Hong Kong, whose name means ‘fragrant harbour’, is one of the four Asian dragons. To run in Hong Kong is to discover a city of incomparable density, linked to its historically landlocked position. Its frenetic urbanism contrasts with the nature that surrounds it.

‘When I lived in Hong Kong, I felt like Hong Kong was my family.’ This quote attributed to the famous actor Jet Li illustrates one of the often-vaunted aspects of the Oriental Pearl: its warm atmosphere.
Now often referred to as the ‘Manhattan of China’, this former fishing village really took off during the British era, from 1842 to 1997. Today, 7 and a half million people live here, in an area of 1,100 square kilometres - much smaller than a medium-sized French department. Its name means ‘the fragrant port’ in Chinese. In fact, the ideal geographical location of its port makes it one of the five largest container ports in the world. The question of perfume, according to legend, refers to the scent of the spices that passed through Hong Kong before setting sail. The fresh water springs that feed the city, a major supply point for sailors navigating around Asia, have also been cited as a justification for the name.
From Victoria's peak to Central: the north of the island
Victoria Peak, also known locally as the Peak, is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island. At 552m, it is the highest point on the island. The favoured neighbourhood is famous for its astronomical property value, but also for the breathtaking views it affords of the forest of glass and steel below. The top of the peak features an observatory, from which you can watch night fall over the bay. You can walk or run to the top of the Peak, but it is also accessible by a very old funicular railway, the Peak Tram, built in 1888. This alone is one of Hong Kong's major tourist attractions. Not far away is the Man Mo temple, one of the oldest in Hong Kong. It is dedicated to the god of literature - Man - and, paradoxically, to the god of war, Mo.

At the foot of the Peak lies Central, the business district. As you stroll through the bustling streets of this district, filled with skyscrapers of sometimes surprising shapes, you'll come across some of Hong Kong's biggest shopping centres. However, as you stroll along the two small Li Yuen streets, East and West, you'll come across a host of colourful stalls whose merchandise contrasts with the big brand names present in The Landmark or Prince's Building centres. Not far away, on Stanley Street, you'll also find bargain electronics.
Your run will then take you to the harbour, where the Hong Kong Giant Observation Wheel stands, offering a breathtaking view of Victoria Harbour. Opposite you, on the other side of the water, is Tsim Sha Tsui, easily accessible by metro or ferry. This cape stands at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula, the southern part of which was ceded to the British Empire in 1860 and the northern part subject to a 99-year lease in 1898. If you decide to leave the island and explore Kowloon, consider the legend behind its name in Cantonese, Kau Lung, meaning ‘nine dragons’. It is said that a Chinese emperor, admiring the eight mountains around Hong Kong, declared, ‘I see eight dragons.’ An eager mandarin replied that he saw nine, the symbol of the emperor being the divine reptile.
Tsim Sha Tsui is home to the Clock Tower, a symbolic monument of the city. Formerly a railway station, it was a historic witness to the population movements linked to the British presence in Hong Kong.

From Kowloon to Sham Shui Po
Kowloon Walled City, also known as the ‘City of Darkness’, was once a common setting for Asian gangster films, before being razed to the ground in the early 1990s. This incredibly densely populated Chinese enclave - 50,000 inhabitants on 2.6 hectares, which represented almost two million inhabitants per square kilometre at the end of the 1980s - was a veritable concrete block, an almost independent walled city in the heart of the ‘New Territories’ under British rule. Its sulphurous reputation was due to the presence of numerous casinos, opium dens, illegal dentists and dog-meat restaurants.

Today, the Parc de la Citadelle, built on the site of the walled city, is open to walkers. Designed in an Asian style, it is reminiscent of the Jiangnan gardens of the Qing period. During your walk, you can also discover an exhibition of photos and relics from the former Walled City.
Today's Kowloon City is a multicultural district, where the Thai and Cantonese Chiu Chow communities live side by side. While it boasts skyscrapers like Central, some of its historic sites date back to the 13th century. It's also home to many delicious restaurants, making it a foodie's den! You can also visit the colourful Wong Tai Sin temple, which has a surprisingly traditional feel amid the gigantic buildings.

Further west, you'll find Sham Shui Po, a working-class district where wooden houses gave way to the world's largest social housing programme, after a dramatic fire in the 1950s. Nearly half of Hong Kong's population lives here, and the district is popular for its raw materials: leather, fabric, buttons, etc.
Many young artists and designers are also moving here because of the lower costs involved in setting up and thriving. As a result, a run through Sam Shui Po will allow you to admire the murals that have been flourishing on the walls since the HKwalls rie art festival in 2016. As in Kowloon City, visitors flock here for culinary reasons. Here you can sample excellent street food, including ravioli, soups and fried noodles. For example, you can try the ravioli at Tim Ho Wan, a Michelin-starred street food restaurant with affordable prices!
Cruises and leisure in the bay
If you want to take in the whole Hong Kong skyline at a glance, take a break from your walk to board one of the tourist junks that ply the bay. Before the existence of the metro, junks and a few wooden ferries were the only means of transport across the strait that separates Kowloon from Hong Kong Island.

There are also a number of theme parks to choose from if you want to relax: from Disneyland to Ocean Park, you're spoilt for choice. If you fancy a cultural visit, you'll find both technical and scientific museums, such as the Hong Kong Science Museum or the Stephen Hui Geological Museum, and truly historic museums. For example, the Dr Sun Yat Sen Museum, in honour of the first President of the Republic of China, considered to be the father of modern China, who studied medicine in Hong Kong.
And among the city's many lighter-themed museums, don't miss the Chocolate Museum, located near Madame Tussauds and the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, to the east of Victoria Peak!
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