STANLEY
Located on a peninsula the south side of Hong Kong Island and once the largest settlement on the island, Stanley has developed into an attractive seaside town much favoured by both ex-pats and wealthy locals. Recent waterfront redevelopment has given it something of a Mediterranean feel and its famous market, charming waterfront, excellent beaches, bars and restaurants and other attractions make it a popular tourist destination.
GETTING THERE
BUS FROM CENTRAL, ADMIRALTY AND WAN CHAI
Citybus services 6, 6A, 6X and 260 from Exchange Square Bus Terminus (MTR Central Station Exit B) on Hong Kong Island serve Stanley Village Bus Terminus for Stanley Market. All these services stop on Connaught Road outside City Hall and Queensway at Admiralty MTR Station which may be more convenient boarding points for some visitors.
For tourists bus number 6 (fare HK$7.90) travels a very scenic route via Wan Chai, Stubbs Road, then climbs high up through Wong Nai Chung Gap and skirts the Tai Tam Country Park with some spectacular views before descending to Repulse Bay and following the coastal road to Stanley. It operates at approx 10/20 minute frequency daily from 06-00 to 01-00 and the journey takes approx 50 minutes.
Bus 6X (fare HK$8.40) travels through Wan Chai and the Aberdeen Tunnel before joining the coastal road to Repulse Bay and Stanley. It operates from appx 06-50 to 20-00 daily at 10/20 minute intervals and the journey takes 50 minutes. This service is supplemented by service 6A (fare HK$8.40) following a slightly modified route between Repulse Bay and Stanley) on Mondays to Saturdays only which provides additional journeys between 07-00 and 08-20 from Exchange Square and 17-30 to 18-30 from Stanley.
Bus 260 “Stanley Express” (fare HK$10.60) follows a route similar to the 6X (but slightly modified between Repulse Bay and Stanley). It operates at 10/20 minute intervals from 07-15 to midnight and the journey takes appx 45 minutes. This service is sometimes operated by single deck buses.
BUS FROM TSIM SHA TSUI
Citybus service 973 (fare HK$13.60) from Tsim Sha Tsui East Bus Station, Kowloon (inside Concordia Plaza on Science Museum Road) travels via Mody Road, Salisbury Road, Canton Road, Jordan Road, Western Harbour Crossing, Pok Fu Lam Road and Aberdeen to Stanley Market, a journey time of approx 90 minutes. The service operates daily from 08-30 to 22-05 at intervals of 15/30 minutes. On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays the journey makes a short diversion via Ocean Park Main Entrance.
Alternatively take the MTR Tseun Wan Line to Admiralty and join any of the bus services from Central outside Admiralty Station on Queensway.
BUS FROM CAUSEWAY BAY AND NORTH POINT
NWFB Service 63 (fare HK$8.90) from North Point Ferry Piers on HK Island serves Stanley via Kings Road, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley and then follows the scenic route of the number 6 service to Stanley Village Bus Terminus. It operates from 06-30 to 19-30 at 20/40 minute intervals and the journey takes appx 55 minutes. This service operates on Mondays to Saturdays only.
On Sundays and Public Holidays service 63 is replaced by service 65 (fare HK$8.40)following the same route from 07-00 to 19-00 at 15/20 minute intervals (the 63 bus continues to Stanley Prison whereas the 63 terminates at Stanley Village).
GREEN MINIBUS FROM CAUSEWAY BAY
Green Minibus service 40 (fare HK$9 increasing to HK$11 between midnight and 6am) operates a 24 hour service daily from Tang Lung Street near Times Square in Causeway Bay via Hennessy Road (where you can also board near Causeway Bay MTR Station) to Stanley Village (Stanley Main Beach). It operates a 2/5 minute frequency service from 06-00 to midnight and 15 minute frequency between midnight and 06-00. The journey takes approx 35 minutes.
STANLEY MARKET
Located on Stanley Village Road and surrounding alleyways this is a part covered, part outdoor market open from 10am (some shops open a little later) to 6-30pm daily. The market is popular with both tourists and locals and gets particularly busy at weekends. There is a variety of shops and stalls selling a variety of casual clothes, footwear, sportswear, artworks, antiques, jewellery, toys and souvenirs. Prices are generally cheaper than could expect to be charged in most other shopping districts but some shops here do not allow the practice of allowing customers to “bargain” for prices which is commonplace in many of Hong Kong’s street markets. For a list of shops in Stanley Market see;
Stanley Market
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STANLEY WATERFRONT
A major redevelopment of the waterfront area was completed early in 2008 and an attractive boardwalk has been constructed widening the space for public enjoyment between Stanley Main Street and the bay. The boardwalk is lined with young trees and benches and is the location for Stanley Waterfront Mart with a small number of souvenir shops, bars and café’s. Adjacent to the boardwalk is Village Square, a covered amphitheatre where free concerts are often performed at weekends. On Stanley Main Street are pubs, bars and restaurants with a wide range of international dishes.
