Chung King Mansions

Chungking mansions can only be described as Hong Kong’s ghetto, only this ghetto is safer and dirtier than your average ghetto. Welcome to Chungking mansions – a labyrinth of Indian restaurants, dodgy foreign exchange offices, hostels, and counterfeit clothing and watch shops. The lower floors serve as some sort of shopping mall and is a hang out spot for many of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities. The building is hardly a mansion, but it is for those looking for dirt-cheap accommodation. But when I say dirt cheap, I really do mean ‘dirt’ cheap. Think staircases that haven’t been cleaned since the building’s opening; think open drainage systems; think putrid smells worse than you’ve ever imagined, and you have a pretty accurate picture of this place.

However, if you don’t have much money it is not all that bad. Chungking Mansions is home to the largest collections of guesthouses in Hong Kong. The number changes daily, but there are about 90 different guesthouses – perfect for your average backpacker. The amenities in the rooms are basic, so don’t expect some Shangri-La with free toothpaste. Also, be prepared to bargain as owners often try to rip off potential customers. A good price should be around $150-$300 per night.            

Directions:

Take the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui station and get out at exit L3 or B1. Look for the big TV screen above Chungking Mansions.