This day guide offers an in depth look of the different neighborhoods in South-Kowloon. A direct contrast can be noticed between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. This walk will mainly concentrate around Nathan Road going from Tsim Sha Tsui all the way up to the more overlooked Yau Ma Tei. Tsim Sha Tsui is one of the busiest district in Hong Kong and probably most famous for its view on Hong Kong’s iconic harbour: Victoria Harbour.
In total the walk itself will take approximately 1h41m, covering a length of in total 7.6km. Click here for the complete route. The day starts at the MTR Station Jordan exit C2.
A quick glance:
- Begin the day with a classic CCT breakfast at the Australia Diary Company
- Go gemstone shopping at the Jade Market
- Visit the largest Tin Hau Temple in Kowloon
- Visit Hong Kong’s most iconic Cha Chaan Teng, Mido café
- Shop some vitamins at the Yau Ma Tei fruit market
- Enjoy a classic Mak Man Kee Wonton Noodle Lunch
- Stroll around Kowloon Park
- Treat yourself on a iconic Egg Waffle at the famous LKK North Point
- Learn about the history of Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Museum of History
- Get out of your comfort zone and have a pork intestine at Fat Boy
- Taste a Michelin approved Egg Waffle at Mammy pancake
- Sample different cuisines at Chunking Mansion
- Climb the stairs for a scenic view at Signal Hill Garden
- Witness the iconic Victoria Harbor at the Avenue of Stars
- See the unique Clocktower
- Take a colonial ride on the Star Ferry
- See some 19th century architecture at 1881 Heritage
- Shop at the Temple street night market
- Eat a hearty Clay Pot Rice at The Four Seasons
- Sip a cocktail at the Ozone lounge (highest bar in the world 118/F)
- Witness the symphony of lights at Victoria Harbor
Begin the day with a classic CCT breakfast at Australia Diary Company
As one of the most famous Cha Chaan Tengs in Hong Kong, the Australian Diary Company is a perfect spot to start the day. Their morning set consists of a buttered toast, scrambled eggs, macaroni soup and a coffee or tea. Come early to have the shortest queue as possible and do not expect a high level of service. You are supposed to eat your food asap and leave immediately after.
Address: 47 Parkes Street, Jordan
What to order: Morning set (buttered toast, scrambled eggs, macaroni soup, coffee or tea)
Price: 36 HKD for the morning set
Opening hours: 7.30AM-11 PM (closed on Thursdays)
Featured in: Opinionated About Dining (OAD)
Go gemstone shopping at the Jade Market
The Jade Market is a popular indoor market in Yau Ma Tei. Besides Jade other jewelry like pears and other gemstones can be found. Buying and owning jade is a thousand-year-old Chinese tradition and still very common in Hong Kong. To them it is considred a lucky stone ‘a stone of heaven’. The jade symbolizes beauty, nobility, sincerity and power. Bargaining is expected and make sure to be able to tell the difference between real and fake jade (fake jade should feel cold in your hand and will not warm up easily).
Address: 61 Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei
Opening hours: 11AM-5.30PM (closed on Sunday)
Visit the largest Tin Hau Temple on Kowloon
The temple was built in 1865 by fishermen to honor the Chinese goddess of the sea, Tin Hau. The temple used to be on the waterfront but is situated right now in the middle of the urban district. Sailors used to go worship the goddess to pray for safe sea voyages. The temple has been declared a landmark.
Address: Temple street, Yau Ma Tei
Opening hours: 8AM-6PM
Price: free
Visit Hong Kong’s most iconic Cha Chaan Teng, Mido Cafe
Mido Café is one of the most popular Cha Chaan Tengs in Hong Kong. The café opened its doors in 1950 and has not changed since. Both the decorations and menu remained the same, and even the iconic green neon lights are still present. Several movies such as The World of Suzie Wong, Moonlight express and Street fighters have used this location to film. Take a table upstairs and order the regular; rice with spareribs and a milk tea.
