Tsim Sha Tsui (TST)

Above: The Hong Kong Space Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Tsim Sha Tsui tops the list for having them all when it comes to an area for shopping, sightseeing, museums, restaurants, and hotels. (Left: Space Museum)

Tsim Sha Tsui is located at the southern tip of Kowloon Peninsula, separated from the Hong Kong Island by the Victoria Harbor. Hence there are many harbor front hotels facing the beautiful, world-renowned Hong Kong Island skyline. Since the harbor is where fireworks are launched from during city-wide celebrations, literally myriads of people gather at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront at such events (did you know that a myriad means 10,000?).

Above: A pier fisherman fishing across from the Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui If you're visiting Hong Kong in a cruiseliner, most likely your ship will be berthed at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui as well, unless your ship is too big for the decades old terminal. Left: A pier fisherman fishing across from the Ocean Terminal

Above: Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier with the backdrop of HK Island across Victoria HarborWorth mentioning is the pedestrian tunnel system in Tsim Sha Tsui. It connects together the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui station, the East Tsim Sha Tsui station, Sheraton Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, the Tsim Sha Tsui watarfront (location of the Avenue of Stars where you can have a picture taken with Bruce Lee), Cultural Center, Space Museum, Museum of Art, and the adjacent Star Ferry Pier.

Above: The 1881 Heritage complex, converted from the old Marine Police HQ If you want to shop, in addition to all those shops along Nathan Road which runs through the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, and those on the side streets, there is iSquare, other shopping centers, and a large mall, Harbour City (on Canton Road). In fact Canton Road has become the name-brand row. And the 1881 Heritage at the corner not only hosts some name-brand stores, it's a beautifully refurbished historical site with a hotel. (Left: 1881 Heritage shopping center, hotel, and exhibition hall)

Tsim Sha Tsui, or more easily referred to as TST by the expat community in Hong Kong, is easily reached by MTR subway. Just get off at Tsim Sha Tsui station.

You can also get there by Star Ferry from Central or Wan Chai district on Hong Kong Island, and by bus (mainly from other parts of Kowloon).

- BEWARE -

On nights when there're fireworks over the Victoria Harbor (e.g. New Year's Eve, July 1st, and maybe also the second evening of Chinese New Year), many streets near the harbor in Tsim Sha Tsui are closed off to motorized traffic in order to accommodate the tens of thousands of people, so you may not be able to get to your hotel in a vehicle. Even if you can, the streets may be so congested that traffic is at a standstill and you might as well walk.