Wong Tai Sin
Introduction
Wong Tai Sin is an area of New Kowloon in Hong Kong, within Wong Tai Sin District. It takes its name from the Wong Tai Sin Temple, the landmark that gives the neighbourhood its identity.
Getting around
Wong Tai Sin has its own MTR station, which puts the temple and the surrounding district directly on the rail network. If you are coming from Central on Hong Kong Island, there is no direct train: take the Tsuen Wan Line to Prince Edward, then transfer to the Kwun Tong Line for Wong Tai Sin. Trains run every few minutes and the whole trip takes around half an hour, with inexpensive fares. Buy single-journey tickets from station machines, or tap in and out with a stored-value travel card, which also works across buses and other transport. The MTR is the fastest and most predictable way to get around, and the station exits leave you within easy walking distance of the temple and nearby streets.
- Buses fill in where the metro does not go directly. Bus 111 (KMB) runs from Pottinger Street to Wong Tai Sin Police Station on Choi Hung Road roughly every fifteen minutes; Bus 113 (KMB) runs from Douglas Street on Des Voeux Road Central to Lung Wai House with less frequent service. Journeys take longer than the metro but are a direct, sit-back option, and you can pay with a stored-value card or exact change.
- Taxis are plentiful and metered. For trips within Kowloon and to Wong Tai Sin you will typically use an Urban Red taxi; from Central to the temple is the quickest option at around ten to fifteen minutes depending on traffic, for a modest fare. Ride-hailing apps are also available, though taxis remain the most common on-demand choice.
- Wong Tai Sin itself is compact and walkable around the temple and the station. For longer hops within the district, combine walking with the MTR or a short taxi ride; for cross-city trips, plan on the metro or buses rather than long walks.
- From the airport, the MTR's Airport Express is the quickest rail link into central areas, priced separately from ordinary metro journeys though your stored-value card works on it. Regular buses and taxis are also options. The simplest rail approach is to take the Airport Express into the city and transfer to the lines serving Wong Tai Sin, or take a taxi directly to your accommodation.
Three days in Wong Tai Sin
Day one: Base yourself in Wong Tai Sin, in New Kowloon, and start with the Wong Tai Sin Temple, the district's defining landmark. The MTR gets you there easily: from Central on Hong Kong Island, take the Tsuen Wan Line to Prince Edward and change to the Kwun Tong Line. Trains run frequently, and buses, including KMB routes, serve the area too. Buy an Urban Red taxi if you prefer door-to-door travel, or ride the Airport Express and regular lines if you are arriving from the airport.
Day two: Stay in the district and explore its streets on foot. Choi Hung Road and Douglas Street are local reference points, and Wong Tai Sin Police Station sits nearby. Lung Wai House is another marker in the area. Journeys around Kowloon are straightforward by MTR, bus or taxi, so you can move between Wong Tai Sin and the wider city without much planning.
Day three: Head across to Hong Kong Island for a change of scene. Pottinger Street and Des Voeux Road Central are in Central, reached from Wong Tai Sin via the Kwun Tong Line to Prince Edward and the Tsuen Wan Line onward. The MTR, buses and taxis all cover the route, so you can return to Wong Tai Sin District in the evening.