Stanley - named after Lord Stanley, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time of Hong Kong’s cession to Britain in 1841 - is one of the oldest villages on Hong Kong Island. Known in Chinese as “Chek Chue”, the village appeared in Chinese official records as early as in the Ming Dynasty (1573 - 1620). During the Qing Emperor Qianlong’s reign in 1767, Stanley villagers funded the building of the Tin Hau Temple which has since remained as the religious hub of the area, and formed a “Charity and Security Communal Hall” from which the present day Stanley Kaifong Association has evolved.

Since the early 1970s, Stanley has gradually developed into a popular tourist destination. Shops and stalls offering a variety of apparel and accessories have sprung up in Stanley Market, while pubs and restaurants have clustered along the waterfront. In 1998, when reclamation and beautification works were carried out in Stanley, Murray House, one of Hong Kong’s oldest buildings originally located in Central District, was re-constructed in Stanley. In 2007, a new public pier was built at the waterfront outside Murray House. The new pier, named “Blake Pier at Stanley” and featuring the historic cast-iron roof truss removed from the decommissioned Blake Pier in Central District, resonates with nostalgia of a long past era.

Stanley Market is one of the must-go places for tourists when they visit Hong Kong. You will find an interesting array of little shops selling silk garments, sportswear, art, Chinese costume jewellery and souvenirs. While a bit "touristy" if you are a tourist it will certainly help you to cross off all the items on your souvenirs-to-buy-Aunt-Jane shopping list. A hard morning of shopping is also nicely finished off by a good lunch at one of the many restaurants, which are the reason that Hong Kong locals also frequent the area.

With people from all over the world here on a typical weekend, Stanley is a great place to take candids. The place is pet friendly too.