Guide to Hong Kong: Old Meets New
A series of stories, recommendations and tips on Hong Kong from people in the know. Explore our city based on the travel experiences that interest you and get itineraries for off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods..
While Hong Kong has no shortage of big, glitzy high-rises, remnants of the old city remain apparent in its many historical buildings—in its old-meets-new character. You can discover streets where new businesses exist alongside old and where run-down tenements have been revitalized into modern urban projects. While some have been repurposed as museums, others are now restaurants, theaters and shops.
Take a Walk
Thanks to efforts to preserve these beautiful older buildings via adaptive reuse, you can easily explore these fascinating sites. Take Wan Chai’s Blue House: this rare example of a wooden tenement building, known in Cantonese as a tong lau, dates back to the 1920s and is classed as a Grade 1 Historical Building. Or nearby Tai Lung Fung, a stylish bar decorated in a classic “nostalgic Hong Kong style”—a perfect place for happy hour after a day of shopping.
Hong Kong’s Hollywood
Another “old-meets-new” hub is the well-trodden Hollywood Road. Home to antique shops and art galleries, the area is becoming increasingly gentrified. Start in Sheung Wan and walk to Central along this road and you’ll find kitschy souvenirs on sale alongside designer clothes, and traditional tea parlors standing beside European-style cafes and restaurants.
Preserving and Protecting
Within such a compact and varied city, there are myriad examples of how Hong Kong’s historic tapestry is etched onto its architectural façade. Dig a little deeper—take a tour, push open those ancient doors —and you’ll uncover how this cultural heritage is being preserved, but also how it’s being renovated and adapted for the city’s future generations.
For more insider info on Hong Kong, head to www.DiscoverHongKong.com/InsidersGuide