Joanna James
A futuristic country, with an array of skyscrapers in the city, Hong Kong is also blessed with a rich culture and history which had helped shape the nation’s progress. It is pertinent as visitors to take a glimpse into the history of Hong Kong as they enjoy the present highly developed country.
Visit this charming market between Kansu and Battery Street in Yau Ma Tei. With rows of stalls doing retail business in Jade pendants, bangles, rings, bracelets, and other trinkets enticing visitors from Wan Chai Hotels who find the gleaming pieces hard to resist. A visit to this market is not a usual market exploration, it can also be a journey to get a feel of old Hong Kong when trading in Jade was a lucrative business. The Letter Lane at the end of the market bears testimony to tax declarations and letter writing that took place in the olden days.
The Blue Building cluster known as the Blue House can be spotted if you walk down Stone Nullah Lane. Of the Lingnan-style shophouses, this Blue House cluster was retained without being demolished for historical reasons. Whilst the cluster contains restaurants, residential flats and even a community centre, there is also a dedicated space for maintaining, recording, and exhibiting Hong Kong stories of Tong Lau architecture used in the country during the 19th century. A fine example of the tenement architecture used in Hong Kong decades ago.
The Walled City of Kowloon rose to fame as the most densely populated place on earth in the 1980s and is remembered as the city of Darkness. It was decided that the Walled City had to go before handing back Hong Kong to the Chinese Administration. The demolition of Kowloon commenced in March 1993 and took a year to complete. The small Walled City Park of Kowloon was built on the site and has a few remnants still which are explored by visitors from Hong Kong Hotels Wan Chai.
One of Hong Kong’s oldest businesses, pawn shops had been in existence for nearly 200 years. It is easy to recognize them from other shops from the neon sign with a red body and green border resembling an upside-down bat holding a coin. In a rapidly evolving city, this has been a constant neon sign depicting that the profession is still alive and is visible in most of the 18 districts in Hong Kong.
This is a serene trail lined with wooden pillars, 38 of them etched with prayers from Prajna Paramita Sutta or Heart Sutra. Located on a sloping path at the foot of Lantau Peak on Lantau Island. This idea of having prayers on pillars in order to make calligraphy as an outdoor large-scale carving was the brainchild of Professor Jao Tsung-I, a scholar in academic research and art who made the first donation of calligraphy to create the path. This path is a must-see not only for its historical value but also for the tranquil atmosphere it offers.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
