Stanley ? From Small Town to Glorious Landmark
Stanley ? From Small Town to Glorious Landmark
Stanley is a peninsula situated on the south-eastern part of Hong Kong Island, falling on the eastern side of Repulse Bay, and west of Shek O. Stanley is located alongside Chung Hom Kok and comes under the administration of the Southern District.
A large open-air market place called the Stanley market, is a haven for shoppers, both locals as well as tourists. It offers the best bargains for clothes, especially silk and traditional Chinese garments. Excellent bargains are available for toys, luggage, ornaments and Chinese art and craft souvenirs. Prices here are generally lower than other places in Hong Kong and this draws a large number of customers. Once home to mainly Chinese restaurants and Dai pai dongs, the Stanley market now has its own Hagen-Dazs outlet as well as a branch of Dymocks Booksellers.
The waterfront along Stanley Main Street is well known for its bars and restaurants offering French, Italian, Thai, American and Indian cuisines. It is also the best place to relax and enjoy a beer in one of its comfortable bars like the Smugglers’ Inn, an English-style pub with a warm, friendly ambiance that appeals to both locals and tourists.
For the religiously inclined, one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong, the Tin Hau Temple lies to the west of Stanley Main Street, past the amphitheater in Stanley Plaza. This Temple of the Queen of Heaven was built by Cheung Po Tsai in 1767.
Stanley is also known for two beaches, one on the eastern side called the Stanley Main Beach and the St. Stephen’s Beach on the western side of the peninsula. Both are sandy and offer facilities like barbecue areas for the picnic crowd, as well as netted protection for swimmers from sharks.
The Stanley Main beach is the larger of the two beaches and is used extensively for wind surfing. It also hosts the Stanley Dragon Boat Championships held in June each year during the Tuen Ng Festival.
Your hotel in Hong Kong will be able to arrange a comprehensive tour for you, whether you want to be adventurous or simply take things easy. If you wish to stay at a central Hong Kong Island hotel, try the Hotel Jen for comfort and convenience par excellence.