One of Hong Kong’s most iconic buildings both derided and loved; immortalized in Hong Kong movies, home to some of the best ethnic cuisine in the city, as well as the cheapest accommodation in Hong Kong. Chungking Mansions are well-worth a visit, to see a completely different side of Hong Kong.
Set in the middle of the Tsim Sha Tsui tourist district, Chungking Mansions are instantly recognizable by the touts collected outside, pitching everything from cheap meals and cheap accommodation, to tailored suits.
Originally, Chungking was the accommodation block of choice for new arrivals from India, Pakistan and Africa. This is a legacy that remains today, Chunking is a veritable United Nations of nationalities. Famed, wrongly or rightly, as a rat-infested haven for criminals of every stripe, Chunking has cleaned up its act considerably.
Its inhabitants still hail from the sub-continent and Africa, but both the Chinese triads and most of the rats have been swept away. Nevertheless, the mansion retains a seedy feeling when compared to the modernity seen in the rest of Hong Kong. Chungking is certainly one of the best places see the down and dirty side to Hong Kong, as well as enjoy some of the best ethnic cuisine in Asia.
You can find Chungking Mansions at - Tsim Sha Tsui, Nathan Road 36-44
