Water Sports and Recreation Precinct in Wan Chai fully opens today

The Water Sports and Recreation Precinct (the Precinct) (Phase 4) in Wan Chai opens today (Dec. 21). Together with the first three phases of the Precinct, which were opened progressively during 2020 to 2022 following the concept of an "incremental approach", the entire Precinct is fully open, further extending the Island North promenade to nine kilometres to connect Kennedy Town and Fortress Hill.

The Precinct is located on Hung Hing Road, Wan Chai. Facing north to Victoria Harbour, the Precinct is adjacent to the HarbourChill opposite to the Wan Chai Ferry Pier on the west and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club on the east. The entire Precinct covers an area of about 1.7 hectares.

Two retired East Rail Line Mid-Life Refurbishment train cars (also known as "Fly Head" trains) donated by the MTR Corporation Limited are displayed at the newly available Phase 4 of the Precinct. The transformed train cars retain some of the original features for the public to reminisce about "Fly Head" trains in the past. A multipurpose room is available for groups to hold workshops, exhibitions and activities.

The new venue is also equipped with a stepped train platform, a viewing deck, a circular multipurpose square, artificial turf, shading facilities and a glowing pathway, etc, facilitating water and land activities, while visitors can enjoy the view of Victoria Harbour from different angles. In celebration of Christmas, the venue is adorned with railway-themed Christmas decorations, creating a festive atmosphere.

Members of the public can get to the Precinct by walking for about five minutes, either from the Wan Chai Ferry Pier along Hung Hing Road, or from Exit A2 of the MTR Exhibition Centre Station. It can also be accessed by walking for about nine minutes from Exit C of the MTR Causeway Bay Station via the footbridge at Canal Road West. The Precinct is open to the public around the clock, while the "Fly Head" trains are open from 10 am to 10 pm tentatively. It is a pet-friendly venue where visitors are welcome to bring along their pets on leashes.

In addition to the Island North promenade, several harbourfront projects in Kowloon opened this year, including the Cha Kwo Ling Promenade, the Tsui Ping Seaside and the Cheung Sha Wan Promenade, extending the total length of the promenade along both sides of Victoria Harbour, to approximately 27 kilometres. The Development Bureau will continue to collaborate with the Harbourfront Commission to create harbourfront spaces with distinctive and delightful features, with a view to completing a 34-kilometre promenade by 2028.