Latest from Christopher DeWolf
Before the 1980s, people from across Kowloon flocked to Tsuen Wan’s seven beaches for their spectacular views before worsening water quality forced visitors to find cleaner spots. Now the beaches are returning to their former glory.
Before the 1980s, people from across Kowloon flocked to Tsuen Wan’s seven beaches for their spectacular views before worsening water quality forced visitors to find cleaner spots. Now the beaches are returning to their former glory.
One of Kowloon’s ‘green lungs’, King’s Park is a mix of sports pitches, private clubs, and bits of public park; its tenants include the People’s Liberation Army. Not so long ago it was a place where children grew up and ran wild.
One of Kowloon’s ‘green lungs’, King’s Park is a mix of sports pitches, private clubs, and bits of public park; its tenants include the People’s Liberation Army. Not so long ago it was a place where children grew up and ran wild.
The King George V Memorial Parks in Jordan and Sai Ying Pun provide a welcome splash of greenery in two dense urban areas that have too few of them; with historic walls and buildings, they offer an oasis of calm and are worth a detour to visit.
The King George V Memorial Parks in Jordan and Sai Ying Pun provide a welcome splash of greenery in two dense urban areas that have too few of them; with historic walls and buildings, they offer an oasis of calm and are worth a detour to visit.
Hotels such as St. Regis and Eaton HK are rethinking the concept of common areas, with a nod to Hong Kong’s past and a firm eye on the future. Specialist coffee shops, co-working spaces, artist studios and galleries have replaced typical glossy lobby areas.
Hotels such as St. Regis and Eaton HK are rethinking the concept of common areas, with a nod to Hong Kong’s past and a firm eye on the future. Specialist coffee shops, co-working spaces, artist studios and galleries have replaced typical glossy lobby areas.
First developed by Eurasian businessman Sir Robert Hotung, Tai Kok Tsui in Kowloon has been changed repeatedly by reclamation and redevelopment; its latest incarnation is as a nightlife destination, but it’s retained a village feel.
First developed by Eurasian businessman Sir Robert Hotung, Tai Kok Tsui in Kowloon has been changed repeatedly by reclamation and redevelopment; its latest incarnation is as a nightlife destination, but it’s retained a village feel.
Going north from Jordan Road through the lively neighbourhoods of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, this is the unglamorous part of glitzy Canton Road. But what it lacks in sophistication it more than makes up for in character.
Going north from Jordan Road through the lively neighbourhoods of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, this is the unglamorous part of glitzy Canton Road. But what it lacks in sophistication it more than makes up for in character.
Miniwiz’s portable, solar-powered reprocessing machines take consumer waste and turns it into construction tiles; it is one of a number of the firm’s showcase projects that highlight what recovered waste materials can really do.
Miniwiz’s portable, solar-powered reprocessing machines take consumer waste and turns it into construction tiles; it is one of a number of the firm’s showcase projects that highlight what recovered waste materials can really do.
The narrow streets of Taipa Village, a historical enclave of Portuguese colonial architecture, have seen a new generation of cafes, restaurants and cultural spaces open, infusing the old settlement with fresh energy.
The narrow streets of Taipa Village, a historical enclave of Portuguese colonial architecture, have seen a new generation of cafes, restaurants and cultural spaces open, infusing the old settlement with fresh energy.
The city’s top eateries have increasingly sophisticated and rare wine lists, and are offering oenophiles bold new food pairings
The city’s top eateries have increasingly sophisticated and rare wine lists, and are offering oenophiles bold new food pairings
From refurbished Salisbury Garden to West Kowloon to the revamped Avenue of Stars, new life is being breathed into Hong Kong’s harbourfront, mixing with the buskers, fishermen and takeaway stalls that have been around for years.
From refurbished Salisbury Garden to West Kowloon to the revamped Avenue of Stars, new life is being breathed into Hong Kong’s harbourfront, mixing with the buskers, fishermen and takeaway stalls that have been around for years.
The park in Tsim Sha Tsui sits on the site of a military barracks, and the green space hides a past that included atrocities under Japanese occupation; an underrated destination, it has a range of amentiies and some majestic trees.
The park in Tsim Sha Tsui sits on the site of a military barracks, and the green space hides a past that included atrocities under Japanese occupation; an underrated destination, it has a range of amentiies and some majestic trees.
Built on reclaimed land at the turn of the 20th century, Statue Square met the need for a public place in which to bask in the glory of empire; long a magnet for political rallies, today the square is a gathering place for domestic helpers.
Built on reclaimed land at the turn of the 20th century, Statue Square met the need for a public place in which to bask in the glory of empire; long a magnet for political rallies, today the square is a gathering place for domestic helpers.
Densely packed high-rises are the most space-efficient way to house people, but they have also been accused of creating anonymous, atomised cities. Some architects are trying to change this
Densely packed high-rises are the most space-efficient way to house people, but they have also been accused of creating anonymous, atomised cities. Some architects are trying to change this
A stone’s throw from the densely populated centre of urban Kowloon, leafy, low-rise Kadoorie Hill looks like a place from another world – and that’s just how the wealthy family that owns the neighbourhood wants to keep it.
A stone’s throw from the densely populated centre of urban Kowloon, leafy, low-rise Kadoorie Hill looks like a place from another world – and that’s just how the wealthy family that owns the neighbourhood wants to keep it.
Whether it’s beer, wine or bubbly, eggnog, a Flying Hong Kong or a Vet’s Antidote, bars are concocting exotic drinks old and new to go down a seasonal treat
Whether it’s beer, wine or bubbly, eggnog, a Flying Hong Kong or a Vet’s Antidote, bars are concocting exotic drinks old and new to go down a seasonal treat
Taking its branding from the image of performers such as Al Jolson, Darkie was launched in the 1930s, a time when racial discrimination was rife. The name was changed to Darlie in 1989 to reflect public opinion in the West.
