Kowloon - Hong Kong Area Guide

Kowloon

Kowloon, also known as 九龍 (gau2 lung4) in Chinese, is an urban area in Hong Kong full of booming businesses and high rising apartments. The name Kowloon stems from the Chinese term Nine Dragons. Kowloon consists the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. This area borders the Lion Rock to the north and stems all the way to Mei Foo Sun Chuen in the east and Cheung Lung Tin to the west.

Kowloon comprises the following districts:

• Kowloon City - This area consist of Ho Man Tin, Hung Hom, Kowloon Tong, Ma Tau Wai, To Kwa Wan and Whampoa.
• Kwun Tong - This district consist of Kwun Tong, Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon Bay, Sau Mau Ping, Lam Tin and Yau Tong.
• Sham Shui Po - This district covers Shek Kip Mei, Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan, Lai Chi Kok, Yau Yat Chuen of New Kowloon, and Stonecutter’s Island.
• Wong Tai Sin - This district contains the following areas of Diamond Hill, Wang Tau Hom, Lok Fu, Chuk Yuen, Wong Tai Sin, Tsz Wan Shan, Fung Wong, Choi Hung and Choi Wan.
• Yau Tsim Mong - This area consists of three major areas of Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mong Kok.

Within the New Kowloon, is an area that use to be known as the Kowloon Walled City. Whilst it was amazing sight seen from an aerial perspective, it was actually a largely-ungoverned densely populated settlement. From the 1950s to 1970s, this area was controlled by local triads with high rates of prostitution, gambling and drug abuse. However in 1987, most of this Walled City was torn down by the Hong Kong Government and only historical artefacts were preserved, which you can still see to this day.

For most parts, Kowloon has been an undeveloped area until the early-20th century. At this time there was a large scale development, which made way for the Kowloon-Canton Railway and the Kowloon Wharf. Although development was limited due to the flight paths from the old Kai Tak Airport. Elderly people will remember the sight of large jumbo jets flying over areas such as Mong Kok. This airport stayed in operation till 1998 and later a new airport opened at Chek Lap Kok.

The majority of the population that reside in Kowloon are mainly locals and you’ll find very few expats in the area. Slowly but surely though that will change as the living costs start to soar higher and higher over on the HK Island side. Though an interesting fact is that people on either side don’t like commuting to the other side. Kowloon earn the name of the “dark side” from people living on the Hong Kong Island side and by expatriates. So why do is it referred to as the dark side? Kowloon is seen as the less touristy and less international side of Hong Kong. You’ll see people out and about even to the crack of dawn with night markets open, youngsters out in the ball park shooting hoops with cantopop blasting in the background, and even elderly out socialising and practicing Tai Chi. It may be less of the touristy side but that won’t stop you getting around Kowloon. With all the public transports available at your disposal, you could go just about anywhere you wanted.