Tsim Sha Tsui (Chinese: 尖沙咀), often abbreviated as TST, is an area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Geographically, Tsim Sha Tsui is a cape on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula pointing towards Victoria Harbour, opposite Central.
Historical maps in Ming or Qing dynasty named the channel between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central as Chung Mun (Pinyin: Zhong Men, 中門, lit.
Incense trees (Aquilaria sinensis) from the New Territories were gathered at some quays in Tsim Sha Tsui and transferred to Shek Pai Wan in southern Hong Kong Island to be exported to the rest of the world.
Shortly after the land was ceded to Britain, construction began on the first section of Tsim Sha Tsui's major thoroughfare, Nathan Road.
In 1888, the Star Ferry offered regular transport between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, and the area has flourished ever since.
Until the 20th century, Tsim Sha Tsui was a leafy suburb that contained numerous facilities of the British garrison in Hong Kong.
After Kai Tak Airport closed, the height restrictions on buildings has dropped and now larger taller skyscrapers, parallel to those of Central, have been constructed.
The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong was closed on 1 January 2006 and the iSQUARE shopping mall was built at its former location; it re-opened in October 2009 on Hanoi Road of Tsim Sha Tsui within the new The Masterpiece skyscraper.
Other hotels in virtually every price range and level of luxury can be found throughout the area; Chungking Mansions is known for providing cheap lodging for backpackers.
Located on Nathan Road, the Chungking Mansions is a major tourist attraction in Tsim Sha Tsui.
These recognisable buildings were featured in the film Chungking Express, and are full of inexpensive guest houses, Indian restaurants, and money changers.
Shopping malls in the area include: The Park Lane Shopper's Boulevard is located along a section of Nathan Road.
The flagship stores of several luxury brands are located in the Tsim Sha Tsui section of Canton Road.
The largest park in Tsim Sha Tsui is Kowloon Park, a popular destination complete with swimming pools, aviary, children's playground, kung fu corner, sculpture garden and the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.
It is especially popular for photographers, as it offers an unobstructed view of the Central area of Hong Kong across Victoria Harbour.
The Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade links the area with the Hong Kong Cultural Centre near the Clock Tower.
An extensive tunnel system was constructed for pedestrians to access the most popular destinations in Tsim Sha Tsui, and to change trains between the two lines.
East Tsim Sha Tsui is the last district in Hong Kong to use a grid plan system before the Hong Kong government adopted its high land price policy, meaning that development in East Tsim Sha Tsui is less centralised than in newer districts.
Various hydrofoil services out of the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal on Canton Road link Tsim Sha Tsui to Macau, Guangzhou, and several other places in the Pearl River Delta.
Since Tsim Sha Tsui is in the heart of Kowloon Peninsula, the area is served by an extensive network of bus routes to many parts of Hong Kong.