Quick Answer: Sheung Wan is where Central's towers give way to old Hong Kong: Man Mo Temple, the antiques of Cat Street, the dried seafood and ginseng shops of Des Voeux Road West, and the cafes of Tai Ping Shan Street, all a stop west of Central. Here is what is where, how to get there, and why small firms base themselves here.
Sheung Wan is where Central's towers give way to old Hong Kong. One MTR stop west of Central, it holds Man Mo Temple, the antiques of Cat Street, the dried seafood and ginseng wholesalers of Des Voeux Road West, the Macau ferry, and the cafe quarter of Tai Ping Shan Street, with small offices in the older buildings between them. This guide covers what is where, how to get there, and why small firms base themselves here. Portal Hong Kong lists the businesses in Sheung Wan by category.
What is where?
| Street or area | What you find |
|---|---|
| Des Voeux Road West and Bonham Strand | Dried seafood, abalone, sea cucumber, ginseng and bird's nest wholesalers, the trade that built the district |
| Hollywood Road | Man Mo Temple (1847), antique and art dealers, galleries running east into Central |
| Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street) | Antiques, curios and souvenir stalls |
| Tai Ping Shan Street and Po Hing Fong | Cafes, brunch spots, small galleries and design shops, temples at the street's east end |
| Western Market | 1906 Edwardian market building on Des Voeux Road Central, now fabric shops and restaurants |
| Shun Tak Centre | Hong Kong to Macau Ferry Terminal, heliport, offices, above Sheung Wan station |
| Possession Street and Hollywood Road Park | The 1841 British landing point, marked by a small park |
| Wing Lok Street, Queen's Road West, Jervois Street | Older office buildings, trading companies, printers, small CPA and corporate services firms |
How do you get there and around?
Sheung Wan station on the Island line is one stop from Central; Shun Tak Centre above it is the ferry terminal for Macau. The tram runs the length of Des Voeux Road, and from Central you can walk it in ten minutes along the elevated walkway or the tram line. The district climbs steeply south of Hollywood Road, so Tai Ping Shan Street is a stair climb from the harbour side; the Mid-Levels Escalator, a short walk east, does the climbing for you as far as Hollywood Road.
What should you see?
- Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road, built in 1847 for the gods of literature and war, with hanging incense coils; a declared monument, free to enter.
- Cat Street, Upper Lascar Row, for antiques, propaganda posters, jade and curios; haggling expected.
- Des Voeux Road West, the dried seafood street, for the sight and smell of a trade that has run here for over a century.
- Western Market, the 1906 red-brick market hall.
- Tai Ping Shan Street for cafes, and the small temples at its east end.
- PMQ on Aberdeen Street, at the district's edge with Central, for local design.
Where do you eat and shop?
Tai Ping Shan Street and Po Hing Fong for cafes and weekend brunch; Gough Street and Kau U Fong for restaurants; Queen's Road West and Wing Lok Street for old tea houses, noodle shops and roast meat counters; the cooked food centre above Sheung Wan Market for the cheapest lunch in the district. Dried seafood, ginseng and Chinese medicine are the shopping the district is known for; galleries and antiques come second. Browse Sheung Wan restaurants and shopping and lifestyle listings.
Who does business here?
Trading companies, the dried seafood and medicine wholesalers, printers, design studios, startups, and a large number of small CPA firms and corporate services providers who serve clients in Central at Sheung Wan rents. Older buildings along Des Voeux Road, Wing Lok Street and Bonham Strand offer whole floors at a fraction of the cost a street away. For the neighbouring district, see our Central district guide; for choosing a firm based here, how to choose a CPA firm and company secretary in Hong Kong.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Sheung Wan known for?
- The oldest commercial streets in Hong Kong: Des Voeux Road West and Bonham Strand for dried seafood, ginseng and bird's nest wholesalers; Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street) for antiques; Man Mo Temple; Western Market; and Tai Ping Shan Street, now a cafe and gallery quarter. Possession Street marks where the British landed in 1841.
- How do I get to Sheung Wan?
- Sheung Wan station is the western terminus of the Island line's original section, one stop from Central. The Hong Kong to Macau Ferry Terminal is at Shun Tak Centre above the station, the tram runs along Des Voeux Road Central and West, and the Mid-Levels Escalator is a short walk east. Central is ten minutes on foot.
- Is Sheung Wan a good place for an office?
- Yes for small and mid-sized firms. Rents are well below Central's, the MTR and tram put Central five minutes away, and the older office buildings along Des Voeux Road, Wing Lok Street and Bonham Strand suit trading companies, CPA practices, corporate services firms, design studios and startups. Many firms that serve Central clients keep their office here.
- What is Man Mo Temple?
- A temple on Hollywood Road built in 1847, dedicated to Man Cheong, god of literature, and Mo Tai (Kwan Tai), god of war, and known for the giant coils of incense hanging from its ceiling. It is a declared monument, open daily, and free to enter.
- Where do people eat in Sheung Wan?
- Tai Ping Shan Street and the lanes around it for cafes and brunch, Gough Street and Kau U Fong for restaurants, the old-style tea houses and noodle shops on Queen's Road West and Wing Lok Street, and the dried seafood restaurants near the wholesalers. Sheung Wan Market's cooked food centre upstairs is the cheapest lunch in the district.
