Angus’s guidebook
Neighborhoods
Soares Avenue and its neighbors, Victory Avenue, Liberty Avenue, Julia Avenue and Emma Avenue were all developed by one Francisco Soares just after the First World War, hence their names. Mr Soares named Julia and Emma Avenues after his daughters. His family came from Macau and many 'Portuguese', as the Macanese called themselves, settled in the area and built some very fine mansions like this one in the picture which once graced Liberty Avenue. A focal point for the Macanese was St Teresa's Church on Boundary Street, easily recognized by its Tower, a copy of St Mark's in Venice, built in the 1920's. One of the benefactors was a certain Benito Mussolini and if you enter the church you can see a (disfigured) plaque on the wall installed in gratitude to him.
Regrettably all have gone to be replaced - and continue to be replaced - by high rise apartment blocks. Wing Ying Mansions is almost an antique by Hong Kong standards, being completed in 1962 - the triangular site was occupied from 1949 to 1960 by a Communist-run school.
Soares Avenue
Soares AvenueSoares Avenue and its neighbors, Victory Avenue, Liberty Avenue, Julia Avenue and Emma Avenue were all developed by one Francisco Soares just after the First World War, hence their names. Mr Soares named Julia and Emma Avenues after his daughters. His family came from Macau and many 'Portuguese', as the Macanese called themselves, settled in the area and built some very fine mansions like this one in the picture which once graced Liberty Avenue. A focal point for the Macanese was St Teresa's Church on Boundary Street, easily recognized by its Tower, a copy of St Mark's in Venice, built in the 1920's. One of the benefactors was a certain Benito Mussolini and if you enter the church you can see a (disfigured) plaque on the wall installed in gratitude to him.
Regrettably all have gone to be replaced - and continue to be replaced - by high rise apartment blocks. Wing Ying Mansions is almost an antique by Hong Kong standards, being completed in 1962 - the triangular site was occupied from 1949 to 1960 by a Communist-run school.
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A nice relaxing trip across the harbour and up to the Peak
Here’s a few hour’s relaxing tour across the Harbour and up to the Peak.
If at all possible have an Octopus Card to hand - if you have not got one, you can buy them at the nearest MTR station - Yaumatei, Mongkok or Mongkok East.
Turn left when you exit Wing Ying Mansions lobby and walk along to the HSBC Bank on the corner. Turn left again and you will see, across Waterloo road, a Wellcome Supermarket.
Almost outside the Wellcome Supermarket you will see a Number 7 Bus stop.
The Number 7 Bus, like all buses here, accepts Octopus Cards and takes you to Star Ferry. If you can, sit at the front on the top deck to take in the sights as you cruise along Nathan Road.
Take the Star Ferry across the harbour to Hong Kong Island. Star Ferry also accepts Octopus Cards.
At the Star Ferry exit, turn right and walk about 200 metres to the Number 15 Bus Stop opposite Pier 5. The bus starts from here, not many people are usually waiting and this this gives you the best chance of getting one the best seats on the top deck – upper deck left side as far as the Adventist Hospital switching to right hand side for best views of the Harbour!
It’s quite a long journey - about 55 minutes - but with some marvellous views both of Happy Valley Racecourse and the Harbour.
You can walk right around the Peak on the level and enjoy some lovely views. Takes about one hour.
You can always take a taxi back to Central/Star Ferry, or the Peak Tram but if there is a long line waiting for either, just take a No 1 Green Minibus back to Central.It also accepts Octopus Cards. It stops at Pedder Street in Central and terminates at Hong Kong Station, not far from Star Ferry.