Taking its branding from the image of performers such as Al Jolson, Darkie was launched in the 1930s, a time when racial discrimination was rife. The name was changed to Darlie in 1989 to reflect public opinion in the West.
Business of Design Week in Hong Kong devotes a day to discussion of culture-led design projects around the world, such as city’s Tai Kwun arts centre in former police station’s heritage buildings, with speakers including Ron Arad, Charles Renfro and Elaine Ng
Business of Design Week in Hong Kong devotes a day to discussion of culture-led design projects around the world, such as city’s Tai Kwun arts centre in former police station’s heritage buildings, with speakers including Ron Arad, Charles Renfro and Elaine Ng
Notoriously overdeveloped and at times jammed with traffic, middle-class Mid-Levels, midway between The Peak and busy Central and Wan Chai, is rich in history and hidden gems – it may just be the city’s quintessential neighbourhood.
Notoriously overdeveloped and at times jammed with traffic, middle-class Mid-Levels, midway between The Peak and busy Central and Wan Chai, is rich in history and hidden gems – it may just be the city’s quintessential neighbourhood.
Hong Kong’s original garden city, Kowloon Tong started out as a middle-class Eurasian enclave surrounded by shanty towns.
Hong Kong’s original garden city, Kowloon Tong started out as a middle-class Eurasian enclave surrounded by shanty towns.
It lacks the obvious appeal of some other cities, but beneath the surface is a place that’s constantly being reshaped by immigration, with all the cultural and culinary riches that brings, and where nature is ever-present.
It lacks the obvious appeal of some other cities, but beneath the surface is a place that’s constantly being reshaped by immigration, with all the cultural and culinary riches that brings, and where nature is ever-present.
Free of its winter shackles, Montreal becomes an almost tropical city where life is lived outdoors and empty spaces turn into pop-up cafes, bars, cabarets and even beaches. We take a look at some of the most popular.
Free of its winter shackles, Montreal becomes an almost tropical city where life is lived outdoors and empty spaces turn into pop-up cafes, bars, cabarets and even beaches. We take a look at some of the most popular.
Known today as a relaxing getaway, compact island was a pirates’ haven and, until the 1930s, polyglot fishing community, when factories making matches and unique hand-painted ceramics drew thousands of newcomers to island
Known today as a relaxing getaway, compact island was a pirates’ haven and, until the 1930s, polyglot fishing community, when factories making matches and unique hand-painted ceramics drew thousands of newcomers to island
Whisky mooncakes, a whisky advent calendar and a 15-year-old Bowmore bottled exclusively for Hong Kong make for ‘interesting times’
Whisky mooncakes, a whisky advent calendar and a 15-year-old Bowmore bottled exclusively for Hong Kong make for ‘interesting times’
Gianluca Cinquepalmi, founder design studio 1.618 – who is also a professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Hong Kong – talks about the building blocks of good design and his first book in the Timeless series
Gianluca Cinquepalmi, founder design studio 1.618 – who is also a professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Hong Kong – talks about the building blocks of good design and his first book in the Timeless series
Hong Kong’s contribution to the annual exhibition brings together 111 skyscraper models and artist impressions by 94 architects, with each exploring different ways of making high-rise living more comfortable, environmental and social
Hong Kong’s contribution to the annual exhibition brings together 111 skyscraper models and artist impressions by 94 architects, with each exploring different ways of making high-rise living more comfortable, environmental and social
For 60 years Yau Ma Tei was the epicentre of film-going in Hong Kong, with different cinemas for local, patriotic and Hollywood films; it wasn’t always a civilised affair, with parents glued to the screen letting children pee on the floor
For 60 years Yau Ma Tei was the epicentre of film-going in Hong Kong, with different cinemas for local, patriotic and Hollywood films; it wasn’t always a civilised affair, with parents glued to the screen letting children pee on the floor
Designer and former art director Louie Shum on conceiving The Playhouse, a 6,000 sq ft industrial style loft home in Tin Wan, and 200 sq ft flats in a condominium tower in Central
Designer and former art director Louie Shum on conceiving The Playhouse, a 6,000 sq ft industrial style loft home in Tin Wan, and 200 sq ft flats in a condominium tower in Central
A co-living project in Kowloon offering stylish rooms and common areas is the latest shared space targeting graduates and young professionals whose hopes of ever buying a flat in the city have been dashed by soaring real estate prices
A co-living project in Kowloon offering stylish rooms and common areas is the latest shared space targeting graduates and young professionals whose hopes of ever buying a flat in the city have been dashed by soaring real estate prices
A restaurant on Temple Street is your best introduction to the 10,000-strong Nepalese community in Yau Ma Tei, where Gurkhas once stationed at British barracks nearby settled with their families after 1997, and drew more incomers
A restaurant on Temple Street is your best introduction to the 10,000-strong Nepalese community in Yau Ma Tei, where Gurkhas once stationed at British barracks nearby settled with their families after 1997, and drew more incomers
Yau Ma Tei is one of Hong Kong's oldest and most diverse neighbourhoods. In the second instalment of our miniseries exploring facets of its history, we recall the colourful past of Gwo Laan, the city’s wholesale fruit market
Yau Ma Tei is one of Hong Kong's oldest and most diverse neighbourhoods. In the second instalment of our miniseries exploring facets of its history, we recall the colourful past of Gwo Laan, the city’s wholesale fruit market