Kowloon Tong

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Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong
Traditional Chinese	九龍塘
Simplified Chinese	九龙塘
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Jiǔlóng Táng - Wade–Giles Chiulung T'ang Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping Gau2lung4 Tong4 - IPA [kɐ̌ulʊ̏ŋ tʰɔ̏ːŋ] - Yale Romanization Jyóulùng Tòng

Kowloon Tong (traditional Chinese: 九龍塘; simplified Chinese: 九龙塘; Jyutping: gau²lung⁴tong⁴), formerly Kau Lung Tong, is an area in Hong Kong. Within New Kowloon, it is administratively divided by Kowloon City District and Sham Shui Po District. It is an expensive low density residential district, popular among the upper class and upper middle class in the city.

Places in Kowloon Tong include:

• Beacon Hill — a hill with a height of 457 m, and several residential developments.
• Festival Walk — a shopping centre operated by Swire Group and CITIC.
• Broadcast Drive — a famous area which most radio and TV stations are located, including Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), TVB, ATV etc.

History

Kowloon Tong was originally a large village located in present-day Police Sport Association near Boundary Street, south of an unnamed hill. Extensive cultivation was possible in the fertile lands formed by rivers from Beacon Hill.

In the 1920s, Hong Kong Government decided to develop the land of east of Kowloon Tong and proper Kowloon Tsai on both sides of Kowloon-Canton Railway into a low density residential area based on the British model. The residential area is thus known as Kowloon Tong. The area is well-planned, and the broad roads and streets are largely named after counties in England. It was the home of a large number of wealthy English businessmen.

After years, the proper location of Kowloon Tong and Kowloon Tsai is long forgotten. The name of Kowloon Tsai is preserved in the hill west of the former village of Kowloon Tsai. Currently, luxurious houses in or around LaSalle Road, Kadoorie Avenue and Oxford Road sells for 100 million HKD. It is home to many celebrities, billionaires, movie-stars and CEOs.^{[citation needed]}

Education

The Hong Kong Baptist University and the City University of Hong Kong are located in Kowloon Tong. Regarding primary education and secondary education, many leading English Medium of instruction schools on the Kowloon peninsula are located in the area, including La Salle College and the Beacon Hill School. Others include the American International School, Yew Chung International School, Concordia International School, Australian International School, and the Delia School of Canada.

Transport

Kowloon Tong is served by the MTR's East Rail Line and Kwun Tong Line. Passengers may interchange here between the two lines. The stretch of Waterloo Road through Kowloon Tong forms part of Hong Kong's Route 1. It leads into the Lion Rock Tunnel, and as such it serves as an important artery for traffic heading into and out of the New Territories (in particular Sha Tin). Yau Ma Tei is also accessible via Waterloo Road.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kowloon Tong

• Kowloon Tong Station — the MTR station serving the area
• List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong