Canal Road, Hong Kong

Canal Road
堅拿道
Local social service organizations in Canal Road
Location:	Hong Kong

Bowrington Canal in 1920

Villain hitter and her client under the Canal Road Flyover in Hong Kong.

Canal Road East (Chinese: 堅拿道東), Canal Road West (Chinese: 堅拿道西) and the Canal Road Flyover (Chinese: 堅拿道天橋) are important roads in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, Wan Chai District of Hong Kong.

Before urban development the area was the estuary of a river named "Wong Nai Chung", which looked like the neck of a goose. The 4th Governor of Hong Kong, John Bowring built Bowrington (or Bowring City) around the estuary. Bowrington Canal was built during the mid to late 1850s as the extension of Wong Nai Chung and the long and narrow canal was known as and thus known as Ngo Keng Kan (鵝頸澗, lit. goose neck stream). The landmark Bowrington Bridge built in 1861 across the canal was known as Ngo Keng Kiu (鵝頸橋, lit. goose neck bridge). The area surrounding are also known as Ngo Keng. During the reclamation of Wan Chai beside Victoria Harbour from 1922 to 1929, the canal was covered and made subterranean and the bridge was removed. However the name survives in the history and remains the name of the area.

Canal Road Flyover

Canal Road Flyover (traditional Chinese: 堅拿道天橋; simplified Chinese: 坚拿道天桥; pinyin: Jiānnádào Tiānqiáo; Cantonese Yale: gin1 na4 dou6 tin1 kiu4) was built in 1970s for the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, between Canal Road East and Canal Road West. Many who do not know the history of Canal Road might associate the flyover with Ngo Keng Kiu. It initially connected only Canal Road West to the north of Gloucester Road when it opened on 29 March 1972. Four years later, the flyover was expanded and extended south to the Aberdeen Tunnel entrance in Happy Valley in 1976. The flyover was expanded again and an exit connected to Canal Road East.

The flyover currently joins Aberdeen Tunnel and Cross Harbour Tunnel thoroghfare Causeway Bay in Wan Chai District, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is a very important bridge for travelling to the Southern District and Happy Valley. In order, it starts in the Wan Chai interchange, it passes-by Gloucester Road, Jaffe Road, Lockhart Road, Hennessy Road Times Square, Leighton Road, Queen's Road East, Racing Museum and Wong Nai Chung Road.

Under the Canal Road Flyover, Villain hitting activities are often seen especially in Jingzhe, which has become a feature in Hong Kong culture.

See also

• List of streets and roads in Hong Kong

External links

• Canal Road and Ngo Keng Kiu (in Chinese)
• Places named after British officials
• John Bowring

Canal Road, Hong Kong Hong Kong Route 1 Chronology
Preceded by Aberdeen Tunnel	Canal Road (Flyover)	Succeeded by Cross-Harbour Tunnel

Coordinates: 22°16′40″N 114°10′52″E / 22.27791°N 114.18117°E / 22.27791; 114.18117