History of Kowloon

Kowloon city in Hong Kong means nine dragons in Mandarin/Cantonese (dialect). I find the storey behind the name Kowloon (nine dragons) interesting, its goes that some few hundred years ago, a Chinese emperor traveled to this new area and saw eight mountains. The old Chinese belief is that every mountain has a dragon, in honor of these 8 dragons, the emperor wanted to name this place as fakloon (eight dragons).”

His advisor quickly retorted, “Your highness, this place should be known as Kowloon (nine dragons).” Offended and curious, the emperor asked his advisor with mixed feeling,” Why is that so? There are only 8 dragons! It should be Fakloon (8 dragons) and not Kowloon (nine dragons).”

“But your highness, you are a dragon as well so this place must have nine dragons!” replied the advisor, and the rest is history Nice try Kenny, you’re a great story teller. Where you found this story from? Technorati Tags: Kowloon, Dragon, Dragons, Chinese Emperor, Kowloon History, Kowloon Name

Tourist Attractions in Kowloon

Hung Hom
The district of Hung Hom lies to the northeast of Tsim Sha Tsui. It is less attractive than the surrounding districts but does contain a number of attractions worth visiting.Mong Kok

 

Mong Kok
Mong Kok District is located northeast of Yau Ma Tei and the two districts have a similar atmosphere. Although it is not one of the most popular areas for tourist it does offer some attractions for visitors. Mong Kok was once the most densely populated urban area in the world.

Nathan Road
Nathan Road, Kowloon's main traffic artery, runs in a dead straight line for 4km/2.5mi from Victoria Harbour to Boundary Street, which marks the northern limit of Kowloon. It traverses the busy Mong Kok district, one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

This busy traffic route (followed also by the MTR), known as the "Golden Mile", is lined on both sides by elegant hotels, restaurants, department stores, cinemas, numerous smaller shops and night spots. The shops display a superabundance of wares calculated to meet almost every conceivable need. It is worth strolling along the street in the evening, when the huge neon advertising signs are switched on.

Tsim Sha Tsui
At the southern end of the peninsula is the district of Tsim Sha Tsui. At its southwestern tip is the large Ocean Terminal, with a shopping center, and the Star Ferry Pier, where ferries ply to and from Hong Kong Island. The shore area to the east was widened by reclamation from the sea, and has recently been developed as Hong Kong's cultural center. This was the site of the terminus of the Hong Kong-Canton Railway, which was moved farther east and is now represented only by its clock tower. To the east, between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Railway Terminus (Hong Kong's main railroad station), are a number of new hotels and shopping centers (East Tsim Sha Tsui).

Yau Ma Tai / Yaumati
Yau Ma Tei (Yaumati) is a district on the western edge of Kowloon. The former typhoon shelter has recently been filled in and reclaimed. Previously it provided a home for large numbers of Chinese boat dwellers, some 8000 of whom lived on 1000 boats; they have now either sailed away elsewhere or been housed in proper dwellings.

The reclaimed land was needed for the construction of part of the expressway (completed in 1997) linking the new airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok with Hong Kong Island In Yau Ma Tei, which is bounded on the east by Nathan Road, on the north by Public Square Street, on the west by Temple Street and on the south by Market Street, are four Chinese temples - Tin Hau, Fook Tak Tse, Shing Wong and Shea Tam.

Wong Tai Sin - Wong Tai Sin Temple
Even though this is one of the newest Chinese temples in Hong Kong it is nevertheless one of the most interesting. A private temple built about 1920 which once stood here was replaced in 1968 by the present building.

The temple is dedicated to the Taoist god Wong Tai Sin, whom the people of Hong Kong regard as the bringer of good luck in horse-racing and a healer of illnesses. Large numbers of worshippers gather in the temple on the 23rd day of the 8th lunar month (usually at the end of September) to celebrate the god's festival.

The complex is made up of several buildings. In the large hall a number of fortune-tellers have their booths, and joss sticks and other offerings lie ready for use. Adjoining is the Hall of the Three Saints, which is dedicated to Kwun Yum (goddess of mercy), Kwan Ti (god of war) and Lue Dong Bin (one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism). Another hall is dedicated to Confucius and his 72 pupils, and beyond this is the Good Wish Garden, a Chinese-style landscaped garden.