Chung King Mansions in Hong Kong

One glance at the building shows distinctive signs of urban blight. Situated in the heart of Hong Kong’s premier tourist district, Tsim Sha Tsui, and steps away from the beautiful Victoria Harbor, overlooking the Central Business District in Hong Kong Island, is a dilapidated highrise known as the Chung King Mansions. Fronting Kowloon Peninsula’s main thoroughfare, Nathan Road, also known as the Golden Mile, the tower is very evident. The lower levels are occupied by a shopping center with skyrocketing rents. The remainder is home to offices, as well as, many hostels and motels operated by the individual owners and managers on different levels of the building, inexpensive rooms are always available for rent to the traveler on a budget. Neighbors include the world-renowned Peninsula Hotel and many luxury fashion boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Dior. One would ask why such a building would exist in the center of prestige.