Hong Kong/Central and Western

From World travel guide

Central and Western is an administrative region of Hong Kong Island. The Central district is the business center and home to some fantastic skyscrapers and Victoria Peak.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 Ferry 1.2 MTR 1.3 Train 1.4 Tram 2 See 2.1 Central-Mid-Levels Escalator 2.2 The Peak 2.3 Domestic Workers 3 Do 3.1 Peak 3.2 Walk along Wellington Street 4 Buy 5 Eat 5.1 Budget 5.2 Budget 5.3 Mid-range 5.4 Splurge 6 Drink 7 Sleep 8 External links

Get in

Ferry

The classic way to get to Central is the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui. $2.2/1.7 on the upper/lower deck. The Star Ferry also serves Hung Hom.

MTR

Central Station is the end of the Tsuen Wan Line. The Island Line passes through central.

Train

The Airport Express terminates at Hong Kong station.

Tram

The tram serves Hong Kong island from Island East and terminates in Kennedy Town.

See

Central-Mid-Levels Escalator

At 800 m long, this is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. The escalator runs downhill from 0600 to 1000 and uphill from 1030 to 2400 every day.

The Peak

Take the Peak Tram, a train line going to the highest point on Hong Kong island for a great view of the natural landscape in stark contrast with the city (if it's not too cloudy). The tram also makes a few stops, so it's possible to go half-way and hike the winding roads on the sloping geography. Follow the signs from Central Station to find the Peak Tram. Also worth seeing are the parks near Central station, the Memorial Gardens, Statue Square and the Chater Gardens for a refreshing break, as well seeing the Cenotaph for the fallen soldiers of WWII. City hall is also nearby. A ten minute-walk away from Central is the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, a small, free zoo with reptiles, primates, a jaguar, and rare and endangered birds and plants.

Domestic Workers

Walk around Central on a Sunday afternoon, especially around the HSBC building. The check out the sights and sounds as the thousands of domestic workers, mostly Philipinos gather together on their day off.

Do

Peak

Victoria Peak was once the place the rich were carried in their sedan chairs to escape the summer heat. Since 1888 the Peak Tram has been carrying passengers. The Lower Terminus is ten minutes walk from exit J2 of Central MTR station. From the Star Ferry pier, bus number 15C runs regularly. You can also walk to or from the Peak from Mid-Levels along Old Peak Road. At the upper tram terminus is The Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria, both full of souvenir shops and overpriced restaurants with spectacular views. There are also some viewing galleries. For the best views and to get away from the crowds, there is a circluar walk along Tregunter Road and Harlech Road. From Lugard Road there are views of the skyscrapers of Central and Victoria Harbour, from Harlech road, the views are of Lamma and other Outlying Islands. This takes around an hour.

Walk along Wellington Street

Nice street with dried foodstuffs, various restaurants, majong pieces. Also check out Art Jam at 123 Wellington Street. They provide you with canvas, paints and materials. From $200 to $500 depending on when you go and canvas size.

Buy

Flow, 1st Floor, 40 Lyndhurst Terrace. Phone 29649483. Second hand bookshop where you can exchange your used travel guides.

Hollywood Road for antiques.

Lanes in Central - Here you can buy chinese dresses, clothes, bags, belts, watches and souvenirs, Li Yuen Street East and Li Yuen Street West, between Des Veux Road Central and Queens Road Central, close to the escalator

Eat

Pizza Express, 21 Lyndhurst Terrace. Has a nice view overlooking the Mid-Levels Escalator.

Soho, halfway up the Central Escalator, has a wide array of trendy and/or atmospheric restaurants serving international food.

Budget

Budget

• Dumpling House, great beijing-style dumplings, avoid going there during lunch hour, because it's packed.prices range from $8 up to $30, 26 Cochrane Street,Central just below the escalator.

• Good Luck Thai seating is outdoor in a alley just off Lan Kwai Fong, very popular on weekends, nice atmosphere, dishes starting from about $40 , 13 Wing Wah Lane (also known as Rat Alley)

• Zhong Guo Song Wo On Lane, Central. Good chinese food, without MSG and less oil. Set dinners for two about $180

Mid-range

• Fung Shing Restaurant (鳳城酒家), 7 On Tai Street, Sheung Wan (in Western Market), tel. 28158689. Very local eatery known for its dim sum, which is cheap and good at $10 and up per serve. Open daily from 7:30 AM for the dim sum breakfast crowd, but no English menu!

• Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), 160-164 Wellington Street, Central, tel. 25444556. Famous for traditional Cantonese cuisine and dim sum. It is more than 70 years old, and always packed with diners. Do not expect luxury decorations and service in this restaurant, it is a restaurant serving with genuine and traditional Cantonese food but not the decoration and service. The most famous dish here is the whole roast duck ($120), but there's a wide range of other dishes for around $40 or so; try their other speciality, the succulent pork ribs. English menu available.

• Maxim's Palace. 3F City Hall (just east from Star Ferry terminal). One of Hong Kong's most popular dim sum spots, featuring harbor views if you're lucky enough to score a windowside table. The atmosphere and food are very much in the classical dim sum tradition, a large, noisy hall with waitresses pushing around carts laden with goodies; try the siu mai, har gao and mango pudding. Dim sum served from 11 to 3 PM daily, expect to queue on Sundays (when the restaurant opens at 9 AM). Gather up at least 4 people so you can try many kinds, and expect to pay $100-200 a head depending on how hungry you are. Note: Don't confuse this with Maxim's Restaurant on the 2nd floor!

• Yung Kee Restaurant, 32-40 Wellington Street. Tourists flock from all over for the Cantonese food here, especially the roast goose.

Splurge

• Luk Yu Tea House (陸羽茶室), 26 Stanley Street, Central. Famous for the excellent tea and traditional dim sum. It is a popular meeting place for businessmen. Service, once famously surly, has improved in recent years and they now even provide an English menu on request.

Drink

• Lan Kwai Fong. A few blocks uphill from Central, this is Hong Kong's traditional expat hangout. Drinks are fairly pricy with even your basic beer costing $50 and up.

Sleep

Bishop Lei International House, Robinson Road, Mid-Levels. Operated by the Catholic Diocese. Rooms from HK$535

External links

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