Address: 63 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei
Opening hours: 9AM-9.45PM (closed on Wednesdays)
What to order: Baked spare rib rice with tomato sauce
Price: 40 HKD
Shop some vitamins at the Yau Ma Tei Fruitmarket
Built in 1913, the Yau Ma Tei Fruitmarket used to be the Goverment Vegetables Market. In 1965 the market specialized in fruits after all the vegetable stalls had moved out. The most iconic feature is the carving of the trader’s brand names on pediments. The market attracts many locals and tourists each year.
Address: Waterloo Road, Yau Ma Tei
Opening hours: 6AM-8PM
Enjoy a classic Mak Man Kee wonton noodle soup lunch
This 60-year-old establishment specializes in Cantonese wonton soup noodles. Traditionally the dish exists of a noodle soup with wontons and some vegetables. At Mak Man Kee the see through wontons are filled up with the most delicious shrimp and floating alongside duck egg noodles in the most tasteful broth. No wonder this is another hotspot on the Michelin Guide Hong Kong.
Address: 51 Parkes Street,
Opening hours: 12PM-12.30 AM
What to order: Cantonese wonton soup noodles, Pork knuckles in red taro curd
Price: 50-100HKD
Featured in: Opinionated About Dining (OAD), Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
Stroll around Kowloon Park
In the heart of Kowloon there is Kowloon Park. Escape the busy city and relax near the bird lake, walk through the Chinese garden or take a swim in the swimmingpool. The park is another hotspot for wedding couples to take their pictures, Every Sunday at the Sculpture Walk there is a demonstration of liondancing and kung fu.
Address: 22 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Opening hours: 5AM-12PM
Treat yourself on a iconic Egg Waffle at the famous LKK North Point
Another local favorite for the egg waffle is LKK North PointThe perfect to go food that you can eat whenever you want. Since the popularity of the food you can buy it almost anywhere, however Lee Keung Kee North Point Eggette is one of the best. Be prepared to queue.
Address: 92 King’s Road, North Point
Opening hours: 7AM-11PM
Price: 25 HKD
Learn about the history of the city at the Hong Kong Museum of History
This museum was established in 1975 and is the best way to learn about the history of the city. The Hong Kong Story is a permanent exhibition outlining the natural environment, folk culture and historical development of Hong Kong. The exhibition starts in the Devonian period 400 million years ago and ends at the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. Plenty to see for those wanting to discover more about the city they are visiting.
Address: 100 Chatham Road S, Tsim Sha Tsui,
Opening hours: 10AM-6PM (till 7 PM in the weekends, closed on Tuesday)
Price: 10HKD
Get out of your comfort zone and have a pork intestine at Fat Boy
Fat boy specializes in Hong Kong style snacks like octopus, pork liver and turkey gizzard marinated in soy sauce. The place is featured in the Michelin guide where they explicitly suggest putting sweet sauce and mustard to enhance the flavor.
Address: Hau Fook St, 3號G1 Workingport Commercial Building
Opening hours: 1PM-12AM
What to order:
Featured in: Michelin guide Bib Gourmand
Price: 25HKD-40HKD
Taste a Michelin approved Egg Waffle at Mammy pancake
Gai daan jai (雞蛋仔) is another Hong Kong staple. In English the treat is known as egg waffles/egg puffs. It is the ultimate streetfood that is soft on the inside and has a crispy exterior. This store with their innovative flavors has been added to the Michelin Guide Hong Kong.
Address: 8-12 Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Opening hours: 11AM-11PM (11.30AM-11PM on Fridays and Saturdays)
Price: 30HKD-40HKD
Sample different cuisines at Chunking Mansion
Hidden away in another Hong Kong skyscraper is a different world. Foreign influences take visitors away from the Hong Kong ambiance. Walking inside might be feeling as making your way through a maze with its 5 block and 10 lift big inside. On the higher floors are cheap restaurants and hostels. Indulge in food from all over the world for example India, Africa… 10.000 people per day are estimated to either enter or exit the building, so expect a busy crowd.
