Kowloon has really kicked off in the last few years since the closure of Kai Tak airport
and the resulting relaxation of building regulations. It has always been behind Hong Kong
Island but is making a proper name for itself now. In my opinion one of the greatest advantages
of the area is the fantastic views across the harbour to Hong Kong itself.
We stayed at the Intercontinental Grand Stanford hotel which sits in a row of similar hotels
on the Kowloon waterfront. It was only a five minute walk to the Avenue of the Stars, Hong
Kong's answer to Hollywood's walk of fame.
Kowloon as seen from the Victoria Peak, through the skyscrapers in Central district. The
long building with a dipped curve in the middle is the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, in front of
which stands the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, tiny in this photo.
A close up of the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower (as seen from afar in the last picture),
an unusual photo in Hong Kong as there is nothing rising in the background.
In 2007 the most ambitious project in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Kowloon was the
Hanoi Road Project, the Panorama Hotel, which had reached full structural height when we
were there. I'm afraid I don't know what the Oriental Palace Nightclub is all about, I will
have to check it out next time!
Looking over to Hong Kong Island, a familiar figure in bronze can be seen working
his way through the crowd. Bruce Lee grew up in Hong Kong, his statue is on the Avenue of the
Stars.
In west Kowloon the redevlopment of the MTR Kowloon Station is well underway, most
significantly with a new tallest skyscraper for Hong Kong, Union Square Phase 7, the International
Commerce Centre (with the cranes in this shot). Together with 2 IFC standing on the opposite side
of the harbour the two towers will be somewhat reminiscent of the pillars of Hercules at the straits
of Gibraltar.
Construction in Kowloon is being very environmentally sensitive, this tree has been
completely dug around, encased in concrete and left in-situ floating on a steel framework until
they finish the new development.
Flamingos in Kowloon park. There is a large open air swimming pool nearby. No flamingos
to be seen there though.
Nathan Road is one of the biggest shopping streets in Kowloon, and heads directly away
from the water.
Canton Road appeared to be more high-class than Nathan Road for shopping, as can be
seen here with designer Italian labels and Mercedes Benzes.
Not much can match the level of poshness experience at the Peninsula Hotel, sadly not by
me. It is one of the world's most famous and most expensive hotels, opened in 1928 and expanded
with a tower in 1994. It is the stuff of James Bond movies.
Inside the Intercontinental Hotel (across the road from the Peninsula) there are great views
across the harbour to Hong Kong Island.
In Kowloon Park we found a reminder that the olympics are coming to China soon. In fact,
they would be here in 466 days, 5 hours, 57 minutes and 17 seconds and counting... Note the
Scout logo on the building on the right.
The port of Hong Kong is one of the busiest in the world, quite possibly this is where the
Channel 4 container port introduction was filmed...?
In typical Asian style Hong Kong is covered in huge signage and advertising, this is
Nathan Road.
By night there is much neon to be seen in Kowloon.
This fountain is in a square opposite the Intercontinental Grand Stanford hotel, I just
wanted to capture the neon colours of the area.
