Star Ferry

The Star Ferry Company is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong that has routes between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Founded in 1888, the Star Ferry Company has operated throughout the Victoria Harbor for many years.

Exploring Tsimshatsui

When exploring Tsimshatsui, the best place to start is from the Star Ferry terminal. It is no longer the sole starting point, as you can now drive through the Cross Harbor Tunnel from Hong Kong Island or ride under the harbor on the Mass Transit Railway. But for a century, the only way from the Hong Kong island to Kowloon was by traveling on the Star Ferry.

At the Star Ferry concourse are some small shops, news vendors who hawk many overseas newspapers and a wharf leading to the harbor's tour boats. Next to the wharves is Star House, which houses the first of the shopping arcades. In its the Chinese Arts and Crafts store visitors will find everything from garments to expensive porcelain. Adjoining the Star Hour/Hong Kong Hotel complex is the Ocean Terminal, the Ocean Center and the Harbor City complex, the largest air conditioned and interconnected shopping center in Asia. Just across the street (Canton Road) is the Silvercord, another huge shopping center which houses the Asia Computer Plaza. A short walk from the Star Ferry takes you past the old YMCA that has been renovated throughout time to include a swimming pool, among other amenities and the venerable (since 1928) Peninsula Hotel. Also nearby the Star Ferry is the egg-shaped Space Museum, Planetarium and Space Theater that has an amazing celestial projector. The highlight of this area is the Cultural Center, which opened in November 1989 and cost over HK$600 million.

The Wonders of Nathan Road

Nathan Road was named after Sir Matthew Nathan, a major in the Royal Engineers who built the road and later became Hong Kong's Governor in 1904. Across Nathan Road--the start of Hong Kong's famous Golden Mile tourst belt --is the Sheraton Hotel, which is always a favorite for Western visitors. Near the Sheraton Hotel, you can find the Regent Hotel, a relative newcomer to the Tsimshatsui hotel industry but very famous for its 40 feet (12 meters) high, glassed in lobby. Built during the Reclamation period, the Regent Hotel offers a great view of the Hong Kong Island and the Victoria Peak. At the bottom of Nathan Road, one can get an overall impression of Tsimshatsui--tall buildings, bright advertising signs and shops as far as the eye can see. This is a favorite spot for professional and amateur photographers alike, to take night photographs of the bright neon signs.There are glittering jewelery shops, camera stores and hi-fi outlets--thousands of them--crammed to the sky. However, don't worry because there are also plenty of restaurants on Nathan Road that range from formal dining rooms to coffee shops to stores with ready made meals. Nathan Road offers at least 5 types of Chinese cuisine (Chiu Chow, Pekinese, Shanghainese, Cantonese and Szechuan) in addition to Korean, German, Hungarian, French, Malay, Indonesian, Italian, New York kosher, and many others.