To Kwa Wan (Chinese: 土瓜灣/土瓜湾, Pinyin: Tuguawan) is a bay and an area of the eastern shore of Kowloon peninsula of Hong Kong. The area is part of urban Hong Kong, and is adjacent to Hok Yuen, Hung Hom, Ma Tau Wai and Ma Tau Kok. Administratively, the area belongs to the Kowloon City District of Kowloon.
Tokwawan is a mixed residential and commercial area and located to the west of the old Kai Tak Airport.
Most residential dwellings in the area are mid-rise (10 or less floors) flats built in the mid-20 Century. Newer buildings being built in or around To Kwa Wan are more than 10 stories. Those flats built along major roads like Ma Tau Wai Road have commercial space on the ground floor.
Buildings along To Kwa Wan Road are mainly occupied by industry. Town Gas has storage facility in north part of To Kwa Wan.
In the 1970s public housing estates were built in the area to provide relief in other crowded areas of Kowloon.
Ageing and poor building standards have been highlighted by crumbling facades that have hurt and killed people in the area. The demolition of older flats have given means for developers to acquire land in Tokwawan to build newer and more profitable residential flats.,[1][2]
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With high density residential and commercial zoning there are a few green spaces in To Kwa Wan:
Hoi Sham Island off the bay is one of the many attractions in Hong Kong. The island is incorporated in the peninsula due to extensive reclamation.
There only a few main roads in the area, all other roads are local side streets servicing local residents. To Kwa Wan Road and Ma Tau Wai Road form a v-shaped corridor, while East Kowloon Corridor is an elevated highway passing through the middle of To Kwa Wan.
Kowloon City Pier Bus Terminus to the north services some local bus routes.
When the Sha Tin to Central Link is built, To Kwa Wan Station will serve the area. However this line will result in expopriation and demolition of many residential flats.