Eastern District

Spots

Noonday Gun

The firing of the Noonday Gun has a history of more than 100 years. Every day at noon, a one-shot salvo is fired from the Noonday Gun as a time signal. The Noonday Gun, as well as 6 small saluting guns, were installed at the waterfront of the sea opposite to The Excelsior on Gloucester Road by Jardine Matheson Group.

Victoria Park

An oasis amid the hustle and bustle of Causeway Bay, Victoria Park adds a splash of green to the metropolitan landscape. It is also a popular place for Tai Chi lovers and joggers. There are a wide range of sports facilities in the park, for example squash, tennis, basketball and handball courts, mini-soccer pitches as well as swimming pools. The park is also the venue for one of the largest Lunar New Year Fairs in Hong Kong.

Enquiries: Park: 2570 6186 Swimming Pool: 2570 8347

Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay

According to legend, Tin Hau (the Heavenly Queen) was born in the Sung Dynasty (960-1279A.D.). Her native place was Fujian Province and her mortal name was Lam Mak Leung (meaning a lady who is gentle and quiet by nature). She had supernatural power, and saved many people from disasters of the sea. Therefore, she is treated by the seafaring folks as their patron saint. The Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay is one of the largest Tin Hau Temples on Hong Kong Island. The temple is a traditional Chinese two-hall structure, and there are drum terraces on both sides at the main entrance. The roof ridge is decorated by delicate ceramic figurines made in Shi Wan.

Hawker Stalls on Marble Road

The open-air bazaar on Marble Road is near the North Point MTR Station and sells mainly clothing and trinkets at very reasonable prices. When you go shopping here, you may as well try your bargaining skills and maybe get some unexpected fun from it. The long and narrow streets around Marble Road are flanked by old tenement buildings, representing the older facade of the Eastern District.

Relics of War-Time Cooking Ranges

The war-time cooking ranges in the Quarry Bay Country Park were built by the Government before World War II in order to provide food for local residents in anticipation of the possible war with the Japanese. It is said that because Hong Kong Island fell to the Japanese for only a few days, these cooking ranges were never used.

Little Lan Kwai Fong

The area in the vicinity of Tong Chong Street in Quarry Bay used to be the oldest industrial centre in Hong Kong. As soon as the industrial buildings to the east of Tong Chong Street had been rebuilt into multi-storey commercial buildings, some chic bars, cafes and boutiques were opened on the other side of the street. Just like Lan Kwai Fong in Central, the area has a relaxed ambience of European elegance. Now people often refer to Tong Chong Street as the "Little Lan Kwai Fong".

Cityplaza

Cityplaza is the shopping centre of Tai Koo Shing, a large-scale private housing estate in Hong Kong. It is very popular and there are all kinds of shops. You will be fascinated by the vibrant atmosphere and will enjoy a terrific time of eating, drinking and shopping around.

Enquiries: 2568 8665

Woodside

Woodside, a red brick house, was constructed in the early 20th century and was used as quarters by the deputy manager of Tai Koo Sugar Refinery. The house was built of red brick and granite with a Chinese-style tile roof. It was seriously damaged during World War II. In 1947, it was renovated and the Chinese-style tile roof was replaced by a flat roof.

Mount Parker Road Green Trail

This is the first green trail designated by the Eastern District Council. Along the trail there are 12 signboards to indicate the spots with special botanical, environmental or historical interests. While you are enjoying the beauty of nature, take the opportunity to contemplate your responsibility for the environment and act for its protection.

Enquiries: 2886 6539

Tai Tam Country Park (Quarry Bay Extension)

If you want to return to nature and to relax your body, mind and soul, Tai Tam Country Park is the place to go. While strolling amid the subtropical woods and breathing in the fresh air of the mountain, you are also listening to nature's symphony played by birds and insects. You may also have a glimpse of squirrels. They are the most common kind of arboreal mammals in Hong Kong.

Enquiries: 2812 1861

Law Uk Folk Museum

Law Uk is the only example of the original village houses ("Uk" in Cantonese) in Chai Wan. With a history of over 200 years, the house is a typical middle-sized Chinese Hakka village house. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795 A.D.), the ancestors of the house's owner, surnamed Law, emigrated from the north of China to Chai Wan. The family made a plain and frugal living by growing rice. Today the house has been renovated to form Law Uk Folk Museum and some selected village furniture, utensils and farming implements are displayed inside.

Enquiries: 2896 7006

Old Cannons in Chai Wan Park

In 1973, two old cannons were unearthed during a sea bed excavation project carried out by the Government in Chai Wan. They were made in Britain and it is believed that they were discarded by the soldiers of the barracks near Chai Wan. The cannons have been exhibited at the Knoll Area of Chai Wan Park since 1985. Besides looking at the old cannons, visitors to the park can also enjoy many other facilities, such as lagoon, pond, children's playground, tennis courts and clock tower.

