One of the most famous and familiar landmarks of England, is undoubtedly the Clock Tower located at the end of the Palace of Westminster, fondly known by the nickname, Big Ben. While the origin of the nickname is the subject of much debate, the Clock has become a symbol of the country and was renamed the Elizabeth Tower to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. Other famous Clock Towers include the Spasskaya Tower in Russia which is usually referred to as the Kremlin Clock, the Faisalabad Clock Tower in Punjab Pakistan, one of the oldest monuments from the period of British occupation, the Zytglogge in Switzerland which is also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and the Peace Tower in Canada.
The Clock Tower in Hong Kong, resembles many of the abovementioned towers, and is just as impressive. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, it is truly the only remaining structure from the Kowloon Station. The Clock Tower itself is architecturally rather impressive as it is constructed from granite and red bricks thereby making it a distinguishing feature in the area. The Tower stands tall at a stunning forty four metres and was erected in 1915.
For those who wish to visit the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, a wooden staircase within the structure facilitates the ascension of curious tourists. Though the climb upwards can be tiring, the view from the top is truly spectacular. Unfortunately for tourists visiting Hong Kong in 2014, the Tower has been closed for maintenance. However, this should not deter one from visiting the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower in any case for its exterior is just as impressive. The Clock Tower currently enjoys the status of being a Declared Monument in the island as well. One can choose to reach the tower by using the Tsim Sha Tsui Station as well as the Star Ferry which will bring them to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry pier.
In this fast paced city, Mongkok hotels Hong Kong are geared to making one’s stay as comfortable and as quiet as possible. However, given the hustle and bustle of the city, for those who are energy conscious, the Dorsett Mongkok Hotel Hong Kong is ideal as it is a green certified hotel in Kowloon.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
