Wan Chai Pier
| Company type | Ferry pier |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Headquarters | Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island , Hong Kong |
Area served | Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong |
| Products | Ferry services to Tsim Sha Tsui |
| Owner | Star Ferry |
The Wan Chai Pier (), also known as Wan Chai Ferry Pier (), is situated on Wan Chai North of Hong Kong Island and is managed by Star Ferry, offering routes to Tsim Sha Tsui. It lies in close proximity to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
This pier has undergone three distinct phases:
- Initial phase: 1929–1968
- Second phase: 1968–2014, dismantled due to the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation
- Current phase: since 2014
First phase (1929 to 1968)
Following the completion of the Praya East Reclamation Scheme (1922–1929), a pier approximately 120 feet long and 35 feet wide was established along Tonnochy Road. Presumed to have suffered damage during World War II, it was subsequently restored, and ferry operations to Jordan Road commenced by November 1949. To accommodate passenger demand, the China Motor Bus company adjusted bus route no. 2 to pass near the pier and introduced an auxiliary route no. 8, both serving stops on Tonnochy Road.
On 1 June 1956, ferry services to Jordan Road were transferred to Stewart Pier. Shortly after, on 3 July 1956, a new ferry route to Kowloon City began from Tonnochy Road Pier but was discontinued on 24 June 1967. Additionally, ferry operations between Hung Hom and Wan Chai started on 12 November 1963.
Second phase (1968 to 2014)
Between 1965 and 1972, significant land reclamation efforts pushed the shoreline northward from Gloucester Road toward Convention Avenue and Hung Hing Road.
In April 1988, the ferry line connecting Jordan Road and Wan Chai was replaced by a service linking Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai. The Hung Hom–Wan Chai ferry route ceased operations on 1 April 2011, leaving only the Wan Chai–Tsim Sha Tsui service active at this pier.
Current phase (since 2014)
After serving for 46 years, the second-generation Wan Chai Pier was demolished because it was located within the reclamation zone for the Central–Wan Chai Bypass. Despite opposition from the Star Ferry Company in 2007, a replacement pier was built further north along the newly extended coastline.
The new facility opened on 30 August 2014 and spans roughly 2,200 square meters—around 150 square meters smaller than its predecessor. Its architectural style and amenities closely mirror those found at the Central Star Ferry Pier (Piers no. 7 & 8). The upper level is designated for dining services; however, electrical installations were delayed by at least six months after opening. Some passengers expressed concerns about the narrow access walkway during peak times, but the Civil Engineering and Development Department confirmed that it was designed to accommodate current ferry passenger volumes.
Transport interchange terminus
Situated opposite Convention Avenue from Wan Chai Pier, the bus terminus began service on 10 March 1968 with initial rerouting of China Motor Bus routes 8 and 11. Due to limited space in Wan Chai, this terminus expanded throughout the 1970s and 1980s and featured a footbridge linking it directly to the pier following the opening of Convention Avenue and Hung Hing Road. It has remained an essential and heavily frequented transit hub as Wan Chai North developed.
The terminus accommodates franchised bus services operated by Kowloon Motor Bus, First Bus, Citybus, along with several non-franchised operators. These routes connect the pier with multiple districts across Hong Kong. Major routes include numbers 2A, 2X, 8, 8P, 40, 40M, 905, and 960.
From the 1970s through the 1990s, it also served as a terminal for Green Minibuses, including early Hong Kong Island lines such as route 14 (discontinued in 1980), route 33 (ended in 1985), and present-day route 36 (relocated in 1995).
In early to mid-2012, cross-harbour routes 930A and 930 were extended or shifted to this terminus—marking the first direct bus connections from Wan Chai Pier to Tsuen Wan. Consequently, route 40M's terminus moved to Tamar Central Government Complex and ceased stopping at Wan Chai Pier.
As part of the Sha Tin to Central Link initiative, the original bus terminus site is earmarked for construction of the Exhibition Centre MTR station. The bus terminus has been relocated northward near Hung Hing Road and Marsh Road on reclaimed land. Upon completion of the station, the former site will be redeveloped into a covered transport interchange featuring nine single bays, two double bays, a taxi stand, plus loading and unloading zones.
Nearby locations
- Golden Bauhinia Square
- Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Central Plaza
- Great Eagle Centre
- Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong
- Wan Chai Sports Ground
- Sun Hung Kai Centre
- Harbour Road Sports Centre
- Fleming Road
- Convention Avenue
- Tonnochy Road
- Victoria Harbour