(Images: provided)
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched a West Kowloon neighborhood program, following very successful programs featuring the Old Town Central and Sham Shui Po neighborhoods, as part of its ongoing “Hong Kong Neighborhoods” campaign. The “West Kowloon” neighborhood program highlights the district’s rich heritage and vibrant street life in Yau Ma Tei and Jordan, along with its two new world-class museums – M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) – which will open at the end of the year and next year, respectively, and become landmarks in art and cultural tourism.
As art is inseparable from life, the West Kowloon neighborhood program builds a bridge between the local life of the bustling communities of Yau Ma Tei and Jordan, which are home to many historical architecture sites, time-tested stores and traditional craftsmanship, and the artistic lure of the WKCD. Throughout the continuous evolution and revitalization, the neighborhood has numerous astonishing experiences for the public and visitors to uncover. The campaign will draw people from across the city to rediscover it from new perspectives to drive in-depth local tourism and stimulate economic activities in the neighborhood while international borders are not fully opened.
Five walking routes to uncover a rich heritage Starting from the beautiful shoreline at the West Kowloon Cultural District, the “West Kowloon” neighborhood program extends to Yau Ma Tei and Pitt Street, and spans along Nathan Road to reach streets and paths around Austin Road, Jordan. To reflect the unique characteristics of each area, there are five thematic walking tours focused on Heritage & Craftsmanship, Cultural Arts and Culinary Arts. The routes cover many little-known corners of the city that are often overlooked by residents and visitors alike, such as a book store hidden in the Tin Hau Temple, a seafood restaurant transformed into an art hotel, and a condiment store promoting western dishes fused with traditional fermented tofu. The routes offer recommendations for more than 50 points of interest, shops, and restaurants, and are available as an interactive e-map on the West Kowloon neighborhood campaign page of the HKTB website. Special offers have been arranged with shops and restaurants in the neighborhood for people who take part in the walks to encourage spending. 
Photo spot with spectacular large-scale art installations
Art is a central theme of the West Kowloon neighborhood program. In addition to the M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the HKTB has teamed up with “FriendsWithYou,” a pop-art duo featuring Samuel Borkson from Florida and Arturo Sandoval III from Cuba, to bring their gigantic art installation and signature pop-art characters to Hong Kong and share the positive vibes to the neighborhood. The installations will be in the Art Park in the West Kowloon Cultural District from September 23 to October 14 with free admission, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy international art exhibits and create photo memories. A variety of areas will be decorated as part of the promotion. The footbridge and subway between the WKCD and Jordan will be transformed into an “Arts Corridor.” Thematic buntings with a program webpage QR code will be displayed around the Yau Ma Tei and Jordan MTR stations and on lampposts along Museum Drive. Virtual visitors can also enjoy promotional films featuring well-known personalities from the neighborhood, who guide viewers along the streets and sidewalks and give their first-hand perspectives to viewers worldwide who are currently unable to visit in person. For more details about the “Hong Kong Neighborhoods – West Kowloon” campaign, please go to www.discoverhongkong.com/westkowloon-en 
“Hong Kong Neighborhoods – West Kowloon”
The Neighborhood Program highlights: Immersive experiences highlighting unique traditions Century-old shops with witty creations Liu Ma Kee, based in Yau Ma Tei for over a century, keeps its traditional stonemill artistry to make soybean products with its secret family recipes. Liu Ma Kee now offers an array of present-day condiments, and has even invented a garlic-flavoured fermented tofu paste exclusively for western pasta dishes and a carbonara recipe fused with the classic taste of fermented tofu. Traditional seafood restaurant transformed into art hotel Conveniently situated next to the Yau Ma Tei MTR station, the Tung Nam Lou Art Hotel – described as an urban oasis – opened in 2018. It was previously a traditional seafood restaurant, and is now a hotel with an art gallery and shared space, preserving its nostalgic interior decors. The hotel also hosts workshops and themed exhibitions. Hidden Treasures in Tin Hau Temple The Tin Hau Temple in Yau Ma Tei, along with its adjoining buildings in Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei, was declared a monument in 2020. The southern chambers were renovated to become The School, Yau Ma Tei. The chambers are now a self-service bookstore offering a selection of books and cultural goods. The chambers were once a private school, and has transformed into a space with a mini banyan tree and photo spots such as a cart noodle kiosk to recreate scenes outside the Temple down the memory lane. Historic shop targets a younger audience Cheung Shing Fans Factory is one of the few sandalwood fan makers in Hong Kong still in operation. It is also a producer of incense. Second-generation owner Mr Law and wife returned to Hong Kong to take over the business. Law noted a growing appetite for incense among urban consumers in recent years, and began selling electrical incense burners and incense pots to attract younger customers. 
Program highlights: “Art Like” Top 10 Photo Spots Time-limited exhibition: large-scale art installations The HKTB has teamed up with pop-art duo "FriendsWithYou," featuring Samuel Borkson from Florida and Arturo Sandoval III from Cuba, to bring their gigantic art installations and pop-art characters to Hong Kong. The installations will be on display between September 23 and October14 in Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District. Traditional seafood restaurant transformed into art hotel Conveniently situated next to the Yau Ma Tei MTR station, the Tung Nam Lou Art Hotel – described as an urban oasis – opened in 2018. It was previously a traditional seafood restaurant, and is now a hotel with an art gallery and shared space, preserving its nostalgic interior decors. The hotel also hosts workshops and themed exhibitions. Traditional seafood restaurant transformed into art hotel Conveniently situated next to the Yau Ma Tei MTR station, the Tung Nam Lou Art Hotel – described as an urban oasis – opened in 2018. It was previously a traditional seafood restaurant, and is now a hotel with an art gallery and shared space, preserving its nostalgic interior decors. The hotel also hosts workshops and themed exhibitions. Traditional seafood restaurant transformed into art hotel Conveniently situated next to the Yau Ma Tei MTR station, the Tung Nam Lou Art Hotel – described as an urban oasis – opened in 2018. It was previously a traditional seafood restaurant, and is now a hotel with an art gallery and shared space, preserving its nostalgic interior decors. The hotel also hosts workshops and themed exhibitions. 
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