The Chungking Mansions, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Let’s be clear, you can’t review the Chungking Mansions in a traditional sense any more than that you should not miss them during any visit to Kowloon, located a (long stone’s throw) from both the Star Ferry Terminal which will get you to and from the island of Hong Kong and the Sim Sha Tsui subway station.

The “Mansions” are really five blocks of 17-stories, lettered A through E, with two elevators servicing each, one for odd numbered floors and the other stopping on even floors. Above the ground-floor arcades of the first two stories which offer bars, snacks, shopping, restaurants, camera stores, money exchangers and remittance centers, are 15 stories of guesthouses, hostels, restaurants and quite a bit of you don’t want to know or will never be told.

I doubt there is a spice, color of scarf, sari or SIM chip unavailable somewhere here.

I say this simply because raids and arrests made in the past mean somewhere in there you can purchase drugs, fake passports or possibly simply get recruited to mule ivory or “blood diamonds” to your next destination for a few extra bucks for traveling.

While I’ve never felt any safety concerns in my many stays including a night spent in a stairwell, as anywhere take precautions and enjoy.

A culinary or shopping trip between “three continents” can easily be accomplished in three stories of these buildings. Somewhat ironically perhaps is the fact that these “casbahs” of rooms, restaurants and shopping are located only 100-plus meters to The Peninsula Hotel, where guests are shuttled around by the hotel’s fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms.

Chungking Mansions

36–44 Nathan Road

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong