Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui

Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui
Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui
	Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier in August 2008
Traditional Chinese	尖沙咀碼頭
Simplified Chinese	尖沙咀码头
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Jiānshāzǔi mǎtōu
Bopomofo	ㄐ一ㄢㄕㄚㄗㄨˇi ㄇㄚˇㄊㄡ
Gwoyeu Romatzyh	Jianshatzuui maatou
Wade–Giles	Chien1-sha1-tsui3 ma3-t'ou1
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	jim1 saa1 jeui2 maa5 tau4
Jyutping	Zim1 saa1 zeoi2 maa5 tau4

Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, or Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, is a pier located on reclaimed land at the southernmost tip of Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as Star Ferry Pier (天星碼頭) in Tsim Sha Tsui. Star Ferry operates the pedestrian ferry service across Victoria Harbour to Wan Chai and to Central on Hong Kong Island. The location is identified as "Kowloon Point" in the franchise held by Star Ferry.^[1]

History

Construction of the first pier on the present location started in 1904, after the great land reclamation which extended Salisbury Road. It was of a "finger design". The pier opened in 1906, but was destroyed by typhoon in September 1906.^[2]

Its replacement, which was designed to accommodate two ferries, was completed in 1914. In the early 1950s, construction of the present twin-piered terminal commenced on both sides of Victoria Harbour. The structure was completed in 1957, concurrent with the completion of the now demolished Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier, which was built on the island side. Both piers were examples of Streamline Moderne.

Structure

Like the Ferry Pier on Hong Kong Island, the pier consists of a two bi-level piers. The upper level boarding is more expensive than the lower level boarding area. The two structures are supported by wood pilings. Unlike the Hong Kong side, the Tsim Sha Tsui pier itself does not have a clock tower, though one is located nearby.

A bus terminus located at the foot of Salisbury Road hosts Kowloon Motor Bus bus routes travelling to various parts of Kowloon and New Kowloon.

The pier is close to Star House, Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and the Clock Tower of former KCR Kowloon station. The Five Flag Poles between the pier and Star House are a popular meeting place. The Kowloon Public Pier is located south-east.

There are a few retail shops at the Pier, including newsstands, a shop selling Star Ferry merchandise (models of ferries), an HSBC branch, and a Hong Kong Tourism Board information centre.