Escape the expat bubble: Lai Chi Kok
Sarah Richard – World Wanderer
Let’s be honest, us expats are as bad as each other. We roll our eyes when people say they never go to Kowloon and sigh when others only ever suggest the same bars to go to. But how many of us actually head out further than the safe zone of Soho, Central and Sheung Wan? Well you should, HK is a big city if you step outside your little box. May we suggest…Lai Chi Kok? Here’s what’s going in Kowloon’s up-and-coming district:
Restaurants
Tang2
Tang 2 is a new casual dining brand offering celebrated ‘Tang’ Chinese dishes and delightful western delicacies to the savvy crowd.
Unit G09C, G/F Cheung Sha Wan Plaza, 833 Cheung Sha Wan Road,
BONDI
Representing the Australian way of living, BONDI serves up good coffee, good wine and of course good food.
Rm203, 2/F Elite Industrial Centre 883 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok
Affinity Vegetarian
Vegetarian Cantonese food I hear you say? Yes, that’s right. And reasonably priced too!
Shop 4D, G/F, Elite Industrial Centre, 883 Cheung Sha Wan Rd, Lai Chi Kok,
Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodles
One of the few Jook Sing Noodle shops remaining, visitors can watch the cooking process of bamboo stick noodles and more.
1 Wing Lung Street, Cheung Sha Wan
Shops
Hong Kong Industrial Centre
Lai Chi Kok is an epic shopping district – but not for tourists. It is known for its wholesale and export shops, which are mainly located in Hong Kong Industrial Centre that hold hundreds upon hundreds of shops. However, many will only sell to trade customers but you can always try your luck and some still sell to casual walk-ins. Shops in Hong Kong Industrial Centre open from about 10am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and, apart from a few in the alleyways between the blocks of the centre, most close on Sundays.
489-491 Castle Peak Road
Museums
Jao Tsung-I Academy
Jao Tsung-I Academy is a centre that promotes Chinese culture and facilitates cultural exchange located on a historic compound which was the former site of the former Lai Chi Kok Hospital.
800 Castle Peak Road
How To Get There
MTR
From Central MTR Station take the red line to Mei Foo Station.
Bus
Take either bus number 102 or 914 from Central Bus Terminus.
Sarah Richard is a 26 year old professional world wanderer. 4 years ago she left the UK and everything that offered her security and routine in exchange for a constant life of excitement and adventure. And she is still living it now. Through out working as a Dive Master, freelance writer,running her blog (coffeewithasliceoflife.com) and working along the way she now leads a life as a full time digital nomad. So follow her in her travels, in which ever country in the world she choses, and learn how you can do it too.