Sheung Wan
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, located in the north-west of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, between Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
and Sai Ying Pun
Sai Ying Pun
Sai Ying Pun is an area in Western District on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is part of Central and Western District in district administration....
. Administratively, it is part of the Central and Western District
Central and Western District
The Central and Western District located on northern part of Hong Kong Island is one of the 18 administrative districts of Hong Kong. It had a population of 261,884 in 2001...
. The name can be variously interpreted as Upper District (occupying relatively high ground compared to Central and Wan Chai
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is a metropolitan area situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area north of Gloucester Road is often called...
), or Gateway District (perhaps a reference to the location where the British first entered and occupied Hong Kong).
History
Sheung Wan was one of the earliest settled places by the British, and belonged to the historical Victoria City. The site of the original occupation of Hong Kong Island by British forces in 1842 was at Possession StreetPossession Street
Possession Street is a street in Sheung Wan, from Queen's Road West to Hollywood Road, on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The street marks the boundary of Queen's Road West and Queen's Road Central....
, between Queen's Road Central and Hollywood Road
Hollywood Road
Hollywood Road is a street in Central and Sheung Wan, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.Hollywood Road is filled with trinket and antique shops of all sorts: from Chinese furniture to porcelain ware, from Buddha sculptures to Tibetan rugs, from Japanese netsukes to Coromandel screens, from Ming...
. A plaque to this effect can be found in Hollywood Road Park
Hollywood Road Park
Hollywood Road Park is an urban public park in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.The park is built in Chinese architectural style and is surrounded by buildings nearby.-History:...
at the top of Possession Street. The foot of Possession Street, Possession Point
Possession Point
Possession Point is a former point of land on the northwestern coast of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, before land reclamation moved the coast further north.- History :...
, was at that time on the shoreline, but is now several hundred yards inland due to reclamation.
Geography
Sheung Wan is surrounded by Sai Ying Pun in the west, Central in the east, Victoria HarbourVictoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
in the north and Mid-levels
Mid-levels
Mid-levels is an expensive residential area on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is located halfway up Victoria Peak, directly above Central...
in the south.
The border of Central and Sheung Wan is along Aberdeen Street
Aberdeen Street
Aberdeen Street is a border street dividing Sheung Wan and Choong Wan on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It ascends from Queen's Road Central to Caine Road in the Mid-levels...
and Wing Kut Street
Wing Kut Street
Wing Kut Street is a border street of Sheung Wan and Central extended from Aberdeen Street on the Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is also a street market.-See also:*List of streets and roads in Hong Kong...
.
Highlights
- Hollywood RoadHollywood RoadHollywood Road is a street in Central and Sheung Wan, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.Hollywood Road is filled with trinket and antique shops of all sorts: from Chinese furniture to porcelain ware, from Buddha sculptures to Tibetan rugs, from Japanese netsukes to Coromandel screens, from Ming...
, Ladder StreetLadder StreetLadder Street is a street in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, consisting entirely of stone steps.One of the most visited temples in Hong Kong, the Man Mo Temple, is on Hollywood Road at the corner of Ladder Street....
and other ladder streetsLadder streetsLadder streets are a series of streets from Central or Sheung Wan to the Mid-levels on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The series starts from Queen's Road Central, through Hollywood Road and a few other cross streets, and ends at Caine Road at the Mid-levels... - Man Mo TempleMan Mo TempleA Man Mo Temple or Man Mo Miu is a temple for the worship of the civil or literature god Man Tai / Man Cheong （文昌） and the martial god Mo Tai / Kwan Tai . The two gods were popularly patronized by scholars and students seeking progress in their study or ranking in the civil examinations in the...
- The CenterThe CenterThe Center is the fifth tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, after International Commerce Centre, Two International Finance Centre , Central Plaza and Bank of China Tower. With a height of 346 m , it comprises 73 stories. The Center is one of the few skyscrapers in Hong Kong that is entirely...
- Western MarketWestern MarketWestern Market is one of the oldest structures in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The current structure was the North Block of the original Western Market. It is the oldest surviving market building in the city...
Transport
Sheung Wan is served by the Sheung Wan Station, currently the western terminus of the Island Line of the MTRMTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
metro
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system.
Tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s also run through Sheung Wan, and one of the tram termini, Western Market
Western Market
Western Market is one of the oldest structures in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The current structure was the North Block of the original Western Market. It is the oldest surviving market building in the city...
, is located at the junction of Des Voeux Road Central and Morrison Street near its namesake.
Numerous bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
routes run through Sheung Wan. Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminus
Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminus
The Central Bus Terminus is a major bus terminus located in Sheung Wan, Central and Western District, Hong Kong, next to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal...
, located next to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, is one of the largest bus termini on Hong Kong Island.
The Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in the Shun Tak Centre
Shun Tak Centre
Shun Tak Centre is a commercial and transport complex on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong...
has ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
and helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s to Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and to several destinations in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
.
See also
- Central and Western Heritage Trail: Sheung Wan Route
- Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical TrailDr Sun Yat-sen Historical TrailThe Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail was set up in November 1996 by the Central and Western District Council to commemorate the 130th birthday of Sun Yat-sen. It includes 15 spots in the areas of Central and Sheung Wan in Hong Kong, related to the life of Sun Yat-sen and other revolutionaries in...
- List of areas of Hong Kong