[2][dubious – discuss] To the east lies Sai Ying Pun and to the west is Kennedy Town.

To the south are the slopes of Victoria Peak, Lung Fu Shan and High West.

It was known locally in the Cantonese phrase "tong sai fung yuet" (塘西風月), which literally means "good times west of the pond".

Brothels in this area inspired numerous novels and Hong Kong films, most notably Rouge (1987), starring Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung.

The prostitution ban returned, and Shek Tong Tsui began urbanisation for decades.

A constituency in the Central and Western District is called Shek Tong Tsui, extending as far as Water Street and into Sai Ying Pun.

The Belcher constituency also covers part of Shek Tong Tsui, south of Queen's Road West.