The Peninsula Hong Kong: history, location and what's nearby

The Peninsula Hong Kong is one of Asia's classic grand hotels and among the city's best-known landmarks. It stands on Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, at the southern tip of the Kowloon peninsula, a few steps from Victoria Harbour. Whether you're thinking of staying or simply want to see it, here's what the hotel is, where it sits and what's worth doing around it.

A 1928 grand hotel

The Peninsula opened in 1928, built by the family-controlled company that still owns it. Its location was chosen for travellers: directly across the road stood the terminus of the Kowloon–Canton Railway, where passengers arrived from mainland China and beyond, and ocean liners docked nearby.

The original building is symmetrical, with two wings reaching towards the street and framing a forecourt with a fountain. Its high-ceilinged lobby has long been a meeting place in the city and is known for its afternoon tea.

The hotel also has a place in wartime history: on Christmas Day 1941, the British governor surrendered Hong Kong to Japanese forces at the Peninsula, and the hotel served as the Japanese administration's headquarters during the occupation.

In the 1990s, a thirty-storey tower was added behind the original building. It was designed to rise from the old block rather than replace it, and topped with a helipad, which is why the hotel looks the way it does today: a low colonial façade with a slim tower behind.

Where it is and how to get there

The hotel is at the corner of Salisbury Road and Nathan Road, Kowloon's main north–south avenue. The nearest metro stations are East Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui, both a few minutes' walk away through underground passages that are handy in heavy rain.

From the airport, the Airport Express train runs to Kowloon Station, from where it's a short taxi ride; a taxi all the way takes roughly 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. Taxis in Hong Kong are plentiful and metered.

The area: Tsim Sha Tsui

Tsim Sha Tsui is Kowloon's busiest visitor district, packed with shops, restaurants and hotels, and it's where many first-time visitors to Hong Kong choose to stay. Its big advantage is the harbourfront: Kowloon faces the famous skyline of Hong Kong Island, so the best views of it are on this side of the water.

The Clock Tower and the harbourfront

The railway terminus that brought guests to the hotel closed in the 1970s, but its red-brick and granite clock tower still stands on the waterfront, about two minutes' walk away. Next to it are the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

From here the promenade runs east along the harbour, including the Avenue of Stars, with views across to Central, Wan Chai and the Peak. In the evening, a light-and-music show usually plays across the skyline at a set time; check the current schedule.

The Star Ferry

Beside the clock tower, the Star Ferry has shuttled across Victoria Harbour to Central for well over a century. The crossing takes under ten minutes, costs very little and gives one of the best views in the city, especially at dusk. It's also the most pleasant way to reach Hong Kong Island from the hotel.

Temple Street Night Market

In the evening, walk or take the metro up Nathan Road to Yau Ma Tei for Temple Street Night Market: stalls selling souvenirs and bric-a-brac, open-air food stands and fortune tellers. It gets going after dark. Keep an eye on your belongings in the crowds, and bargain politely.

Victoria Peak

For the view from above, cross to Central on the Star Ferry and ride the Peak Tram up Victoria Peak. Go around sunset to see the city lights come on. Queues for the tram can be long at weekends and in the late afternoon; buses and taxis also go up, and there's an easy circular walk around the summit.

Nearby alternatives

• West Kowloon Cultural District: a harbourside park and newer museums, a short ride west.
• Kowloon Park: a green break just off Nathan Road.
• Mong Kok: street markets and busy shopping streets further north.

Who it suits and when to go

The Peninsula suits travellers who want old-world style, a historic setting and a harbourfront base with fast transport links. Those who prefer quieter streets might look at hotels on Hong Kong Island instead.

October to December is usually the most comfortable time to visit, with cooler, drier weather and clearer harbour views. Summers are hot and humid, and the typhoon season runs roughly from late spring to autumn, when services can pause during storm warnings.

Practical tips

• Book early for peak dates such as Christmas, New Year and major trade fairs, when rates in Tsim Sha Tsui rise.
• Get a stored-value transit card on arrival; it works on the metro, buses, the Star Ferry and the Peak Tram.
• Check entry rules for your nationality on the official immigration site before you go.

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Cover photo: || UggBoy♥UggGirl || PHOTO || WORLD || TRAVEL ||, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons