Kowloon Shangri-La, Of Luxury & Cultural Heritage

In a bed wrapped in crisp high-count linen, mornings and nights were spent with an icon at the Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei. In one of the large picture windows of the room, Taipei 101 was in clear view.

A couple months later, I was in the same scenario, in Hong Kong this time. My room at the Kowloon Shangri-La framed the iconic Victoria Harbour and from any corner of the large room, I got to admire the kinetic artwork unique to Hong Kong.

The Shangri-La brand is synonymous to luxury and each property is unique.

The Kowloon Shangri-La is the first hotel in the reclaimed Tsim Sha Tsui East

Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong is the pioneering hotel in its area, its lobby is stunning and defines elegance, a refinement you expect to see and feel in the guestrooms and suites, which are the largest in the city, and on its list of dining spaces is the Michelin two-star Shang Palace serving exquisite Cantonese cuisine.

Peek into a private dining room of Shang Palace, the Michelin two-star restaurant of the hotel. Must dine here.

As if staying in a Shangri-La hotel is not exciting enough, Kowloon Shangri-La can sweeten your visit with a sprinkle of surprise. How about adding a twist on your stay and exploring Tsim Sha Tsui’s cultural heritage?

Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong presents well-curated examples of Tsim Sha Tsui’s cultural heritage and the community’s iconic people who have lived in the district for 40 to 70 years.

Perhaps you will get to meet Ms. Choi at her Chinese Herbalist Clinic. One of Kimberly Road's old shops (left); ..or this family at Bor Kee Provisions Store. (center)..or David Chan and his antique cameras...(right)

Apart from food, shopping, night life, popular places of interest and sound infrastructure for business and leisure, Hong Kong has much to offer. Tsim Sha Tsui alone is a land of legends brimming with cultural heritage and fascinating stories.

“As the very first hotel to open in the reclaimed Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon Shangri‑La, Hong Kong pioneers a project to unearth some off the beaten paths and unbeknown interesting facts ‘hidden’ in the Tsim Sha Tsui areas for decades or even a century,” said Patsy Chan, Kowloon Shangri-La’s Director of communication

Blast from the past. An old photo of the staff from Kowloon Shangri-La

“The hotel’s publication, video clips and newly created room package all capture the sights of the past and present, and some untold stories. The sights include the city’s oldest military facility, the first Catholic church on Kowloon peninsula, the primary school attended by kung fu master Bruce Lee and buildings that have received UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage awards, to name a few.”

Rosary Church then & now. It's the first Catholic church on Kowloon peninsula

The stories reveal the Hong Kong people’s lifestyle in the last few decades, ‘East meets West’ and the harmonious blend of different cultures, languages, ethnicities and faiths. The endurance of ancient traditions in its modern spaces has shaped this unique culture and is a truly contemporary fusion of antiquity and innovation.

Tak Sun Primary School then & now. This was Bruce Lee's alma mater

The Cultural Heritage Package includes accommodation for two persons, with a requirement of a minimum of two consecutive nights per stay. Upgrade to a Horizon Side Harbour View Room may be extended if space permits upon room reservation; full Horizon Club benefits for two persons, including daily buffet breakfast, complimentary use of Horizon Club lounges and Happy Hour; the three- to four-hour guided walking tour to uncover Tsim Sha Tsui’s selected cultural heritage (seven days advance notice for the guided walking tour is required); a special edition of The Hidden Gems, a commemorative book featuring carefully selected examples of Tsim Sha Tsui’s cultural heritage; and other amenities.

St. Andrew's Church then & now. It is the oldest English speaking Protestant church in Kowloon.

“We are extremely pleased to pioneer this project and design a walking tour for our guests as part of our hotel’s 35th anniversary celebrations. Not only does this project let us help them uncover Tsim Sha Tsui’s cultural heritage, which might have escaped their eyes on their previous trips to Hong Kong, but also gives us a chance to work with people from different walks of life within the community. We have a common goal to let our visitors, and even locals, get to know the district better and from a different perspective,” said Mr. Ulf Bremer, general manager of Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong.

Guests get to stay at the Horizon Club Deluxe Room when availing of the Cultural Heritage Package

The Horizon Club at cocktail hour. Guests availing of the Cultural Heritage Package tour can access the club.

“Through this project, the bond between individuals, families and the community just gets stronger. Only when we did the research and delved into the district’s history and tidbits did we learn of a primary school attended by kung fu master Bruce Lee in the area.”

So the next time you’re in Hong Kong, how about penning a cultural heritage tour on your IT? It’s an exciting addition to your sweet and luxurious stay at the Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong.