Seaside Stroll around Scenic Stanley

Nearby Destinations

Hong Kong Island

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: Stanley, located on a peninsula on Hong Kong Island's south coast, is a popular tourist destination that allows visitors the opportunity to escape from densely populated urban Hong Kong into more relaxed and scenic surroundings. The town sits along the shore of an attractive bay framed by a backdrop of hills and the forests of nearby Tai Tam Country Park.

In Chinese, Stanley is known as "Chek Chue," which is a reference to the red-flowering cotton trees in the area; its English name is taken from Lord Stanley, British secretary of state for war from 1916-1918 and 1922-1924. Following the British colonization of Hong Kong in 1842, Stanley, which at the time was the largest town on Hong Kong Island, became a temporary administrative center before moving to the new city of Victoria (now Hong Kong Island's Central district). Until the 1970s it was also a major fishing town with daily catches being sold in the narrow streets.

Today the town is home to many wealthy locals and expats and, with something of a "Mediterranean" feel to it, is a popular leisure destination. The town also has a large prison, housed in former British barracks on the outskirts of the town.

The town is perhaps best known among tourists for its famous market, but as visitors following this walk will discover, it has much more to offer including beaches, temples, museums, historic buildings and some excellent waterside bars, cafes and restaurants. The town is host to the annual International Dragon Boat Races during Tuen Ng Festival. Visitors traveling to Stanley can also enjoy the added bonus of reaching the town by an exhilarating bus ride over the hills of Hong Kong Island with panoramic views (see tips below).

Tips: Stanley can be reached by bus, green minibus or taxi but not by Hong Kong's MTR (mass transit railway) system.

It is served by frequent buses from Exchange Square Bus Station (close by Central and Hong Kong Stations) in Central and from outside Admiralty MTR Station, on Queensway from about 6am to 1am daily by Citybus services 6, 6A, 6X and 260, which stop outside Stanley Village Bus Station. Journey time from Exchange Square Bus Station is about 50 minutes and from Admiralty about 45 minutes. For tourists service 6 provides a particularly scenic route with spectacular panoramic views over Happy Valley and the south side of Hong Kong Island before joining the coastal road at Repulse Bay. Other services pass through Aberdeen Tunnel before following the coast road past Deep Water Bay and then following the same route from Repulse Bay.

For tourists traveling from North Point or Causeway Bay, New World First Bus service 63 (about every 20 minutes) is the most direct route to Stanley and follows the same scenic route as service 6 from Happy Valley. On Sundays and public holidays service 63 is replaced by service 65, which travels to Stanley via Ocean Park.

From Tsim Sha Tsui, Citybus cross-harbor service 973 (every 15/30 minutes), from East Tsim Sha Tsui Bus Station, inside Concordia Plaza on Science Museum Road, serves Stanley via Western Harbour Crossing, Aberdeen and Repulse Bay. The journey takes about 90 minutes.

Stanley is also served by green minibus 40 from Tang Lung Street near Times Square in Causeway Bay, which terminates at Stanley Main Beach. This is a 24-hour service and journey time is about 35 minutess.

A taxi from Central District on Hong Kong Island to Stanley costs about HK$150.

Points of Interest

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Stanley Village Bus Station

Stanley Village Bus Station is the starting point for this walking tour. Buses from central Hong Kong stop on the road outside the bus station (picture right). For the return journey to central Hong Kong, buses either stop inside the bus station (picture left) or on the road outside.

Stanley Village Road, outside Stanley Village Bus Station Photo

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Stanley Market

Stanley Market, located in the narrow alleyways of Stanley Main Street and adjoining streets, is one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist destinations, attracting visitors from all over the world seeking bargains. Here can be found shops and stalls selling casual clothes, handbags and shoes, sportswear, footwear, paintings, jewelry and watches, men's and women's fashion, children's clothes and toys, souvenirs, books, luggage, Chinese curios and flowers. Designer brand seconds can be found in some shops and many, but not all, shops allow bargaining. Shops in Stanley Market open daily from about 10am to 6pm.

Stanley Main Street, Stanley Market Photo

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Stanley Waterfront Mart

Opened in 2008 as part of a major redevelopment of Stanley's Waterfront Promenade, Stanley Waterfront Mart, open from 7am to 10pm daily, houses 16 market stalls selling fashion, toys and fancy goods, and four light refreshment stalls with outside tables where visitors can sit and enjoy views across Stanley Bay and watch the passing crowds.

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Stanley Waterfront Promenade

Redeveloped in 2008, Stanley Waterfront Promenade, which runs between Stanley Village Road and the edge of Stanley Bay, allows visitors to stroll along a pleasant waterside boardwalk with scenic views across the bay. Alongside the promenade are numerous bars and restaurants, making it a good place to stop for food and drink.

Restaurants are mainly Western catering to the large expat community and popular choices include the Boathouse at 88 Stanley Main St., Lucy's at 64 Stanley Main St. and the Pickled Pelican, serving traditional British pub food at 90 Stanley Main St. Pizza and pasta devotees are catered to by a branch of Pizza Express below the Stanley Oriental Hotel. Indian food can be had at Curry Tiffin at 118 Stanley Main St.

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Stanley Plaza

Stanley Plaza, opened in 2000, is a six-story mall with shops, restaurants, cafes and supermarket. The plaza has commanding views over Stanley Bay from terrace balconies. However, the building is undergoing a major redevelopment and is only partially open. The refurbishment is expected to be completed around the end of 2011.

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Tin Hau Temple

The Tin Hau Temple at Stanley, founded in 1767, is the oldest temple on Hong Kong Island and is one of more than 70 Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea and protector of fishing people. It is believed to have been one of the bases of the notorious pirate chief Cheung Po-tsai, who captured Hong Kong in 1770. The bell and drum inside the temple are believed to have belonged to him. The temple also contains a tiger skin that is not, despite the notice beneath it, that of a tiger shot by an Indian policeman in front of Stanley Police Station in 1942. The temple is open from 7am to 6pm daily.

