Central and Western district guide: housing, transport and school nets
Central and Western runs from Kennedy Town to Admiralty and up to the Peak. It mixes old walk-ups and single-block buildings in Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun with large flats and houses in Mid-Levels and on the Peak. The Island Line serves the north shore, and the district is Primary One school net 11.
What is Central and Western district like?
Central and Western is Hong Kong's business and government centre. Central and Admiralty are mostly offices; homes are concentrated to the west in Sheung Wan, Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui and Kennedy Town, and uphill in Mid-Levels and on the Peak. The ground rises steeply from the harbour, so living conditions differ sharply between the waterfront, the mid-slopes and the hilltop.
The area names most used when searching are Kennedy Town, Shek Tong Tsui, Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, Central, Admiralty, Mid-Levels West, Mid-Levels Central and The Peak.
What kinds of home are there?
Sheung Wan, Sai Ying Pun and Shek Tong Tsui have many older walk-up tenements and single-block buildings. Flats are generally small and some buildings have no lift; in recent years many old buildings have been redeveloped into new blocks of small flats. Kennedy Town has seen more new buildings since the MTR arrived, and its waterfront has sea views.
Mid-Levels is mainly medium to large flats, often in estates or towers with a clubhouse and parking. The Peak is mainly houses and low-density homes and is among the most expensive addresses in Hong Kong. There is very little public housing in the district.
How do you get around?
The Island Line stops at Kennedy Town, HKU, Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, Central and Admiralty. You can change to the Tsuen Wan Line at Central and Admiralty, and to the East Rail Line and South Island Line at Admiralty; Hong Kong Station has the Tung Chung Line and Airport Express. Trams, buses and minibuses run along the waterfront and up the hill, and the Central piers have ferries to the outlying islands and Tsim Sha Tsui. Mid-Levels relies on the Central to Mid-Levels escalator, buses and minibuses, and some addresses involve a steep walk to the MTR.
Schools and school nets
For Primary One central allocation, Central and Western district is school net 11 (Central and Western District).
Nets are drawn by home address and may change each year, so check the address against the Education Bureau's information before buying or renting. For secondary school places, Central and Western district is one secondary school net, and a pupil's net follows the district of the primary school attended, not the home address.
Shops, parks and services
Central and Sheung Wan have large malls, markets and many restaurants; Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town are more residential in feel, with street shops and wet markets. The district has the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Park, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park and the Western waterfront promenade, with hiking trails in Lung Fu Shan Country Park above.
What should you check when looking in Central and Western?
These points come up often in this district. The details of an individual home still need checking with the lister one by one.
- Walk-ups and old single-block buildings: check whether there is a lift, the state of the stairs and common areas, whether the building has an owners' corporation, and whether it is subject to a repair or inspection order.
- Mid-Levels flats: walk from the flat to the MTR yourself and time the slope; the Central to Mid-Levels escalator runs downhill only during the morning peak.
- Sea and open views: look for old buildings in front that may be redeveloped, as the view could change.
- Parking: many older buildings have none, so if you need a space, check the supply and rent of monthly parking nearby first.
Common questions
Which school net is Central and Western district in?
For Primary One central allocation, Central and Western district is school net 11 (Central and Western District). Nets are drawn by address and may change each year, so rely on the Education Bureau's information for an individual address.
Which parts of the district are convenient for working in Central?
From Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun you can walk or take the MTR one or two stops to Central; from Kennedy Town the Island Line takes about ten minutes; from Mid-Levels you can use the escalator or a minibus. The real time depends on how far the flat is from the station or the escalator, so try the journey yourself.