• Historical
  • Major Attractions

Clock Tower – A Century-Old Monument That Stood across Time

April 20, 2021

Name (English): Clock Tower
Name (Chinese): 尖沙咀鐘樓
Category: Major Attraction, Historical Site
Address (English): 10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Address (Chinese): 香港九龍尖沙咀梳士巴利道10號
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/6bNS646J1HEKVJpB8
Address longitude and latitude: 22.293921776316004, 114.17097869661302
Nearest MTR Station: Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit E
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/899NiBAM5zcJmLYr6
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.29852783401588, 114.17193772501015
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 4-minute walk from Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit E
Opening hours:
MON 00:00 – 23:59
TUE 00:00 – 23:59
WED 00:00 – 23:59
THU 00:00 – 23:59
FRI 00:00 – 23:59
SAT 00:00 – 23:59
SUN 00:00 – 23:59
Recommended Time to Visit: After 8 pm for night view
Accessibility Note: Easy to access

Completed by 1915, the Clock Tower is an Edwardian style masonry, building out of red bricks and granite. If you would like to have a complete view of the Clock Tower, feel free to climb up the observation deck by the promenade. Right in front of the Clock tower, there are two long rectangular water fountains. Visit the Clock Tower at night time, and you will be able to capture its beautiful reflection with night lights on the water surface. 

Clock Tower at night time

Clock Tower was originally built as part of the terminus building of the former Kowloon station on the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR). Back then, the Clock Tower served a practical function of reporting time. Nowadays, the Clock Tower ceased operation due to the relocation of Kowloon station of KCR to Hung Hom in 1975. Nonetheless, it is still a declared monument and a popular gathering point in town. 

Clock Tower, a declared monument in Hong Kong.

Back in 1908, then-governor Frederick Lugard has already emphasized the economic significance of constructing a railway that connects Hong Kong and mainland China. He outlined the necessity of constructing the KCR by referring to it as “preserving the predominance of Hong Kong”. Lugard recognized that the economic prosperity in Hong Kong is largely due to the fact that it had always served as an intermediary between the river ports of the Pearl River Delta and other global ports. KCR then became Hong Kong’s first great train to China, which was opened in 1910. Nonetheless, due to the lack of space for expansion, the terminus of KCR was relocated to Hung Hom in 1975. The entire Kowloon Station at Tsim Sha Tsui was demolished. Hong Kong Cultural Centre was then built on the original site of the terminal. 

Next time, when you visit the Clock Tower, compare it with the following images and you will appreciate how it has stood across time! 

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Mimi Ming

Currently an arts and law undergraduate student at HKU. Enjoys exploring the ambiguity between rationality and sensuality as a city flâneur.