Enquiries: 2898 7560

Leaping Dragon Pavilion, Tidal Melody Paradise and Leafy Shade Paradise

The Leaping Dragon Pavilion, Tidal Melody Paradise and Leafy Shade Paradise are all located along a popular hiking trail in Siu Sai Wan. They are ideal places for family outings. Inside one of these parks, you certainly feel relaxed and refreshed while breathing in the fresh air of the mountain and enjoying the full view of Lei Yue Mun (the eastern channel into Victoria Harbour). Children can have lots of fun frolicking in Tidal Melody Paradise. During the midsummer heat, Leafy Shade Paradise is the place to go for enjoying the cool under the trees as well as a magnificent view of the sea. The construction of these three parks, an achievement under the District Administration Scheme, was initiated by the Eastern District Council and funded by the Government.

Enquiries: 2564 2539

Tam Kung Temple

According to legend, Tam Kung's native place was Huizhou county in Guangdong Province, and he had supernatural power when he was still a boy. At the age of 12, he became a god on a mountain. It is said that Tam Kung had the power to determine the weather, and he is worshipped by the local residents. In Hong Kong, there are a few temples dedicated to Tam Kung and the one in Shau Kei Wan is the oldest and largest. It was built during the reign of Emperor Guang Xu (1905 A.D.) by local residents and fishermen. According to legend, the big stone placed in front of the temple for some 90 years is the magic seal of Tam Kung.

Enquiries: 2519 9133

Tin Hau Temple in Shau Kei Wan

Shau Kei Wan became a natural typhoon shelter for fishing boats because of its advantageous topography. Before the arrival of the British, Shau Kei Wan had developed into a small fishing village. The Tin Hau Temple, built before 1872, is a traditional Chinese two-hall structure decorated by delicate wall painting, wood engraving and pottery.

Enquiries: 2519 9133

Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence

The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence is the first museum with a theme of Hong Kong's coastal defence in the past. The museum is located at Lei Yue Mun Fort constructed in 1887. In 1941, when the Japanese launched attacks on Hong Kong, Lei Yue Mun Fort became an important battlefield and many British soldiers were killed while defending the territory.

The redoubt was the core of the Lei Yue Mun fortifications, and has now been turned into exhibition galleries. Other military remains, such as the battery, torpedo station, caponiers and the ammunition store, have all been restored as part of a Historical Trail where visitors can picture the role played by Lei Yue Mun Fort in the coastal defence system.

Enquiries: 2569 1500

Hong Kong Film Archive

The film industry in Hong Kong is very prosperous. Jackie Chan, the superstar of many Kung Fu films and John Woo, the famous action-movie director, are both world-renowned figures. Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) Ltd, was once the biggest filmmaker of the world. The Hong Kong Film Archive in Sai Wan Ho has acquired and conserved many valuable Hong Kong films. The Archive currently has over 7,400 films in its vaults, and the titles go as far back as an 1898 Edison travelogue of Hong Kong. Apart from conserving and acquiring film materials, the Archive regularly holds exhibitions and retrospectives.

Enquiries: 2739 2139

Soho East

"Soho East" in Lei King Wan, Sai Wan Ho is famous for serving a wide range of cuisines and delicacies, including those from the Middle East, Japan, Portugual, Shanghai, Canton, Italy and Thailand, etc. It is sheer bliss for satiated diners to go for a stroll in the nearby Sai Wan Ho Harbour Park and Quarry Bay Park and enjoy the alluring beauty of Victoria Harbour.

Eastern District Tourist Trail (Shau Kei Wan Section)

Amidst the populous residential areas of Eastern District are plenty of historic and cultural spots in the district. Many of them can be found along the Eastern District Tourist Trail (Shau Kei Wan Section). Shau Kei Wan has been a typhoon shelter for fishermen since ancient times and its name came from the shape of the bay, a bamboo basket ("Shau Kei" in Cantonese). The section starts at Shau Kei Wan Tram Terminus and runs along Shau Kei Wan Main Street East and the waterfront before ending at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence. On the trail there are a lot of old and traditional temples, including Shing Wong Temple, Tin Hau Temple, Tam Kung Temple and Yuk Wong Temple. They are all of profound cultural and research value. You may also take a stroll around the A Kung Ngam Shipyards and the Shau Kei Wan Wholesale Fish Market to discover the vestiges of Hong Kong's seafaring past.

Sai Wan War Cemetery

Here is the final resting place for soldiers killed during World War II. On 8th December 1941, Japan entered the World War as the ally of Germany. Hong Kong was attacked by greatly superior forces across the land frontier and, after a brief but severe struggle, Hong Kong fell to the Japanese on Christmas Day 1941.

The tidy tombstones and tranquil environment lead you away from the stressful real world. Here, meditate about the bravery of the war heroes and the cruelty of war.