Address: 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Climb the stairs for a scenic view at Signal Hill Garden
Inside this garden is a 62-foot tall Signal Tower built in 1907. The tower was built by the Hong Kong Observatory to house a time-ball aparatus used to signal time to mariners and the public. The tower had been used till 1933 and has been declared a monument in 2015. Visitors can make their way up the tower in a narrow spiral staircase. However, also the garden itself offers benches and a great view over the Victoria Harbour.
Address: Minden Row, Tsim Sha Tsui
Witness the iconic Victoria Harbor at the Avenue of Stars
The Avenue of Stars opened in 2004 to celebrate the success of the Hong Kong film industry. This avenue will provide you with the most well known view on Victoria Harbour. Except for the scenery you can find here the Hollywood-like handprints of Jackie Chan and Andy Lau among others. Bruce Lee even has his own statue here. Every night at 8PM there is a light and sound show called the Symphony of Lights.
Address: Avenue of stars, Tsim Sha Tsui
See the unique Clocktower
The Clock Tower is the remaining of the final destination of a railway to China. The tower was in 1915 almost finished, however due to the first world war and high costs it was only finished in 1921. In 1975 the station moved to Hung Hom and declared as a landmark in 1990.
Address: Star ferry pier, Tsim Sha Tsui
Take a colonial ride on the Star Ferry
Cross the Victoria Harbour like they did back in de colonial times? The Starferry was the main facilitation to cross the harbor since the 18th century. The company Starferry was founded in 1898 named after the ferries that all had a star in their name. Even with the existence of the MTR the starferries are still a very common way of transportation. Enjoy the ride with the amazing view both in the day and at night.
Address: Central Ferry Pier 7
Opening Hours: 6.30AM-11.20Pm
Price: Monday – Friday 2.50HKD, Saturday & Sunday 3.40HKD
See some 19th century architecture at 1881 Heritage
From 1880 till 1996 the building has been used as the headquarters for the marine police. Nowadays the site features a shopping mall, heritage hotel and exhibition centre. This unique shopping place is for sure worthwhile a visit.
Address: 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Shop at the Temple street night market
The Temple Street Night Market can be seen as a night equivalent to the Ladies Market. It is the only Hong Kong market to be open after dark. The market opens from 2 to 11PM and stretches out over multiple blocks. If you are in the mood for some street food, head to Woo Sung Street for many of the Dai Pai Dongs parallel to the market. Grab some fresh seafood and pair with some ice cold local beers. Afterwards, go see a fortune teller to have a glimpse of your future (or possible hangover).
Address: Temple Street, Jordan
Opening hours: 2PM-11PM
Eat a hearty Clay Pot Rice at The Four Seasons
Do not expect a meal at the five-star hotel, this Claypot rice at the Four Seasons is an absolute Hong Kong favorite. The moment the winter – claypot sesason- hits be prepared to cue. Claypot rice is a traditional dish and cooked using a charcoal fire. There are 30 different variaties to try.
Address: 50-52 Arthur Street, Yau Ma Tei
Opening hours: 4.30PM-1AM
What to order: Chicken and Chinese sausage claypot rice
Price: 64HKD
Featured in: Anthony Bourdain (Parts Unknown)
Sip a cocktail at the Ozone lounge (highest bar in the world 118/F)
The Ozone Lounge offers a unique view on Victoria Harbour. The bar in the Ritz-Carlton hotel is officially the highest bar in the world. Enjoy a drink at the 118th floor of this building (480 meter high). Enjoy your cocktail and hope for a clear view.
Address: 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon
Opening hours: Thursday-Sunday 5PM-9PM
Price: Around 160HKD for a cocktail
Witness the symphony of lights at Victoria Harbor
Every night at 8PM there is a light and sound show called the Symphony of Lights. The best view is from the waterfront at TST or the avenue of stars. The show is officially the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. In total 42 buildings are participating in the show.
Address: Avenue of stars, Tsim Sha Tsui
Been there, done that 