Stanley Main Street waterfront with new boardwalk completed in early 2008
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MURRAY HOUSE
Murray House is a fine colonial building originally built in 1844 in Central on the current site of the Bank of China. Named after Sir George Murray, British Head of Ordnance it was once a British Army Barracks. In 1982 the building was dismantled stone by stone, catalogued and put into storage. The building was subsequently restored and re-erected on Stanley waterfront in 1999. Although component had been numbered during dismantling, when the building was restored six surplus columns remained and these have been erected in front of the building. The building is surrounded by verandas supported by ornate columns giving it an open and airy feel. There are restaurants on the first and second floors and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum (see below) is located on the ground floor.
Murray House and Blake Pier (the six surplus columns from the re-erected Murray House can be seen just to the right lower centre of the picture)
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HONG KONG MARITIME MUSEUM
Located on the ground floor of Murray House Hong Kong Maritime Museum is a small but interesting museum divided into two galleries, Ancient and Modern. The Ancient Gallery shows how the fortunes of Chinese shipping rose and fell in ancient and dynastic times and also illustrates how China’s overseas neighbours and Western trading nations shaped the maritime history of Asia and beyond. The gallery has some impressive replica boats and pottery models. The Modern Gallery explores the evolution of Hong Kong as a major international port and the influence of Chinese entrepreneurship. Exhibits illustrate developments in motive power and how bulk carriers, tankers and containerisation have altered the face of the world’s shipping industry. Both galleries have some interesting and fun interactive exhibits including a replica bridge of a tanker which visitors can pilot through Victoria Harbour, a radio room where visitors can try their hand at Morse code and a container ship loading game.
The museum is open 10am to 6pm Sunday, Monday and Wednesday to Saturday. Closed Tuesdays. Admission is HK$20 (half-price for children under 18 and seniors aged 65 and over). For more information see MUSEUMS - HONG KONG ISLAND
Navigate through Victoria Harbour from the bridge of a modern tanker at Hong Kong Maritime Museum
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HONG KONG CORRECTIONAL SERVICES MUSEUM
Hong
Kong Correctional Services Museum located next to the Correctional
Services Department Staff Training Institute at Tung Tau Wan Road
reopened in January 2010 after extensive renovation. The museum's main building has 10 galleries with a mock gallows and two mock cells. A collection of some 600 exhibits including historical documents and photographs depicts the 160-odd-year history of the Hong Kong penal system. A mock guard tower on top of the premises highlights the theme of the museum.
The museum's annexe with an introduction to the department's correctional and rehabilitative programmes also displays products made by prisoners. A 200-square-metre platform in front of the museum commands panoramic views of the scenery of Hong Kong's beautiful Tai Tam Bay. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily except Mondays and public holidays (closed) and admission is free. For more information see MUSEUMS - HONG KONG ISLAND
BLAKE PIER
Adjacent to Murray House stands Blake Pier (see picture above), another structure which has been partly transplanted to Stanley. The original pier was located in Central but the canopy, having been temporarily relocated to the New Territories, was re-erected at the new Blake Pier which opened in 2007. A kaido ferry service operates from the pier to Po Toi Island, some 10km distant on the southern extremity of the Hong Kong SAR boundary on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
STANLEY PLAZA
This six-storey modern development links a bus/minibus station at the the highest level to Murray House and the waterfront. The mall has several restaurants, café’s, rather ordinary shops and a supermarket. There are excellent views across Stanley Bay from the higher levels. A magnificent old banyan tree which has survived the considerable redevelopment of recent years stands proudly in front of the plaza and brings a touch of welcome greenery. During 2009 owners of Stanley Plaza, The Link, announced a twelve to fourteen month renovation project for the plaza which will commence once government approval has been granted.
Stanley Plaza
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STANLEY BEACHES
Stanley has two fine sandy beaches, Stanley Main Beach and St Stephens Beach.
Stanley Main Beach lies on the opposite side of the peninsula to Stanley Market but only about 5 minutes walk away. From the bus terminus follow Stanley Beach Road for about 200 metres to reach the beach. This is a popular windsurfing beach and is home to the annual dragon boat races. The beach has a café, changing rooms, showers and public toilets. At the eastern end of the beach is a pier and the Hong Kong Sea School. At the western end on a rocky outcrop are barbecue areas which extend around the corner to the small Hairpin Beach. See also BEACHES - HONG KONG ISLAND
Stanley Main Beach shortly before the arrival of a Tropical Cyclone
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St Stephens Beach is located on the western side of the peninsula and is reached by walking from the bus terminus along Wong Ma Kok Road past St Stephens College for about 10 minutes. There are steep steps leading down to the beach via a barbecue area. This is a quieter and more secluded beach than Stanley Main Beach but does get busy at weekends. There is a beach café, showers, toilets and at the southern end a pier and outdoor activities centre. See also BEACHES - HONG KONG ISLAND
St Stephens Beach, Stanley
Both Stanley Main Beach and St Stephens Beach are patrolled by lifeguards and protected by shark nets.
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STANLEY MILITARY CEMETERY
The immaculately maintained Stanley Military Cemetery lies on Wong Ma Kok Road above St Stephens Beach. The colonial cemetery now maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was opened during the mid 18th century but closed for over 70 years until reopening when many lives were lost during the brutal Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. There are about 600 graves, many unidentified, arranged in serried rows on either side of a grassy mound dotted with trees and a huge impressive stone memorial dominates the entrance to the cemetery.
Stanley Military Cemetery