Kowloon Attractions Kailun
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Top Tourist Attractions in Kowloon
To the north of Hong Kong Island, on the far side of Victoria Harbour, is the Kowloon peninsula (Chinese Kailun, "Nine Dragons"), Hong Kong's second urban area. The peninsula was ceded to Britain after the second Opium War under the Convention of Peking (1860); then in 1898 the area north of Boundary Street was also acquired by Britain under a 99-year lease, which expired in 1997.
Nathan Road
Nathan Road is known as Kowloon's Golden Mile, with posh hotels, restaurants, and department stores.
Wong Tai Sin - Wong Tai Sin Temple
Even though this is one of the newest Chinese temples in Hong Kong it is nevertheless one of the most interesting. A private temple built about 1920 which once stood here was replaced in 1968 by the present building.The temple is dedicated to the Taoist god Wong Tai Sin, whom the people of Hong Kong regard as the bringer of good luck in horse-racing and a healer of illnesses.Large numbers of worshippers gather in the temple on the 23rd day of the 8th lunar month (usually at the end of September) to celebrate the god's festival.The complex is made up of several buildings. In the large hall a number of fortune-tellers have their booths, and joss sticks and other offerings lie ready for use. Adjoining is the Hall of the Three Saints, which is dedicated to Kwun Yum (goddess of mercy), Kwan Ti (god of war) and Lue Dong Bin (one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism). Another hall is dedicated to Confucius and his 72 pupils, and beyond this is the Good Wish Garden, a Chinese-style landscaped garden.Visitors are expected to leave a small offering for the maintenance of the temple complex.To the northeast of Kowloon is the district of Wong Tai Sin. Of interest in this area is the Wong Tai Sin Temple.
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Chi Lin Nunnery
Chi Lin Nunnery is a Buddhist Nunnery located in Diamond Hill. The buildings are in the Tang style of architecture with wooden rooftops. The grounds of the nunnery feature a lotus pond, sculpted bushes, and statues of the Goddess of Mercy and God of Medicine.
Mong Kok
Mong Kok District is located northeast of Yau Ma Tei and the two districts have a similar atmosphere. Although it is not one of the most popular areas for tourist it does offer some attractions for visitors. Mong Kok was once the most densely populated urban area in the world.
Bird Market
A visit to the Bird Market in Kowloon is a must for those interested in exotic birds. Every day connoisseurs of songbirds meet here and eagerly discuss their mutual interests over a bowl of Chinese tea.Since its move from Hong Lok Street to Yuen Po Street the market has lost something of its atmosphere, but it is still well worth a visit.There is much betting among the local enthusiasts on the prowess of their songbirds or the strength of their specially trained fighting birds. The shops sell everything needed for the breeding and care of birds (including beautifully hand carved cages).Another favorite meeting-place for bird fanciers, young and old, is a tea-house within the market area, a scene of lively activity all day long. The artistically carved cages of the fighting birds which hang from the ceiling are covered most of the time with a cloth, so as not to dissipate the birds' natural aggressiveness. When the covers are removed from the songbirds' cages they sing at the tops of their voices in rivalry with one another.
Hung Hom
The district of Hung Hom lies to the northeast of Tsim Sha Tsui. It is less attractive than the surrounding districts but does contain a number of attractions worth visiting.
Hong Kong Coliseum
This impressive pyramid-shaped building was completed in 1983. The covered arena has 12,500 seats, and the program includes ballet performances, ice shows, sporting events and the Hong Kong Philharmonic's classical and pop concerts.
Ko Shan Theatre
This, Hong Kong's first open-air theater, was opened in 1983 and can seat 3000 people under an awning. The shows put on here include Chinese opera, variety and films. Further details can be obtained and seats reserved at the Hong Kong Tourist Association.
Sham Shui Po District
To the northwest of Mong Kok is the Sham Shui Po district, which contains the Lei Cheng Uk Tomb, dating from the Later Han dynasty.
Lei Cheng Uk Tomb
This tomb, which dates from the Later Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 221), was discovered in 1955 during excavations for a new housing estate. Around 1900 years old, it is the oldest historical monument in Hong Kong.The tomb, built in brick on a cruciform plan, has four chambers opening off a central room with a vaulted roof. The archaeologists who excavated the site found 58 pottery and bronze articles, now displayed in the small site museum. The tomb is under the guardianship of the Museum of HistoryVisitors can hardly help seeing something of the life of the huge housing estate which surrounds the tomb. Here some 100,000 people live in modern but terribly overcrowded housing conditions; often families of as many as ten have only two rooms. Most of the dwellings in this large-scale planned development were assigned to families by lot.
Map - Kowloon
Map - Hong Kong Kowloon - New Territories
