tcook052

I'm thinking of making a pilgrimage to Kai Tak Runway Park having flown in the week before the old airport closed to see the changes, the views of the harbour from a different vantage point and maybe catch the QM2 as she's due to dock at the cruise terminal while I'm in HKG. Kowloon Walled City Park seems close by so are the two sights close enough together to walk between the two?

Also is the Chi Lin Nunnery worth a detour while I'm in the area? Can I do all 3 in a morning at a leisurely pace?

Thanks for any input on this part of the city I'm curious to see.

PitaPan

It's definitely quite a walk! For me, I'd say take a taxi or minibus between the two, which would give you time to finish off the Nunnery all in one morning.

rkkwan

The park and cruise terminal are near the end of the runway, and is accessed via a link from Kowloon Bay. Nowhere near Kowloon City.

Chi Lin Nunnery and the associated Nan Lian Garden are definitely worth a visit.

tentseller

If you have time at Chi Lin Nunnery you can try their 4/5(?) course nunnery vegetarian lunch.

tcook052

Definitely and their close proximity makes visiting both very east. A few pictures from my Kowloon City exploration:

Nan Lian Gardens



Kai Tak Runway Park

BuildingMyBento

Nice photos! Wish I had been able to use Kai Tak.

(As an aside, Quito converted its old downtown airport into a park too.)

CMK10

Ack! Wish I'd seen this post earlier, I would have gone to Kai Tak Runway Park.

I can, however, echo that the Chi Lin Nunnery is worth a visit, as are its adjacent gardens as well as Kowloon Walled City Park. While you're over there, the Avenue of Stars which goes along the river with stars from famous Chinese celebrities in the sidewalk like a Eastern Hollywood can be a bit of touristy fun. Especially if you finish up with a drink at the Intercontinental's Lobby Bar.

BuildingMyBento

The Kowloon Walled City lives on...in Kawasaki, Japan

Letitride3c

On a visit to HKG then, I actually walked thru these building escorted by a "relative" with a business in there - about a year after the documentary was produced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmqlxjTSc8w

It brings back memories of those days as the jumbo's lined up, bank & slide over the small hilltop toward the KT runway then - a/k/a carrier landing strip, especially at night They were in the process of moving the business out to a storefront nearby and living in one of the newest gov't estate then in walking distance, 1 MTR stop away. A mentor of mine had returned to teach at HKU then and involved in the redevelopment planning and another @ CU in Shatin said he was glad to see it finally go as we met in the Regent then over tea in the lobby cafe. Wow, time flies & the challenges ahead ...

This from the WSJ - a look back 20 years later - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj_8ucS3lMY

tcook052

Interesting and will have to try and check it out when next in Japan.

Thanks and a really good documentary.

It was a nice day visiting Kowloon City and seeing the sights and would definitely return. It took a bit of hunting around Telford Gardens to find the mini-bus stop for Kai Tak after getting off the MTR but happened upon it eventually.