A constantly crowded tourist hotspot atop two MRT stations with at least 10 exits each, Tsim Sha Tsui can be pretty overwhelming.
But a series maps and plinths placed around the area will hopefully make it easier for confused commuters to find their way around the area.
The plinths were set up by Hong Kong’s Transport Department in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) — a government body responsible for London’s transport system — in a bid to encourage people in Hong Kong to walk more.
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The signature blue and yellow plinths are a common sight on the streets of London; the plinths contain a map of the area, notes on landmarks and stations, and also an estimated walking time.
News of the signs were welcomed by many living and working in Hong Kong, particularly British expats or Hongkongers with a connection to London.
Some who have been to London described the signs as very helpful, while others said that they discovered more of the city by walking instead of taking the train thanks to the new markers.
Others were a bit more sceptical that the scheme would work, citing large crowds of people in Tsim Sha Tsui. Others, meanwhile, pointed out that the city’s humidity makes walking an unpleasant experience.
Some argued that TfL’s experiment to get more people in walking in London only works because transport in the British capital is more expensive and suffers more delays than Hong Kong’s cheap and efficient MTR.
Others joked that the contribution from TfL reeked of so-called “foreign interference”, a line often used by Hong Kong and Beijing authorities to criticize other governments who weigh in on Hong Kong’s affairs.
One person said: “How about take over the whole political control of Hong Kong instead of just walking?”
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