While I was living in Taiwan, a colleague used to tell stories of his days spent in Chungking Mansions.  He was travelling on a “backpackers budget” and Chungking was the only the place he could afford.   In a city where space for accommodation (both for locals and tourists) come at a premium, Chungking Mansions is universally known as probably the cheapest place to live in Hong Kong.

Wikipedia describes it as: “a labyrinth of guesthouses, curry restaurants, African bistros, clothing shops, sari stores, and foreign exchange offices. It often acts as a large gathering place for some of the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, particularly South Asians (Indians, Nepalese, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans), Middle Eastern people, Nigerians, Europeans, Americans, and many other peoples of the world.”

I have not stayed at Chungking Mansion, but must admit that I do like to go there to buy some otherwise hard-to-get South Asian spices, fresh vegetables and other products.  When I do venture out there, I’m always amazed at the long lines that form at the elevators.  Bear in mind that air conditioning on the ground floor is virtually non-existant and in the height of summer this place could be unbearable.  “Melting pot” then takes on a whole different smell!  However, the queues that form also tells me that the place is also very popular, especially with budget-conscious travellers. 

My visits to Chungking Mansions have also be limited to the ground floor mall, so I cannot tell you what it looks like upstairs.  However, while research Chungking on the internet, I came across this informative video (posted 2 years ago):

Stay tuned for a first-hand account, right here on Howzit-HongKong.