Wan Chai District
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- This article is about the district that covers Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, etc. See Wan Chai for the article on the area.
The Wan Chai District (灣仔區, literally: Small Bay District or Cove District) is one of the 18 districts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It is located in the north of Hong Kong island. Population (2000): 190,300.
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Geography
The area known as "Wan Chai" often includes the area surrounding Tonnochy Road and the MTR station of the same name, which is located between Admiralty on the west and Causeway Bay on the east. "Wan Chai North", where the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is located, refers to the area north of Gloucester Road, reclaimed from the sea after the 1970s. It is a cluster of high rise office towers and hotels.
The broader and administrative "Wan Chai District" includes the areas of Wan Chai, Wan Chai North, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, Jardine's Lookout, Stubbs Road, Wong Nai Chung Gap and Tai Hang.
History
The ceremony of the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China was performed in the new wing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition centre in Wan Chai.
Politics
The district council of Wan Chai has 11 elected and 3 appointed members. The chairperson of the council is Ada Wong.
A very diverse environment
Wan Chai was made famous as the location of the 1957 novel and 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong. Today it is sometimes described as the heart of the city, representing the epitome of the Hong Kong lifestyle: there is a well-established art centre, the largest exhibition hall in Hong Kong, luxury apartments, five-star hotels, huge shopping malls, metropolitan office towers and large government building clusters - along with slums, girlie bars and Mahjong centres crammed with aggressive gamblers. There is also the largest Muslim temple in Hong Kong, next to a Catholic cemetery. Five minutes away from the heavily polluted streets is Bowen Drive, one of the most popular places for jogging. Top law-makers, movie stars, and government officials can be seen jogging there.
Entertainment and shopping
The numerous bars and strip joints in the red-light district part of Wan Chai are still popular with visiting sailors, who arrive on Fenwick Pier. Fenwick Pier was once the location of the only McDonald's that served alcohol in Hong Kong, but it was closed in 2004. Johnston Road and Queen's Road East are the two major streets in the area. Export clothing shops line the streets of Johnston and Luard Road and offer some of the best value in Hong Kong. Spring Garden Lane and Wan Chai Road are also lined with local shops, but for vegetables, fruit and household items.
Delaney's, Joe Banana's and Carnegie's are some of the most popular restaurants and bars in the area.
HongKongGoldenBauhinaSquare.jpg
Sights
Next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is the "Golden Bauhinia Square." There is a huge sculpture of a bauhinia, which is the representative flower of Hong Kong, in the square. This is popular tourist spot in Hong Kong and also the location of the flag-raising ceremony on Chinese National Day every year.
Skyscrapers include:
- Central Plaza, the second tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, located in Wan Chai North
- Hopewell Centre
The Old Wanchai Post Office is a declared monument.
Demographics
According to a household survey by the Census and Statistics Department, the average education level and median household income there is among the highest of Hong Kong.
Transportation
The first cross harbour tunnel in Hong Kong, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, was built in Wan Chai, linking the former Kellett Island in the district with Hung Hom.
The Star Ferry operates two routes from Wan Chai:
- HKCEC, Wan Chai - Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui
- HKCEC, Wan Chai - Whampoa Garden, Hung Hom
See also
- Wan Chai
- Causeway Bay
- List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
- Bottoms Up Club
- HKCEC (MTR)
- Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
External links
- Wan Chai District Council (http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/wc/english/welcome.htm)
- Electoral Boundary Map (http://www.info.gov.hk/eac/pdf/distco/maps/dc2003b.pdf)
- Rotary Club of Wanchai (http://www.rotary.org.hk/wanchai/)