How about a little rest? Right here at Nathan Road / Boundary Street Sitting-out Area. This small garden offers a brief respite from the bustling city.
Nathan Road is a major thoroughfare in Kowloon. It stretches from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po. This road is lined with shops and restaurants. It was once known as the Golden Mile after World War II.
This sitting-out area sits where Nathan Road meets Boundary Street. It is a small pizza-shaped slice of land. The area was built in the 1960s. Despite heavy traffic it is quite busy on weekends.
The street grid bends 45 degrees to the left near here. If you travel along Nathan Road heading north. The result is triangles.
The Urban Council recognized the need for open space. It knew improvements would wait for urban renewal. The Council seized opportunities to create recreational spaces. Even the smallest plots of vacant land were used.
Several small triangles serve as traffic islands. They are marked as open space. One case on Maple Street shows unrealized intentions. There were plans to close the street to traffic. It would have been incorporated into a sitting-out area.
Nathan Road was originally named Robinson Road. This honored Sir Hercules Robinson. He was the 5th governor of Hong Kong. The name changed to Nathan Road in 1909. It honored Sir Matthew Nathan. He was the 13th governor.
The early Nathan Road was largely residential. Colonial-style houses lined the street. Saint Andrew’s Church has been here since 1906.
Five MTR stations are directly beneath Nathan Road. Prince Edward Station sits at Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road West. Mong Kok Station is at Nathan Road and Argyle Street. Yau Ma Tei Station is at Nathan Road and Waterloo Road. Jordan Station sits at Nathan Road and Jordan Road. Tsim Sha Tsui Station is at Nathan Road and Carnarvon Road.
So take a seat. Relax for a moment. Watch the city swirl around you. This little triangle offers a unique perspective. From Nathan Road / Boundary Street Sitting-out Area you can appreciate the energy of Hong Kong.