Life is always bustling in densely populated Hong Kong, and Nathan Road, the main artery of the Kowloon district, is the quintessence of that energy and dynamism, where the population density reaches 43 thousand people per square kilometer.
Nathan Road was the first street in the district; its construction began back in 1861, but at that time it was called Robinson Road, in honor of Sir Hercules Robinson, the fifth Governor of Hong Kong. In 1909, the street acquired a new name in honor of the 13th Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, which has survived to this day.
At the beginning of the 20th century, all the buildings on Nathan Road were residential, built in the traditional colonial style. Over time, and because of the rapid development of the economy, all of business and commercial Hong Kong turned into a buzzing hive, which could not but affect the architecture of such a lively district as Kowloon.
Today, Nathan Road is a firework display of advertising lights, attracting tourists with hundreds of shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. You can buy almost anything here, from cheap souvenirs to haute couture clothing. One of the special features of this place is the large number of small tailor shops, where you can order a custom-made suit.
In addition to commercial buildings, Nathan Road has several attractions of a different kind that are worth visiting: St. Andrew's Anglican Church, built in 1904, the Peninsula Hotel, opened in 1928, the large Kowloon Park, spread across 33 acres, and a number of others.
