Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui, Filming Location for Chungking Express

July 16, 2023 128 Views

Tsim Sha Tsui, located on the opposite side of Hong Kong Island from Hong Kong Island itself, is considered one of Hong Kong’s two major commercial districts. Due to Hong Kong’s limited land and high population density, it’s easy to find high-rise buildings in the city’s main areas.

To address the high population density, the city adopted a method of constructing high-rise buildings where multiple people can live in one place. Chungking Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui is also a building that was born to address this population density issue.

“Completed in 1961, Chungking Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui”

Chungking Mansion was completed in 1961. Initially, it was used as apartments for the affluent in Hong Kong. However, with the impending return of Hong Kong to China, many foreigners, including Indians and Pakistanis, came to reside in Hong Kong. They mainly lived in Chungking Mansion, giving the building a unique atmosphere from then on.

“A 17-story High-rise Building with Various Accommodations”

Chungking Mansion is a 17-story high-rise building, and currently, you can find various accommodations here. Particularly, you can see many guesthouses concentrated in this area. In Hong Kong, it’s common to have various guesthouses operating in a single building.

Guesthouses in Chungking Mansion are generally quite affordable. However, it’s not recommended to stay in accommodations within Chungking Mansion under normal circumstances. In the summer, the overall hygiene condition of the building is said to be poor, and insects like cockroaches may appear.

“Various Restaurants and Grocery Stores on the 1st Floor”

On the first floor of the building, you can find various restaurants and grocery stores, mainly offering Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Since there are so many diverse eateries on the first floor, it naturally raises questions about the overall cleanliness of the building.

“The Location Featured in the Film ‘Chungking Express'”

Chungking Mansion is a place that may be quite familiar to us. This is because it served as the backdrop for the popular 1990s Hong Kong film “Chungking Express,” directed by Wong Kar-wai.

Thanks to this, in an episode of the KBS travel program “Battle Trip,” Hong Seok-cheon and director Bong Man-dae visited Hong Kong together and ran around Chungking Mansion, paying homage to scenes from the movie.

Visiting alone may feel somewhat gloomy, and the atmosphere in the shops on the first floor may not be welcoming for photography, giving it an ambiguous feel for exploration. However, since it’s a location featured in the movie, it’s worth a visit at least once. (Of course, it also appeared in the film with a rather gloomy atmosphere.)

“Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui, Chungking Mansion”