the area and beyond. People would visit the area to pay homage to their ancestors and pray for good health or good fortune. Of course, whenever there is a mass of people who gather for any reason, shops and restaurants spring up. The temples of Temple Street may be gone, but the markets remain, and they become most active once the sun has gone down. The night markets are not traditional markets where you can experience Chinese culture as it has been for centuries. They are, however, a prime example of the entrepreneurial spirit and joie de vivre that makes Hong Kong what it is today. You can purchase pretty much anything here, although there is a strong bias towards knick-knacks, cheap textiles and knock-off everything. If you are looking for anything related to a cell phone, this is the place to get it. The markets can get quite crowded, so it's a good idea to watch your bags and belongs, especially if you're distracted by a potential purchase. Still, there's not much to be afraid about, and it is a great experience that any visitor should have.

One of the hotels of Hong Kong, if not the world, The Peninsula Hotel was not used for its intended purpose - a hotel - until two years after its completion. It served as the headquarters for the British Army during the war with China in 1926, which it also did again during World War II. On 25 December 1941, at the end of the Battle of Hong Kong, British colonial officials led by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Aitchison Young, surrendered in person at the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of The Peninsula.

In 1994, the hotel was expanded with a 30-storey tower that follows the same style as the existing building. The facade of the existing hotel building was preserved, including the forecourt, the lobby and the front facade. It's so exclusive and a must for celebrities and the like that it features a heli-pad on the roof! Not only is the hotel a famous institution in Hong Kong, it also is famous for its fleet of 14 long wheelbase Rolls Royces which ferry its clients to the airport and back. In fact, Michael Palin, who stayed here during the making of his 1988 series Around the World in 80 Days arrived at the cargo port only to be transferred to the hotel in one of the Rollers!

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If you want anything in Hong Kong here is where to find it - just be careful not to look around - you might just come away with more purchases than you expected.

These markets open at 4pm but you need to wait until dark to get the effect of the many colourful stalls holding just about anything you could think of.

Some stall-holders will even brave a rain storm in the hope of making a sale. The night I went was very wet.

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The Avenue of Stars was designed from the Walk of Fame in Hollywood and is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It is a promenade along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour. As with the ‘walk’ in Hollywood it honours celebrities of the film industry of Hong Kong.

The promenade was built in 1982 around the New World Centre and was opened to the public in 2004. Entry is at many points from Salisbury Park and the promenade continues to the Clock Tower near the Star Ferry terminal. There are statues along the walk – some depicting movie making and others of individual stars. The statue of Bruce Lee is popular with locals and visitors alike. There were 101 stars honoured at last count (according to Wikipedia).

The Avenue of Stars is a popular place from which to view the nightly Symphony of Lights.

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Nathan Road is the main road in Kowloon, Hong Kong and goes from Tsim Sha Tsui to Mong Kok. It is famous for its shops, restaurants and tourists.

It was started in 1861 as the first road built in Kowloon after the land was ceded to Great Britain. It was originally named Robinson Road but was confused with a road of the same name on Hong Kong Island. Its name was changed to Nathan Road in 1909 after Sir Matthew Nathan, the 13th Governor of Hong Kong.

The shop signs are unique in the way that they are placed out over the road. This helps produce a wonderland of lights at night.