One of Hong Kong’s most affluent residential districts, Kowloon Tong lies to the south of Lion Rock. It was developed in the 1920s with low-rise housing inhabited by wealthy British residents, with many of its streets named after English counties. In the 1970s, Kowloon Tong was famously home to the martial artist, Bruce Lee.
Things to do in Kowloon Tong
In the heart of Kowloon Tong is Festival Walk, which was the largest shopping centre in Hong Kong when it was completed in 1998. Directly linked to Kowloon Tong Station, it is set across seven floors, with a food court overlooking its ice skating rink at the top. International brands such as Pandora and Columbia have stores inside the mall, as do Estee Lauder and H&M.
Stretching along the northern edge of Festival Walk is Cornwall Street Park, where you’ll find leafy walking trails, outdoor exercise equipment and a fish-filled pond. It’s particularly picturesque in the spring when the blossoms flower. North of Kowloon Tong is Beacon Hill, which rises to 457 metres within Lion Rock Country Park. It was named after the warning fires that were lit here during the Qing dynasty.
Kowloon Tong makes a good base for visiting the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir, which was completed in 1904. Join a guided tour to admire its Romanesque architectural features and learn about its role in servicing the residents of Kowloon Tong. Self-guided tours are also available, with audio recordings bringing the site’s history to life.
Getting around Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong is around 25 minutes’ drive from Central and 40 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Rail services stop at the Kowloon Tong Station and buses also travel throughout the district.