The History Of Kowloon Station

Sep 30 2019

1 March 2019 - Kowloon station is one of the busiest transportation hubs in Yau Tsim Mong district, which encompasses Tsim Sha Tsui up to Prince Edward. Not only does it connect Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, but it is also next to Austin station of the West Rail Line and the West Kowloon Terminus of Express Rail Link, allowing Hong Kong citizens and tourists to navigate around the city.

Facilities to suit all your needs

There is a total of 9 floors in Kowloon Station, including train station public area, Elements, sky garden and Airport Express Line platform, with a wide range of property projects sitting atop the station including The Waterfront, Sorrento, The Harbourside, The Arch and The Cullinan. Kowloon Station provides everything one would look for in a residential hub be it convenience, access to transport, shopping, dining or accommodation.

Long history with robust development

Like Rome, Kowloon Station was not built in a day. Kowloon Station is located near the former Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter. Given its protection from the elements, it became one of the main hubs of Hong Kong life during the 1800s. At that time, Kowloon Station was filled with all walks of life, from fishermen to market vendors to open Chinese opera performers. It would have been an iconic scene to witness, capturing the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s masses and their daily lives.

Fast forwarding to the modern day, the MTR opened in 1979 and the implementation of Yau Ma Tei, Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui stations made it easier than ever to travel to Kowloon Station. In 1998, Kowloon Station itself opened and was designed to be a multi-functional transportation hub for the territory. Its 9-storey expanse allows Kowloon Station to accommodate platforms of several MTR lines as well as extensive shopping and entertainment needs within its malls. In 2000, Dickson Cyber Express, a ��high-tech” themed mallopened atop of Kowloon Station. However, several factors including the bursting of the global tech bubble, the delay in completion of several properties around Kowloon Station and the SARS scare in 2003 led to a low influx of tourists. Dickson Cyber Express closed down eventually in 2005.

Yet, the destiny of Kowloon Station did not fade away with Dickson Cyber Express. In 2007, Elements Mall opened, targeting the middle-class and aimed to provide high-quality mall services to nearby residents and tourists. Elements was very successful and, in 2009, Austin station opened and further increased the activity in the area. Along with the completion of surrounding high-end property projects, Kowloon Station had established itself as a self-sufficient community, transforming the area from its humble beginnings to to a trendy hub for the aspiring middle class.

The opening of Express Rail Link to China

In 2018, the Express Rail Link (“XRL”) came into service, connecting Kowloon Station to the West Kowloon Terminus and enabling tourists to enter mainland China using the co-location arrangement. The launch of XRL significantly increased the flow of people in Kowloon Station. With the rapid growth of number of tourists traveling between Hong Kong to the major Southern cities in China, foot traffic in Elements increased by 50%, and the flow of passengers at Kowloon Station also escalated dramatically.

The surge in visitors also meaningfully led to appreciation of property prices in nearby residences. In 2016, nearby residences such as The Arch saw prices increase an astounding 72.8% As another example, prices per squarefoot in Sorrento have shot up from $3,970 in 2001 to $29,817 now, giving it the local nickname “the Property King of Growth” in Kowloon Station.

Kowloon Station now is no longer the small harbor . As the Yau Tsim Mong district prospered, together with the development of modern structures, malls and residences, Kowloon Station has become one of the most popular prime locations in Hong Kong. It remains one of the most popular investment areas given its desirability as an owner-occupier and for attracting tenants as an investment. To explore specific properties in Kowloon Station, visit www.OKAY.com or browse properties available in Kowloon Station here.