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Introduction
This is infamous Tsim Sha Tsui, home to the world's most stunning city
views and some of the most concentrated, frenetic shopping anywhere. By
the way, Tsim Sha Tsui was formerly written Tsimshatsui everywhere you
looked but kindhearted people decided to split it into three words to
make its pronunciation (slightly) more apparent. Anyway, it is pronounced,
very roughly -- 'sim 'sa 'sway -- spoken rather quickly.
[We saw one reference years ago suggest 'jim sa 'joy, however! It's up
to you.] Don't worry, no matter how well you say it you'll get a smile
from the locals. Highly recommended here is a stroll along the Waterfront
Promenade which extends from the Star Ferry Pier down in front of the
Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Space Theatre around Hotel Intercontinental
(formerly the Regent) and the New World Complex and then all the way into
Hung Hom. For shopping, it's huge Harbour City, the "golden mile"
of Nathan Road, or the hundred of small shops and boutiques everywhere.
Points of Interest
The
Star Ferry 
From 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., these two-story, cigar-shaped, green boats
cross back and forth across the choppy harbor between Tsim Sha Tsui and
Central. See the Star Ferry entry on the Central
Interactive Map page for more information. Great views. A must.
Hong
Kong Cultural Center
(image also in map above)
Enclosed in this grand, modern structure on the TST waterfront is the
Concert Hall, the Grand Theatre, and the Studio Theatre. Adjacent to the
Centre is the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Hong
Kong Space Museum and Theater
(image same as map above)
Under the eye-catching dome is a high-tech, dazzling "star-show"
at the Planetarium. Omnimax showings are here as well.
The
Peninsula Hotel
The Grand Old Lady of Hong Kong. If you don't have the privilege of staying
here, at least poke your head in the front door or have a tea in the lobby.
At night, if you're looking for a cocktail, head up to the Felix bar crowning
her towers for some of the finest panoramas in the world particularly
from the, um, men's glass-walled bathroom.
The
Promenade
Following the waterfront from Tsim Sha Tsui East/Hung Hom all the way
down to the Star Ferry pier is the Promenade, a wide pedestrian walkway
directly at the harbor's edge. Great for a stroll anytime of the day!
Kowloon
Park
Kowloon Park offers a cool, quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of
the city. Many beautifully landscaped walkways wind their way through
the park. Indeed, the park is mostly these paths criss-crossing the park.
Don't expect wide open spaces here or at most of the other Hong Kong parks,
except for Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. There is a covered walkway between
Kowloon Park and China Hong Kong City.
Shopping
Hong Kong has been
properly described as a shopper's paradise. Everything here, except for
alcohol and tobacco, is duty-free -- there is no tax! With a little care
and some common sense, you can enjoy the wonderful products and prices
the city has to offer. Here are some tips:
 1.)
Hong Kong Tourist Association: If possible, try to buy from members
of the Hong Kong Tourist Association or HKTA (tel. is 2929 6111) as their
reputations are verifiable. Look for their logo -- a red junk -- shown
at right wherever you shop. A free shopping guide loaded with good advice
is available at the HKTA outlet at the Star Ferry Pier in TST.
2.) Shop Around: There are many, many stores selling the
exact same items but at different prices. Shop and compare!
3.) Guarantees: When buying an item that comes with a guarantee,
make sure the guarantee is international.
4.) Bargaining: In most cases, bargaining is NOT really
done at a department store or major retailer but IS done at a night market
or smaller outlet. Trying to haggle over the price of an item in a major
department store will get you nowhere.
Harbour City
Harbour City is Hong Kong's largest and most popular
shopping center with 700 shops and boutiques, 50 restaurants, two cinemas,
three top hotels, a 500-room serviced apartment, a private club, 2,000
car parking spaces, 4.4 million square foot office towers, etc., etc.,
etc. It's big, and takes up much of the western part of Tsim Sha Tsui's
harborfront. On the map above, it extends from the Marco Polo Hong Kong
hotel on the south, to the diamond-shaped towers on the north. Across
the street on Canton road, is a great place to shop for designer wear.
Nathan Road
Shopping abounds along Nathan Road and down her side-streets and alleyways.
Very popular purchases are jewelry, shoes, bags, and, of course, clothes.
You can find some very good deals with just a little checking to ensure
the quality matches the price. Definitely look around a bit before buying
more expensive items such as cameras or jewelry. A great place to shop
here is the Chinese Arts and Crafts department store with silk being an
especially good deal. The clothing factory-outlets along Granville Road
(between Kimberley and Cameron roads) are a must for those seeking true
bargains.
Transportation
MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui station 
The subway/underground/metro is how most people get around most of the
time. It's cheap, efficient, clean, and modern. There are numerous entrances
down to the TST station as you near its Nathan Road/Mody Road location.
Close to and at each entrance is the MTR logo to help you find your way
(shown above). Where you see this logo on our website, you can click on
it to link to a MTR route map on our "Hong Kong Information: Local
Transportation" page.
China
Ferry Terminal
(image also in map above)
For ferries into other parts of China, the terminal is at China Hong Kong
City.
Western
Harbour Tunnel
and Cross-Harbour tunnel
There are three major tunnels between TST (West
and East) and Hong Kong Island: The Western Harbour Tunnel, the MTR railway
line, and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. The Western tunnel starts on newly
reclaimed land just west of the Harbour City complex and extends the Airport
Express Line railway and the West Kowloon Expressway under the harbor
to Hong Kong Island. The older Cross-Harbour Tunnel connects TST East
and Causeway Bay. Finally, the MTR line goes under the harbor from Nathan
road to Admiralty. There is actually another tunnel -- the Eastern Access
Tunnel -- which goes from Eastern Kowloon to the (mostly industrial) eastern
part of Hong Kong Island. If you've been out late at night on the opposite
side of the harbor from your hotel, it's likely you find yourself using
one of the road tunnels as the Star Ferry stops at 11:30 p.m. and the
MTR shuts down by 1:00 a.m.
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