Places to Visit in Hong Kong: Stanley (Chek Chue)

They say that Hong Kong is a mixture of East and West as well as old and new, and this is definitely evident in the Stanley area of the region. Located in the southern part of the area and named after the 14th Earl of Derby, Edward Smith-Stanley (the NHL’s Stanley Cup is named after his grandson, Frederick Arthur Stanley), in English (the Cantonese name, Chek Chue, apparently translates to “Bandit’s Post” according to Wikipedia), it is a shopping and entertainment area that reflects the region by marrying the traditional with modern.

An artist’s stall at Stanley

The new Stanley Plaza

One part of the area is very much a flea market, known as Stanley Market, selling anything and everything, including clothing, accessories as well as art and toys at very low prices, definitely very different from the luxury shopper’s paradise that many people know. If you’re interested in more touristy items that do not cost a whole lot, then the Stanley Market is for you. The other part, Stanley Plaza, is a bit different. Though not very big, with few recognizable names, there are four levels of modern, air conditioned shops and services, including a bank and a supermarket and others (one very interesting store, called GOD, sells items such as phone covers, cushions as well as gimmicky household goods) as well as many restaurants. Several of the restaurants are located in Murray House, which was formerly an officers’ barracks that was physically moved from one part of Hong Kong to Stanley in the early 2000s. There are also plenty of eateries in other parts of the area, including Stanley Main Street. Foods range from local food stall type fare to sitdown service as well as well-known, international fast food brands.

A kitschy store at Stanley Plaza called Goods of Desire (GOD)

View of Murray House

The area is very hilly, so for those not interested in shopping or dining, there’s always going out just to enjoy the view. The Stanley area also boasts to major beaches, the Stanley Main Beach on the east and St. Stephen’s Beach on the west. The Stanley Main Beach is the larger of the two and is most well-known for hosting the dragon boat races.

The easiest way to get to Stanley is by car (or taxi). Visitors can also take public transit – either bus or MTR (subway) and then a minibus.

About Cynthia Cheng Mintz

Cynthia Cheng Mintz is the founder and webitor-in-chief of this site and the petite-focused site, Shorty Stories. She has also written for other publications including the Toronto Star and has blogged for The Huffington Post. Her first novel, Aspirations, was published in 2007. Outside of writing, Cynthia researches and advises philanthropic ideas for family funds and foundations and also volunteers.