Kowloon City - insiders' favourites

Written by LUXE City Guides, Images by Nicolas Petit

“Live out the Cinematic Charm of Hong Kong” Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In exhibition

Discover the exhibition at Kai Tak AIRSIDE mall, featuring restored iconic movie sets from Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. Explore a barber shop, comic stall, tea stall, bone-setting clinic and tailor shop. With an open design and interactive elements, this exhibition offers an immersive experience for all visitors. Click here for details.

Kowloon City may be a historic multicultural neighbourhood, but with recent renovations and transformations, it is now a neighbourhood that allows you to experience both Hong Kong’s historic side and newer landmarks.

Here are some of our top picks.

Cattle Depot Artist Village

Well before Art Basel turned Hong Kong into a global art destination, this historic slaughterhouse was one of the city’s first clusters of art studios. Founded to accommodate those displaced from the short-lived but vibrant Oil Street art hub in North Point, it is now home to creative types like the Frog King, an eccentric performance artist known for his ornate amphibian costume. You can also catch some avant-garde work at Videotage, Hong Kong’s leading video art institution; 1a Space is another well-regarded contemporary gallery in the village.

Kowloon City Market

The quality of the produce in the Kowloon City Market draws famous visitors like film star Chow Yun-fat, who is sometimes spotted buying his groceries here. Among the 581 stalls are vendors selling imported fruits from Southeast Asia, including mangos, rambutan and — most exotic of all — durian. Not everyone loves durian’s potent aroma and creamy, sweet-yet-savoury flavour, but it has legions of fans who come to Kowloon City during the late-summer durian season to hunt for some of the best specimens in Hong Kong.

Fishtail Rock

As the name suggests, this rock looks like the tail of a fish plunging into the water. Renowned for its good feng shui, the Fishtail Rock is located on the former Hoi Sham Island; a small temple to the dragon goddess Lung Mo once stood at the foot of the rock, accessible only by boat. Land reclamation in the 1960s swallowed up the island, which was incorporated into the new Hoi Sham Park and you can now relax under the trees in full view of the fishtail. Although the temple was demolished in 1964, its statue of Lung Mo was saved and relocated to the historic To Kwa Wan Tin Hau Temple nearby.

Ko Shan Theatre

Built in 1983 but recently renovated and expanded, Ko Shan Theatre is now a hub for Cantonese opera. Like other forms of Chinese opera, the Cantonese variety features sweeping historical epics performed through song, martial arts and acrobatics. Along with regular opera performances, Ko Shan Theatre is home to the Cantonese Opera Education and Information Centre, which offers a thorough introduction to the art form and its history.

Dockyard

Part of the new Kerry Hotel, this waterfront food hall brings together 10 different vendors offering Vietnamese, Thai, Korean and Japanese cuisines, along with local favourites like beef brisket noodles. Wash down your meal with a locally brewed craft beer, including the custom-made Young Master Dockyard Ale. Best of all, Dockyard offers an app-based, cash-free payment system that lets you order food from any of the vendors without leaving your seat.

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

Designed by renowned British architect Sir Norman Foster, this is the first facility to open as part of the redeveloped Kai Tak Airport. You don’t have to wait for your ship to come in to visit, it makes the most of its location at the tip of the old runway. There’s a 23,000-square-metre public park on the rooftop with panoramic views of Victoria Harbour; on a sunny day, the clouds are reflected in the park’s lily ponds.

AIRSIDE

Since its opening in 2023, AIRSIDE has become a popular destination in Kai Tak. Visitors are invited to explore a diverse range of offerings across 700,000 square feet. Celebrating an eco-conscious and pet-friendly ethos, the mall features a variety of dining options, from fresh farm-to-table cuisine to international favourites. Enjoy unique experiences, including an in-mall surfing facility, art installations throughout the complex, plus a curated selection found at GATE 33 Gallery.

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