Tsim Sha Tsui is home to Hong Kong’s less glamorous side, and also its more thrifty side, being filled with a myriad of shops dealing in both wholesale and retail sales. In light of this, it may not come as a huge surprise that the mansions of Tsim Sha Tsui, are actually not what you would expect them to be; they are, in fact, massive complexes that house vast numbers of eateries, residential flats and a bazaar of shops selling miscellaneous items. These range from Indian sarees to second-hand cell phones that make their way in bulk from Hong Kong to the African continent. The most famous of the mansions are the Mirador and Chungking Mansions which although once a site of much contraband activity, now sell mostly DVD’s and South Asian food.
If you like a good bargain and are interested in visiting Tsim Sha Tsui with all its bustling activity, there are many nearby Hong Kong hotels. 3-star ones such as Travelodge Hotels Asia and similarly located others are under a fifteen-minute taxi ride away from the area, and usually, offer good deals for the quality and budget conscious. If you’re staying in the area, be sure to check out the views from rooftop bars situated in one of the many skyscrapers here, such as the International Commerce Centre; you can gaze out at the urban landscape below you in all its dazzling glory, and get a stunning bird’s eye view of Hong Kong Island.
Tsim Sha Tsui and its mansions are also multicultural hubs where you will find a diverse mix of people who have originated from the South Asian and African continent from countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Nigeria. As such, if you’re in the mood for some cheap and tasty Asian of African food, this is the place to go.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
