Hong Kong Island - Wan Chai

The Wan Chai district lies to the east of Central District (Victoria) on Hong Kong Island. It can be reached by way of Queensway or Harcourt Road.

Wan Chai is the home district of Suzie Wong, the romantic figure of the novel and film which also starred William Holden; the Luk Kwok Hotel she made famous was pulled down in 1986. In the evening this part of the city south of Johnston Road becomes a brightly-lit entertainment quarter with discos and other haunts of pleasure which are very popular with sailors.

During the day it is worth visiting for the sake of the little market lanes with their innumerable stalls selling fresh vegetables and livestock. Other features of interest are a number of small temples, the 66-story Hopewell Centre, the Arts Centre, with its theater and stage shows, and the new Convention and Exhibition Centre, which boasts the largest glass wall in the world.

Once a typically Chinese district known as "Little Shanghai", Wan Chai is now steadily losing its original character; the old houses are being pulled down and replaced by tall office blocks, and the ever-increasing rent levels are compelling many small shopkeepers and businessmen to close down.