subject: Shanghai Street In Hong Kong A Wonderful Place To Shop! [print this page] Starting from Austin Road and ending at Lai Chi Kok Road, Shanghai Street in Kowloon Hong Kong has become a preserved historical street.
This area in 1874 was actually a busy coastal trade zone with ships parked alongside. It was then one of the earliest reclamation areas in Hong Kong and was named Station Street. This was because a key symbol of the area- Yau Ma Tei Police Station was located along this street. However the police station was relocated and the street was divided as South and North Station Street. This was causing confusion with another Station Road located on Hong Kong Island. Also at this time Hong Kong was renaming its streets according to Chinese provinces that Hong Kong were engaged in trade with. Meanwhile the British in Hong Kong found the Station Street area to be as bustling, prosperous and commercialized as Shanghai in China. All these reasons combined to rename Station Street as Shanghai Street in 1909.
This street was a very important commercial hub in the past, however other areas soon overtook it and now Shanghai Street is a much subdued version of its glory days. There remain historic buildings, of which the shop houses deserve special mention. This row of shops of which only 10 remain now are typical of early commercial streets in China. Whilst the ground floor of the buildings are shops selling traditional Chinese ware the higher floors are usually low rent apartments. These shops sell traditional Chinese wedding dresses, kitchen equipment, snake soup, groceries etc. None of the goods have fixed prices and bargaining is welcomed as well as expected.
A unique and enchanting place, Shanghai Street can be easily accessed through the MRT. If visitors seek to find a hotel in Hong Kong, then the Hotel Jen with its modern amenities and luxury accommodation is an ideal Hong Kong Island hotel.
