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Sham Shui
Po is a colourful community in West Kowloon. A kaleidoscope of old and
new, its striking contrasts will amaze you. Here you can find the 2,000-year-old
Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb and the century-old Tin Hau Temple, standing alongside
private and public housing estates built in the 1960s and '70s. A stone's
throw away are modern commercial complexes and trendy shopping malls.
Thanks to today's
efficient transport system, it takes a little more than 10 minutes to
get to Sham Shui Po from Central. But over 100 years ago, a journey across
the harbour would take a good part of your day. To get to Sham Shui Po
from Central in 1884, you would take the ferry to Mong Kok, then hire
a sampan for Tai Kok Tsui, before taking up to two hours to reach Sham
Shui Po by foot.
 In
those days, there were only a few small villages in Sham Shui Po. There
was a Guandi temple, two village markets and seven or eight kilns, an
important part of Sham Shui Po's early industry. Oyster shells from Peng
Chau were burned into lime powder in the kilns before being shipped to
other districts. Many villagers made a living from this booming trade.
Today, Sham Shui Po
is one of Kowloon's commercial hubs. Old commercial buildings in the area
are very popular with the garment trade, and there are plenty of wholesale
and retail shops at street level. Cheung Sha Wan Road, where many of the
garment manufacturers sell directly to the public, is nicknamed "Fashion
Street". The low prices attract many bargain hunters.
When it comes to other
types of shopping, Ap Liu Street is not to be missed. Formerly occupied
by duck sheds (ap liu), it gradually became a flea market as more
and more hawkers and street stall owners settled here over the past 20
years. Today, it is the place to find new or second-hand electrical appliances,
telephones, radios, hi-fi equipment and other electronic parts and accessories.
It is also a treasure trove for retro music fans. Look hard and you might
get a rare black vinyl music album for next to nothing.
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Interesting
Stories of 18 Districts
