This summer Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak International Airport location will once again be a major destination for travelers visiting Hong Kong. This June a Paris based company, World Wide Flight Services, is opening a new cruise terminal, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, on what once was known as the world famous Runway 13.
Today cruisers dock at Ocean Terminal in Victoria Harbour, the
southwest edge of Kowloon Peninsula.
It’s a superb location, within walking distance to world class luxury
shopping, restaurants, museums, markets, parks, the cities subway system (Metro
Transit Railway) and the renowned Star Ferry.
Not to mention the historic Peninsula Hotel, where you can still enjoy a
taste of the old British colonial era with afternoon tea.
The new terminal, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, isn’t exactly in
the best neighborhood and definitely not the first impression Hong Kong people
want travelers to have of their amazing city.
However, even though the new terminal will be less conveniently located
to the Star Ferry and MTR rails to Hong Kong Island and other classic historic
tourist attractions, there are plans for an extensive urban renewal project
that should make the new terminal location more enjoyable in the near
future.
New terminal location:
25 miles to
Hong Kong International Airport
6 miles to
the nearest Airport Express train station
4 miles to
Star Ferry
Interesting Facts:
What was once regarded as the most spectacular and world-famous
runway of all times, Runway 13 at Kai Tak was closed in 1998 when the Hong Kong
International Airport was relocated to the north side of Lantau Island, just
northwest of Hong Kong Island. The plan
to move the airport was announced in October 1989, by Hong Kong’s Governor
Wilson, and it was perceived to be part of the British government’s efforts to
reinstate confidence for Hong Kong people after the Tiananmen Square Massacre
that took place earlier that year in Beijing by the Chinese government. Actual construction of the new airport
started in 1991, with a budget of US$20 billion. Construction of the new airport was the most
expensive airport project ever, according to Guinness World Records, and was
voted as one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th
Century.
It wouldn't be Hong Kong without, of coarse, a shopping mall attached! From Zara to Burberry, Hong Kong International Airport has you covered.
It wouldn't be Hong Kong without, of coarse, a shopping mall attached! From Zara to Burberry, Hong Kong International Airport has you covered.
As for that “world-famous and spectacular” landing, the old
airport was situated adjacent to numerous skyscrapers and mountains to its
north and the one and only runway jetted out into Victoria Harbour. The old airport was ranked by the History Channel program Most Extreme Airports the 6th
most dangerous airport in the world. As
planes approached the runway, pilots had to make a 47 degree right turn to line
up with the runway. The turn had to take
place just two miles from touchdown, at a height of less than 400 feet above
ground (BTW within those 400 feet were 6 story buildings). Once touchdown was made, pilots had to
quickly stop the plane before falling in the harbour. Brown pants were required for all flights!!
Ken Side Note:
My new office is attached to Ocean Terminal and Harbour City Mall (the largest luxury shopping mall in Hong Kong). Being that Harbour City is on the Kowloon side, it’s an easy destination for mainland China tourist to enjoy tax-free shopping. As I watch anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 cruise ship passengers take over my lunch spots and try and maneuver their way through the overcrowded corridors and sidewalks of mainland China shoppers, I sometimes feel compelled to yell out to the cruisers that they have not experienced Hong Kong or interacted with Hong Kong people until they reach Hong Kong Island!! Just saying!
My new office is attached to Ocean Terminal and Harbour City Mall (the largest luxury shopping mall in Hong Kong). Being that Harbour City is on the Kowloon side, it’s an easy destination for mainland China tourist to enjoy tax-free shopping. As I watch anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 cruise ship passengers take over my lunch spots and try and maneuver their way through the overcrowded corridors and sidewalks of mainland China shoppers, I sometimes feel compelled to yell out to the cruisers that they have not experienced Hong Kong or interacted with Hong Kong people until they reach Hong Kong Island!! Just saying!
