Virtual-Countries.com: Travel Kowloon

Explore the city of Kowloon, Hong Kong

Kowloon, when translated, means 'nine dragons'. The name refers to the eight mountain peaks in the region who represent eight dragons, and the Chinese emperor who represents the ninth dragon. Modern day Kowloon is situated in Hong Kong and the region is made up of the Kowloon Peninsula, New Kowloon, Lei Yue Mun, Mei foo Sun Chuen, Stonecutter's Island, Tate's Cairn, Lion Rock and Victoria Harbor.

For many years this area was ceded by the British and left relatively undeveloped and it became a popular Tiger-hunting spot. However things soon changed and today Kowloon is a diverse and pretty territory with numerous well constructed urban areas and incredibly beautiful gardens. Though it suffered a period of ugliness - some periods were slums and had to be demolished after new homes had been built for the inhabitants - Kowloon offers a variety of delights to the average visitor.

If you visit Kowloon, you should definitely make a stop at Kowloon Park. Built on the site of an old military encampment, the park is the largest recreational and sports facility in Tsim Sha Tsui. You will be able to enjoy indoor and outdoor swimming pools, waterfalls, open-air sculptures done by both locals and overseas artists and a fitness trail. Of course, any Chinese garden would not be complete without its share of horticultural delights. In this instance you will find a hedge maze and a Chinese garden. An aviary, a children's playground and a bird lake complete with a variety of waterfowl complete the experience.

A more sedate outing can be found at the Kowloon Walled City Park. Built on the site of an notoriously bad slum, the Park today shows now signs of this bad beginning. Most of the old slum area was completely demolished after its inhabitants were relocated with only a few walls and gates left behind. The new Park was designed to recreate a classical Southern Chinese garden with hills, ponds, streams, bonsai, bamboo and an assortment of shrubs and trees. As you walk along the winding paths, through the sculpture garden, flower gardens, pavilions and playground, you will no doubt find the stress of living leaving your body. The Garden is the largest of its kind outside of China.

Another popular site is the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden. Situated right by Flower Market Road and the Goldfish Market, it offers visitors a chance to see the interest that the people of the town take in their singing pets. A variety of bird cages, miniature rice bowls, crickets, mealy worms and singing birds are available on sale and a delight to see. Kowloon is truly a wonderful place to visit.