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Murray House and Hong Kong Maritime Museum

Murray House is a magnificent old colonial building with columns and wide verandas, originally built in 1844 and housing a British army barracks. It was named after Sir George Murray, head of British ordnance and was originally located on the current site of the Bank of China in Central district. In 1982 the building was dismantled, cataloged and more than 4,000 granite stones and columns were put into storage until being re-erected in its present location and reopened in 2002. Standing alongside the building is a line of six columns (picture center) that were found to be surplus to requirements when the building was reassembled. Murray House now houses Hong Kong Maritime Museum and a number of restaurants.

Hong Kong Maritime Museum, on the ground floor, opened in 2005 and is divided into two galleries: ancient (picture left) and modern, depicting the history of Chinese shipping, its relations with its Western trading partners and the subsequent development of Hong Kong as a major port. Displays include replica boats, pottery models and interactive exhibits, including a replica tanker that visitors can "pilot" through Hong Kong's famous Victoria Harbour. The museum opens from 10am to 6pm every day except Monday (also closed public holidays). A small admission charge applies. Note: Following expiration of its lease, the museum is expected to close in early 2012 and reopen in its new location at Central Pier 8 (Star Ferry Pier)in Central district of Hong Kong Island in early 2013.

Restaurants include Mijas (Spanish) and Saffron (Western) on the first floor, and Wildfire, specializing in pizzas and pastas, and King Ludwig Beerhall (German) on the second floor.

Ancient Gallery, Hong Kong Maritime Museum Photo

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Blake Pier

Standing in front of Murray House is Blake Pier, another structure originally located in Central District, built in 1900 and re-erected in Stanley in 2007. The pier was named after Sir Henry Blake, a former governor of Hong Kong and served as a landing point for royalty, visiting dignitaries, colonial governors and other VIPs. It was dismantled in 1965 and spent some time as a park shelter at Morse Park in Kowloon before being moved to Stanley. A kaido ferry service operates from the pier to the remote Po Toi Island on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Murray House & Blake Pier viewed from Stanley Plaza Photo

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Stanley Ma Hang Park and Pak Tai Temple

Stanley Ma Hang Park, set on the cliffside behind Murray House, was opened in January 2011. The park has been designed to blend in with the natural landscape and features boardwalks, a birdwatching corner, a utterfly garden, heritage corner, fitness deck, sea view terrace and sea view patio with a light refreshment kiosk and panoramic views across Stanley Bay.

Also within the park, perched precariously on the cliff edge is the tiny Pak Tai Temple, built in 1805 when Stanley was a major fishing village, and dedicated to the "protector of fishermen."

The park is open from 7am to 8pm daily and admission is free.

Pak Tai Temple, Stanley Ma Hang Park Photo

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Stanley Main Beach

The main beach is located about a five-minute walk from Stanley Market, on the opposite side of the peninsula, about 200-meters from the bus terminus. The beach has a BBQ area, changing rooms and showers, public toilets and a cafe.

The beach is a popular windsurfing venue and is also the location for the annual Stanley International Dragon Boat Races, held every June during the Tuen Ng Festival. A watersports center and Hong Kong Sea School are near the southern end of the beach.

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Old Police Station

The Old Police Station, located on Stanley Village Road, is Hong Kong's oldest police station, built in 1859. It is a fine old colonial building with a veranda. The building, which ceased to function as a police station in 1974 and was subsequently declared a monument, now houses a coffee bar.

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Stanley Military Cemetery

The military cemetery on Wong Ma Kok Road, above St. Stephens Beach, is immaculately maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and contains about 600 graves, many unidentified, mainly of soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. The cemetery was first opened in the 1840s but was closed for more than 70 years before reopening during the occupation.

Stanley Military Cemetery Entrance Photo

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Stanley St. Stephens Beach

St. Stephens Beach is located in a secluded bay on the opposite side of the peninsula from Stanley Main Beach. Theisbeach is usually less crowded than the main beach and has a BBQ area (picture left) and is popular watersports center. There are changing rooms, showers, public toilets and a light refreshment cafe.

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Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum

The museum, which reopened in early 2010 after extensive renovation, is located on Tung Tau Wan Road alongside the Correctional Services Department Staff Training Institute and contains 10 exhibition galleries, a mock gallows and two mock cells depicting the history of Hong Kong's penal system.

There are more than 600 exhibits, including historical photographs and documents. The museum also has a mock guard tower and an outdoor viewing platform with panoramic views over scenic Tai Tam Bay. Admission is free and the museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily except Mondays and public holidays (closed).

Parents take note: Because of the nature of some of the exhibits, this museum may not be suitable for young children.

Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum Entrance Photo

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Post Office

Stanley Post Office, built in 1937 and located at 2 Wong Ma Kok Road in an attractive colonial-style preserved building, is Hong Kong's oldest post office still operating in its original premises. The building was renovated in 2007 to extend its life and still retains its original cast-iron post box bearing the emblem of King George VI, a manual stamp vending machine and window grilles.

From the post office, Stanley Village Bus Station, the starting point of the walk, is just a short distance ahead, from where buses serve other parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Pictures in this guide taken by: SolentTraveller

How does this work?

Take bus 6 from Central, get stunning views over Hongkong, strawl around Stanley, maybe take a swim and go back with bus 14 to wan chai (East Honkong Island). From there back with tram to Central. So you have a perfect roundtrip combining both: Nature, beaches, Stanley and an isight to thrilling urban life in Hongkong.
Visited on May 14, 2012

by thomas74muc on May 19, 2012