When was the last time you slowed down to truly listen, look, and savour the many facets of this urban jungle?
Take the time to immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant culture - you will realize how much of a gem our hometown is.
When was the last time you slowed down to truly listen, look, and savour the many facets of this urban jungle?
Take the time to immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant culture - you will realize how much of a gem our hometown is.
Magnify your senses and be inspired by the pulse of this city.
Sound
“When you get the chance to hop on a tram, put down your phone and listen to the sounds of the ‘Ding-Ding’.”
Taste
“What I remember most is not the taste of those cups of milk tea. It is the sense of human connection fostered in these cha chaan tengs.”
Aroma
“Us city dwellers should take some down time occasionally. Slow down and discover the scents of this urban jungle, which may conjure up some pleasant memories for you.”
Sight
“Less and less traditional neon signs remain in Hong Kong. As you walk down the street, look up. If you spot a beautiful neon sign, take a picture of it as a memento.”
Less and less traditional neon signs remain in Hong Kong. As you walk down the street, look up. If you spot a beautiful neon sign, take a picture of it as a memento.
Less and less traditional neon signs remain in Hong Kong. As you walk down the street, look up. If you spot a beautiful neon sign, take a picture of it as a memento.
Suspended over traffic, multi-coloured neon signs were once a luminous symbol of the city.
Around 7:30 every night, nearly all neon signs on the streets would have lightened up. Master Wu Chi-kai, one of the last neon sign craftsmen in Hong Kong, has been a veteran in this industry for 36 years. As a witness of the drastic changes this city has undergone, Master Wu’s passion for neon sign making has never faded, even though the lights of neon signs are becoming dimmer and dimmer. “Neon signs are purely handmade.You can say that it is a process of turning something lifeless into something so full of life with your bare hands, radiating with light.”
As more and more neon signs have been taken down, Master Wu continues the craft by collaborating with young artists and designers, creating small-scale neon lights that can be placed indoors as décor or art pieces. By defying change and passing down the craftsmanship, he wishes to cast a new light on this extraordinary craft.
Us city dwellers should take some down time occasionally. Slow down and discover the scents of this urban jungle, which may conjure up some pleasant memories for you.
Hustling and grinding every day, Hong Kong people deserve to take a breather mid-day, at times like 3:30 in the afternoon. Jonathan, co-founder of local aromatherapy brand, wishes to help city dwellers regain inner balance through scents, and local streets are exactly where he gets his inspiration from. "Hong Kong is a city rich in aromas.Dried seafood stores, laundromats, coffee shops......the same street can be filled with 2 to 3 scents."
Among these unique scents, Jonathan believes that the aroma of fresh magnolia is an indispensible part of Hong Kong's collective memory. "I used to buy fresh magnolia from the old ladies, not only for the scent, but also as a gesture of compassion." He and his wife then formulated a collection of magnolia aromatherapy products, hoping to create more soothing moments for the people of this city.
What I remember most is not the taste of those cups of milk tea. It is the sense of human connection fostered in these cha chaan tengs.
What I remember most is not the taste of those cups of milk tea. It is the sense of human connection fostered in these cha chaan tengs.
Macaroni soup with ham plus a cup of steaming hot milk tea. It is safe to say that this is the comfort food combo for a lot of locals.
11 o’clock in the morning is right between the breakfast period and lunch period – a perfect time for the Tsui Brothers to walk into a cha chaan teng and savour a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea. With an abiding passion for local food culture, Haze and Long established Milktealogy eight years ago, a research project that aims to promote cha chaan teng culture through comic and animation. “If you don’t step into a community, you wouldn’t learn about its uniqueness. By talking to the tea makers or the diners, we manage to piece together their unique stories.”
As time went by, they found out that cha chaan teng culture does not have one single origin – it is a fruition of cultural convergence. Haze believes that these unique flavours deserve to be appreciated by people worldwide, as they are a representation of our identity as Hong Kong people and the landscape of this city. "As part of this city, every one of us should value our culture more,” said Haze.
When you get the chance to hop on a tram, put down your phone and listen to the sounds of the ‘Ding-Ding’.
“‘Ding-Ding’ adds to the soundtrack of the city. ‘Ding-Ding’ isn’t the only sound the tram makes,” says Luk Man Wai (Wai), a tram motorman who has served Hong Kong Tramways for 17 years. “There is also the squeal of the rail and the clink of the tin money box.”
For over a century, the chime of the ‘Ding-Ding’ sound has been an iconic ambient melody heard across Hong Kong Island. Amongst the passengers are residents who commute by tram daily, and tourists from around the world who want to capture the beauty of this unique mode of transport. Wai said, "The tram has become a very special sight in Hong Kong."
Having witnessed the evolution of this small island over the years, Wai believes that many Hong Kong citizens will feel wistful if the Hong Kong Tram no longer runs someday.
