Johnston Road

Johnston Road is a major road in Wan Chai on the Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong.

Location
Johnston Road spans from the junction with Heard Street, Hennessy Road and Stewart Road on its east, towards another junction with Hennessy Road and Queensway on its west near Asian House, in where it is known locally as Tai Fat Hau. It is shaped like a bow with the string being Hennessy Road and the Caltex petrol station, where the Wallace Harper & Co Ltd was located, the Southorn Playground and the Methodist House in between.

History
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 waterfront.

In popular culture
This road and its junction with Wan Chai Road was a Pit Stop in the eleventh leg of the reality TV show The Amazing Race 30.

Transport
The faster transport MTR is located near the road with some exits of Wan Chai station nearby.