causeway-bay1Causeway Bay derives its name from tile fact that it used to be a bay; until reclamation in the 1950s. Now it is thoroughly earth-based, a colourful upmarket district packed with shops and restaurants centred around the area between tile eastern end of Lockhart Road and the western edge of Victoria’, Park. Trams run just to the south of here along Yee Wo Street, a continuation of Hennessy Road from Wan Chai. Causeway Bay has an MTN station and is also the point of arrival of the original cross-harbour tunnel which carries vehicle traffic over from Kowloon.
The main preoccupation in Causeway Bay is definitely shopping and consumption. Within a couple of minutes of the MTR station you’ll find a num. ber of ultra-modern Japanese department stores, including Sogo and Mitsukoshi, while slightly to the north is Vogue Alley, a lane to the east of and parallel with north-south Paterson Street, which comprises, as its name suggests, a group of fashion boutiques, as well as some restaurants and ban; South of Yee Wo Street the atmosphere is slightly more downmarket, but just as busy, particularly around Jardine’s Bazaar and Jardine’s Crescent, two alleys almost immediately south of Causeway Bay MTN.
Bang on Causeway Bay MTN (exit A) at Matheson Street lies Times Square (www. timessquare.com.hk), two towers constructed in 1993 and packed with themed shopping over sixteen floors. These range from comput- ers to haute couture, a cinema multiplex and four floors of eateries. Look out for the giant outdoor video screen in the piazza, a popular meeting place, offer. lng daily news and weather reports.
Specific tourist sights are thin on the ground here, though you might stroll up to the waterfront to see the Noon Day Gun - immortalized in Noel Coward’s song Mad Dogs and Englishmen - which is fired off with a loud report every day at noon. The Noon Day Gun overlooks the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, which is always jammed full of boats.
The eastern part of Causeway Bay is dominated by Victoria Park, a surprisingly extensive space by Hong Kong’s standards, which contains swimming pools and other sports facilities. In recent years, this has become the location for the annual candle-lit vigil held on June 4 to commemorate the victims of Tian’anmen Square, in addition to hosting one of causeway-bayHong Kong’s largest lunar New Year fairs. Come early in the morning and you’ll see dozens of people practising their taiji. Down at the southeastern corner of the park, right by the Tin Hau MTR (exit A), is the two-hundred-year-old Tin Hau Temple, a rather dark, gloomy place surrounded unhappily by highrises (daily 7am-7pm). Tin Hau is the name given locally to the Goddess of the Sea, and her temples can be found throughout Hong Kong, normally in prominent positions by the shore where they were frequented by fishermen and sailors. The fact that tem- ples such as this one have now been submerged in development is a reflection of priorities in modern Hong Kong. You can also reach this Tin Hau Temple on any tram heading for North Point; get off immediately after passing Victoria Park on your left.

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