Vignettes of the World
I Have a Date with Spring
At the fringe of the old district of To Kwa Wan, there is an ensemble of red brick buildings, exuding and atypical colonial nostalgia in this part of eastern Kowloon. Known as the Cattle Depot of To Kwa Wan, this site was, for as long …
Stanley is a familiar place to all in Hong Kong. Located by the southeastern waters of Hong Kong, Stanley was the first site of settlement for the British colonial administers. It is named after the British Colonial Secretary, Lord (Edward Henry) Stanley. Stanley was the …
The Christ the King Chapel was a pleasant surprise. Tucked away in the quieter space between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau, the chapel comes with beautiful neoclassical architecture and a generous garden space. A short walk here from the thoroughfare of Causeway Bay offers a …
The Fire Dragon of Tai Hang is an event of immense significance not only for the local community of Tai Hang, but also for Hong Kong. It has been included in the third list of national intangible heritage in China since 2011. The Fire Dragon …
The Old Wan Chai Post Office is the oldest surviving post office in Hong Kong. Built circa 1913, the Old Wan Chai Post Office served its original purpose since 1915 for 77 years, until 1992. Thereafter, it served as the resource center for the Environmental …
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority Information Centre Exhibition really is a lesser-known thing in Hong Kong. It has been there since 2003 and I had never known about it. I went for a look a couple days ago and enjoyed myself thoroughly. The Hong Kong …
Located right next to the Bethanie in Pok Fu Lam, the Old Dairy Farm of Pok Fu Lam is a wonderful lesser-known heritage that tells plenty about the history of Hong Kong’s milk production. Along with the Former Cowsheds, which is now within the administration of …
The Luen Wo Market was once the lifeline for the people of Fanling. As a key marketplace, it served as the venue where the community interacted in their daily affairs. It was once a critical market for trade in produce and livestock in the New …
In the last entry I discussed the Hong Kong Red Swastika Building. Lying not far away from the Hong Kong Red Swastika Building is the Tin Hau Temple of Causeway Bay. That was one stone, two birds for me. The History of the Tin Hau …
Oh, the Swastika! Surely that it is a symbol of horror, but in China it stands only for a charitable purpose. For a very long time, I thought the Red Swastika symbol for the Chinese religious and charitable organization was a flipped version of the …