Photo of the day No. 47 - The Hotel Merlin in Hong Kong
Our introduction to Hong Kong in January 1972
Me Jamie, your host, I am English and I have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years - I know the place.
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Photo of the day No. 47 - The Hotel Merlin in Hong Kong
Our introduction to Hong Kong in January 1972
The Hotel Merlin, TST, Kowloon Hong Kong in the early 1970’s
click on the image to enlarge
Those where the days, when we arrived on January 2nd 1972 we were put up in the Hotel Merlin, ir was actually very famous for its location, it was literally 20 yards away from the back of the Peninsula Hotel and 40 yards away from the YMCA Salisbury Hotel which is next door to the Peninsula Hotel.
Talk about a perfect location, even when I was 11 years old I was the explorer and in the many weeks we stayed in the Hotel (whilst accommodation and schooling was arranged) and I would head for Nathan Road which was 100 yards away from the Hotel and basically walk its entire length and in those days the neon sights which dominated the area where just magical
The Kowloon Hotel, TST, Kowloon Hong Kong in 2025, the hotel is shown in the image above, the Kowloon Hotel replaced the Hotel Merlin
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To be honest the corner (see current image above) has not changed much since 1972, there are one or two shops which still exist from that era but all the neon signs have basically gone.
I am also a little bit sad because i have never like the Kowloon Hotel, the rooms are very small and very expensive but you cannot beat the location or its proximity to the Peninsula Hotel and Nathan Road
The World according to Grok
I am warming up to Grok AI - if you ask the right question is collates information in a very professional and seamless manner Case in point - the history and demise of the Hotel Merlin, TST, Kowloon in Hong Kong.
I find it fascinating that the world beating Grok AI bot cannot list what happened next when the Hotel Merlin was demolished!
Well quite simply another Hotel called the Kowloon Hotel was built in it’s place and the Hotel is still operating decades later and I was in there last week, still as crowded as ever!
The history of the Hotel Merlin in TST Kowloon in Hong Kong
The Hotel Merlin in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), Kowloon, Hong Kong, was a notable establishment during its brief operational period from 1962 to 1982. Below is a concise history based on available information:
Opening and Location:
The Hotel Merlin opened in 1962 with 180 rooms, as noted in a 1962 guide on commerce and industry in Hong Kong. It was strategically located at the corner of Nathan Road, close to the old Kowloon Train Station, making it a convenient spot for travelers. Its proximity to the station allowed guests to easily access transportation, including trains to Lowu and onward to Canton (Guangzhou).
Early Years and Features:
In its early years, the hotel was described as a "fine hotel" offering amenities like rickshaw services for shopping tours in Kowloon, reflecting the local culture and tourist-friendly environment of TST. In 1963, it served as a temporary production office for filmmaker Richard Brooks during the filming of Lord Jim, indicating its cultural significance beyond just lodging.
Closure and Redevelopment:
The Hotel Merlin operated for two decades until 1982. Specific reasons for its closure are not detailed in available sources, but its location on prime real estate in TST, a bustling commercial and tourist hub, suggests it may have been redeveloped to meet the area’s growing demand for modern infrastructure. No records indicate its exact fate, but many buildings in TST from that era were demolished or repurposed for larger hotels, shopping centers, or commercial complexes, as seen with other sites like the Kowloon Train Station, which was partially demolished except for its Clock Tower.
Context in TST:
Tsim Sha Tsui was, and remains, a vibrant district known for its high concentration of hotels, such as The Peninsula (opened 1928) and others like the Kowloon Shangri-La and Hyatt Regency. The Hotel Merlin was part of this competitive hospitality landscape, catering to tourists and business travelers in a rapidly developing Kowloon. Its relatively modest size (180 rooms) compared to larger hotels like the Hongkong Hilton (1,000 rooms, opened 1963) suggests it served a mid-range market
It is also quite interesting that the other Hotel mentioned from that era was the Hong Kong Hilton, I spent many hours in that Hotel, I just loved it and it was very kid friendly and as I turned into an adult me and my friends used to hang out in the coffee shop and yes the Hilton Hotel was demolished in the 1990’s to be replaced by a quite iconic building called Cheung Kong Centre,
,,, the Hotel Merlin had a short life span, the Peninsula Hotel will celebrate 100 years in business in 2028 and I am looking forward to that!
I always remember the Hotel Merlin arranging coach tours for us, that was also really something and remarkably there are coach tour companies in Hong Kong that basically still offer the same itinerary!
The Hotel Merlin in the late 1960’s | Image courtesy of H Wong on Flickr
click on the image to enlarge
click on the image to enlarge
My insider tip
Please note that in general if you book a tour on Viator or Tripadvisor you generally have NO control over what guide will lead your Private Tour of Hong Kong and this is the most important component of the tour. I urge you to check the actual company website and book via their website and do not forget to read Tripadvisor reviews as well.
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