Johnston Road

Johnston Road (traditional Chinese: 莊士敦道; simplified Chinese: 庄士敦道; pinyin: Zhuāngshìdūn Dào; Cantonese Yale: jong1 si6 deun1 dou6) is a major road in Wan Chai on the Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong.

Johnston Road spans from the junction with Heard Street, Hennessy Road and Stewart Road are at its east towards another junction with Hennessy Road and Queensway at its west near Asian House. It is shaped like a bow with the string being Hennessy Road and the Caltex gas station, Southorn Playground and Methodist House in between.

The road was named after Alexander Robert Johnston, the British Deputy Superintendent of Trade during the First Opium War. He was the government administrator even before Sir Henry Pottinger was appointed the first Hong Kong governor in 1842. The story that the street was named after Sir Reginald Johnston was actually a myth.

The road is built on the margin of the oldest building cluster in Wan Chai. Many Hong Kong residents are trying to preserve the old buildings and trees from redevelopment. The century old transport Hong Kong Tramways goes through the road with its first service opening in 1904.

Although the road was named in 1920s, part of the road can be traced back to 1851 or earlier when the area was known as Praya East. The section from Spring Garden Lane to Wan Chai Road was known as "Strand Road", for its proximity to the coast.

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Wikipedia