from Retro Hong Kong
1950s: Hard Times
The 50s were a time of hardship. The city was recovering from the Japanese occupation during World War II, and the civil war in China caused a huge influx of refugees to the city. But it was these immigrants who gave Hong Kong the potential to bloom into a metropolitan city. Capitalists brought money with them and started businesses in Hong Kong, and with the growing population, there was an abundant source of cheap labor. With the government’s plan to develop Hong Kong into an industrial center taking off, people were more prosperous and started to look for more entertainment. That’s when Shaw Brother’s Studio was set up, producing the first martial art movies. The sword-fighting scenes (known as wee-wung-wung for its sound effect) deeply influenced the kung fu movies that came along in the 60s, such as “Rulaishenjiang”.
Experience the 50s at:
Lin Heung Tea House
If you think you’ve had an authentic yum cha experience and you’ve never been to Lin Heung, you’d better get a table there now. Located at the corner of Wellington and Aberdeen Streets in Central, this is arguably the oldest existing establishment that still insists on doing it the right way (complete with the occasional elbowing). Ancient waiters who look as though they’ve been there as long as the restaurant fill up your old fashioned kung fu teapot while you stroll around the carts, choosing your own dim sum. Keeping with the 1950s style, Lin Heung is as authentic as it gets when it comes to old-school glamour.
160-164 Wellington St., Central, 2544-4556.
Cart Noodles
There are now more than 10,000 restaurants in Hong Kong, but back in the 50s, ordinary people simply couldn’t afford to eat out.To feed the many Chinese immigrants, hawkers started to cook noodles on their carts, together with a few ingredients. Today, cart noodles are still an everyday workhorse dish—a staple of Hong Kong cuisine and a testimony of our history. Try the best cart noodles at Wing Nin Store.