The best routes in Tsim Sha Tsui
Vince Natteri lived in Tsim Sha Tsui for more than 10 years. As a running addict, he couldn't start the day without a 5.30am morning run.
I've always loved nature and greenery, and I first started exploring Hong Kong through hiking. In 2004, I joined a hiking group called the Hong Kong Trampers.
A few years later, I learned that one member, Steven Sparksman, was looking for a fourth teammate for his Oxfam Trailwalker team. Steven took me on an insanely long summer run of around 40km one Sunday to "prove myself". And the runner in me was born.
I lived in Tsim Sha Tsui for more than 10 years until recently. As a running addict, I couldn't start the day without a 5.30am morning run, and I wanted to find a decent running route in the crowded and often very polluted area.
Kowloon Park soon became my running playground. Situated in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, it's a large green park with tall trees that flank running tracks, which extend all the way up to the harbourfront.
The views from here are dazzling. On one side, there's the beautifully lit up Hong Kong Island, and on the other, you see the towering ICC.
My daily route was precisely 12.3km long. I ran this route almost every weekday for four years straight. I started off outside Park Lane, ran up the stairs to Kowloon Park and then headed straight to the undulating running track.