Hong Kong Neighbourhoods: Shueng Wan, Central and the Peak

These three neighbourhoods are located on Hong Kong Island and make the south side of Victoria Harbour, opposite Kowloon.

Shueng Wan:

In this neighborhood with its mix of markets, residential areas and commercial centres, you can encounter the authentic China. You can find the typical Chinese shops in the Lanes, the Western Market, Cat Street, as well as the famous Man Mo Temple. Also, Soho and Noho (South of Hollywood Road and North of Hollywood Road) are located here.

Central:

This area, together with the Admiralty, forms the commercial heart of Hong Kong. The biggest multinationals are occupying the tallest skyscrapers. The lower floors of these buildings are often reserved for luxury shopping. Here you can also find the famous Lan Kwai Fong entertainment area.

The Peak:

The Peak is not really a neighborhood as such, but the highest viewpoint on Hong Kong Island. From here, you can enjoy the enchanting views of the city and surrounding islands on a clear day.

MTR – Central:
Take the Metro to MTR station Central.
Tip: Are you planning to travel a lot by public transport? Then consider the Octopus Card
Link: Hong Kong Metro
Link: Octopus Card
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Tram:
The double-decker tram on north side of Hong Kong Island takes you through the colorful neighborhoods. It looks like an English double-decker bus, only narrower and higher. Try to sit topside at the front for the best view in town.
Tip: Do you plan to travel a lot by public transportation? Take the Octopus Card
Link: Fun movie of the Hong Kong Tram: Ding Ding
Link: Octopus Card

Western Market:
The Western Market is the oldest marketbuilding in Hong Kong which is built in Edwardian style with red brick and a granite arch. The market consists of 4 floors with different shops and stalls where you can buy traditional Chinese handicrafts and antiques, beautiful fabrics and handcrafted furniture. On the top floor is a great restaurant. The market is open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Link: Western Market
Address: 323 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
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Ginseng – Dried Seafood & Birds Nest Herbal Medicine Streets:
The Chinese culture is known for alternative medicine, superstitions and special delicacies. In these streets you can find medicinal herbs, dried seafood, bird nests, teas and other delights which can sometimes be hard to identify.
Address for Ginseng – Birds Nest Street: Win Lok Street and Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan
Dried Seafood Street Address: Des Vouex Road West, Sheung Wan
Herbal Medicine Street Address: Ko Shing Street, Sheung Wan
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Cat Street:

Man Mo Temple:
There are many Man Mo temples in China, and this is one of the oldest (1847) and the most famous of Hong Kong. The temple is actually a tribute to two gods. The name Man comes from Man Cheong – the God of Literature and the name Mo is a reference to Kwan Yu – the God of war. Large bell-shaped coils of incense are hung from the ceiling that are burnt for the Gods.
Tip: Want to get away from the hustle and bustle in this hectic city? Within the Man mo temple you can find piece and quiet, shrouded in incense.
Address: Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan

Central – Mid-Level Escalators:
The Central – Mid-Levels escalators, is the longest covered escalator system in the world. It was built in 1993 with the aim of improving commuting between Des Voeux Road, Central, to Conduit Road in the Mid-Levels, Western District. There are 20 escalators with a combined total length of 800 meters and it takes about 20-25 minutes to ride them all.
Note: Between 06:00 and 10:00 all escalators descend, and from 10:30 to 0:00, they all ascend.
Address: Conduit Road, Mid-Levels
Address: Des Voeux Road, Central

Wet Market, Graham Street:
The name ‘wet market’ does not suggest that this is the place to get your fresh ingredients for cooking. And if you do not have a strong stomach, you’d better avoid some parts of the market, because before you know it, you’re walking between tanks with shallow water with fish waiting for their end, decapitated eels swimming in their own blood, flesh hanging from hooks and with chickens being slaughtered in front of your eyes. The fruit and vegetable department of the market is a lot more tranquil and not as manic as the fish and meat sections.
Tip: Take a stroll over this market is an absolute must-do experience for westerners, as it is so different from back home.
Note: There are plans to build an appartment building on the site where now the market is, but when is not known yet. So visit while you still can.
Address: Graham Street

Soho:
Soho is an area south of Hollywood Road (South of Hollywood), and located on a hill near part of the Central – Mid-Levels escalator. This stylish and popular meeting place is bussy with streets filled with art and antique shops, bars, restaurants and chic but cozy eateries around Staunton Street, Elgin Street and Shelley Street.
Tip: Many international cuisines are represented here, so if you want to get away from Chinese food this is the place for you.

Lan Kwai Fong:
Lan Kwai Fong was originally a small street full of stalls. Today it is a ‘party’ area for night owls in Hong Kong. If you’re looking for the best bars, nightclubs and live music, you’ve come to the right place. Especially on weekends they are pretty busy, but very cozy.
Tip: Most bars have happy hour between 16: 00 and 20:00.
Link: Lan Kwai Fong
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Gas Lamps:
Between 1875 and 1889, the granite staircase off of Duddell street was built, named after George Duddell, an auctioneer and homeowner with property around the street. Duddell Street is best known for the four street lights on the railing of the stairs. The lamps are special because they still work on gas rather than electricity. The Hong Kong & China Gas Company ensures that the remaining monument lights are lit every evening.
Address: Duddell Street, Central

St. John’s Cathedral:
This Victorian Gothic cathedral in the heart of the financial district of the city, is the oldest Anglican church in the Far East. The cathedral dates from 1849 and is built in the shape of a cross. It has beautiful stained glass windows, with the middle window representing the crucifixion of Christ. During the Japanese occupation in the second world war it was used as a clubhouse for Japanese soldiers. The church is open between 07:00 and 18:00.
Link: St. John’s Cathedral
Address: 4 Garden Road, Central

Peak Tram:
The Peak Tram is a historic cable car and the steepest funicular in the world; it climbs to 396 metres above sea level and has a inline anywhere between 4 to 27 degrees compared with the horizontal. In the beginning, in 1888, the wooden trams were powered by coal-fired boilers. Nowadays, they are controlled by micro processor technology and reaches the Victoria Peak within 8 minutes. The tram leaves every 15 minutes and is open from 7:00 to 0:00.
Link: Peak Tram
Tip: The Octopus Card can give you a discount or cheaper fare.
Address: Peak Tram Lower Terminus

Victoria Peak:
The Victoria Peak is a mountain with an altitude of 552 meters, and the highest point on Hong Kong island. On top of the Peak Tower there is a viewing platform, the Sky Terrace 428, a 360 degree panoramic view some 428 meters above sea level, with views over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Victoria Harbour and the Outlying Islands, such as: Cheung Chau, Lamma- and Lantau Island.
Tip: For the best views, take the peak tram on a relatively smog-free day right before dusk and watch the lights go on everywhere around the city and the surrounding islands.
Note: It can get quite windy up here so bring an extra sweater, cardigan, or coat.
Link: Peak Viewing Platform

Happy Valley Racecourse:
Most Chinese love gambling and horse racing isn’t anywhere as popular as here. This partly to do with the fact that betting on horses is the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong. The Happy Valley is one of two racetracks here, and home of the Hong Kong Jockey Club since 1846. The racing season in Happy Valley is from September to June, usually on Wednesday evenings and often attracts more than 75,000 spectators.
Tip: To make the race a little more interesting, try your luck. The minimum bet on the races is HKG $ 10 or a multiple thereof.