Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Walking Tour: Nathan Road

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Walking Tour Wednesday. I've had a lovely summer traveling the world, but I'm happy to be back wandering around Hong Kong with you. For this walking tour, we're going to a place that is well known to tourists and locals alike: Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. We've visited TST to see the Avenue of the Stars, and our ride on the Star Ferry ended here. Now, Nathan Road takes us right through the heart of this bustling part of town.


We'll start out at the famous old Peninsula hotel. It is perhaps the best place in Asia to have a high tea that is more English than most high teas in England.


Turn in a circle in front of The Peninsula. You're on Salisbury Road, HK's museum row. The HK Performing Arts Centre is to the right of the hotel.


That's the space museum.


And there's the Hong Kong Museum of Art.


When the hotel is on your left, walk a few steps down Salisbury Road.


To your right you'll see Salisbury Garden...


You should turn left here...


...and you'll find yourself on Nathan Road.

 

Crossing the road is tricky in TST, but you'll be able to find subways (passages underground not to be confused with underground trains).


There will be plenty of signs for the MTR (the underground train) as well.


Nathan Road is a place of people and glass...


...and commerce.


You'll see advertisements, old and new, as you walk down the street.


There are people everywhere, no matter what time you're here.


Nathan Road is lined with stores on both sides.


They're usually doing work to improve this city.


You'll find traditional Chinese medicine...


...next to money...


...next to diamonds.


There are plenty of signs to help you get your bearings.


This strange green curtain hides the infamous Chungking Mansion, which seems to be undergoing a facelift. This is what it is supposed to look like...


I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that they are cleaning up such a notoriously ugly building.


I suppose it looks incongruous next to the shiny new iSquare shopping center across the street.


And a big crossing is all that separates these two different worlds.


In any case, you should watch your step and cross the street.


Continue walking down Nathan Road.


You won't be disappointed by the costly things you'll see in the shop windows.


You'll see some cultivated greenery along the streets here.


Notice the sings of everyday life.


And the signs of constant work and improvement.


Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, so even the bus stops are decorated with mooncakes.


This is Hong Kong, so you'll see people everywhere.


You'll come to another crossing.


Look down the street to your left to see even more shops and people.


When you see this arch...


You'll know you've reached the big mosque in TST.


Look across the street to see rows of buildings that are completely at odds with this sight.


Take one last look up at the sky...


And then lose yourself in the endless shopping.

I hope you've enjoyed this tour of Nathan Road. Don't forget to enter my 100 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY before September 12th. I'm giving away a $15 Amazon.com gift certificate to say thank you to you all for supporting this blog. Come back next week for more Hong Kong Walking Tours!

5 comments:

  1. Chung King Mansion may be getting a facelift on the outside, but that won't do much to changing the very colourful and shady inside. (Now that would make for an interesting, if not somewhat dangerous, walking tour.)
    -Stephanie

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  2. Nice post again! I only spent 3 days in HK when I was there, and your walking tours remind me that that was way too short!

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  3. These are great! You've got an incredible eye, love the dome at the space station and I also love that there are still telephone booths!

    I've never been to HK, but I would love to see it in person. In the meantime, I'll live vicariously through you :-)

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  4. TST has gotten quite glitzy up near the Peninsula. Yeah, I agree about Chungking Mansions. Even if the outside is glammed up, the inside needs major major work, although that would take away from its flavor.

    I have fond memories of Kowloon Park. It's very peaceful in the midst of all that TST chaos!

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  5. I live just off Nathan Road, walk there every day and I didn't even notice the mooncakes on the bus stops till you pointed it out! How do you notice these details? Incredible!Took my husband on your "Hollywood Road" walking tour yesterday.

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