Yau Tsim Mong gets its name from the three main areas that make up this busy urban district at the southern tip of Kowloon Peninsula: Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok. With a total area of 290 hectares, of which almost 100 hectares come from the recent West Kowloon Reclamation Project, it is relatively small among Hong Kong's 18 local districts. But do not let Yau Tsim Mong's modest size fool you, for it is one of Hong Kong's most important business areas - and Tsim Sha Tsui in particular is a lively and bustling place that's a must on any visitor itinerary.

The name Tsim Sha Tsui may sound rather odd and unpronounceable (try saying jeem sar joy), but its meaning of "sharp sandy point" is a vivid description of the district's peculiar landform. Facing Hong Kong Island and now perhaps best known as the Kowloon terminal of the Star Ferry, Tsim Sha Tsui was once a barren sandy beach with a jagged coastline.

Tsim Sha Tsui was also once known as Heung Po Tau. In the old days, the fragrance from Heung Fan Miu, a major incense tree plantation near Lek Yuen in Sha Tin, was transported to Tsim Sha Tsui before being shipped to other parts of Hong Kong. Heung means "fragrant", and po tau means "wharf".

Mong Kok literally means the bustling city corner. It is also the name of an old seaside village which stood here over a century ago, overlooking the rocky tip of the seaside headland.

Villagers of Mong Kok were flower and vegetable farmers, planting watercress and water spinach. Today, Sai Yeung Choi (which means watercress in Cantonese) Street and Tung Choi (water spinach) Street stand witness to the area's agricultural past.

In the old days the Kowloon Peninsula was divided into the New Kowloon area and Old Kowloon area at Boundary Hill. There were wooden fences and check points high up on Boundary Hill. Mong Kok was right on this boundary line, and Chinese troops were stationed at Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City to the north of Mong Kok.

Interesting Stories of 18 Districts
Central & Western	Eastern
Islands	Kowloon City
Kwai Tsing	Kwun Tong
North	Sai Kung
Sham Shui Po	Sha Tin
Southern	Tai Po
Tsuen Wan	Tuen Mun
Wan Chai	Wong Tai Sin
Yau Ma Tei Tsim Sha Tsui Mong Kok   Others	Yuen Long

Later, when the area north of Boundary Hill was leased to the British, the wooden fences and check points were demolished, and Mong Kok thrived. As the population grew, the need for farmland increased. To meet the need for land supply, Boundary Hill was levelled to make way for agriculture development. Today, Boundary Street is all that is left of the old border line.

As farming diminished, the villagers of Mong Kok sought new livelihoods. Many ran laundry shops and textile dyeing plants. Sai Yee (Laundry) Street and Yim Po Fong (Dyeing Plants) Street are evidence of this piece of Mong Kok history.