Li Yuen Street East, Hong Kong

Li Yuen Street East, situated in the Central district of Hong Kong Island, holds historical significance as the first street in colonial Hong Kong named after a Chinese member of society. Today, it has transformed into a bustling tourist destination, attracting visitors with its vibrant atmosphere and an array of stalls offering diverse daily goods and souvenirs.

In the late 18th century, ambitious land reclamation projects aimed to expand the downtown area and meet the growing demand for land. As a result, sizable portions of newly reclaimed land became available for purchase. Seizing this opportunity, Kim Li Yuen, a prosperous businessman from Guangdong Province in China, acquired a section of the reclaimed land for property development. In 1894, the street derived its name from him and became known as Li Yuen Street East.

In its early days, the street had both residential and commercial buildings. Shops were on the ground floors and apartments above. However, the famous street stalls of Li Yuen Street East were not present at that time. After World War II, newspaper offices and printing workshops were set up on the street. As a result, it became known as "Newspaper Street." Newspapers were manually distributed from this street to the rest of Hong Kong every morning.

The newspaper offices moved, making room for a new era on Li Yuen Street East. Clothing stalls emerged and expanded their offerings as more tourists came. Today, visitors find a variety of goods like clothing, accessories, and souvenirs.