Wan Chai is one of Hong Kong's earliest settlements and has an interesting heritage, possessing many fine historic buildings from different periods. The district was once the home of high-class residences for rich Europeans and foreign merchants and shipyards were built along the shores of Wan Chai Bay before reclamation eventually saw the transition from small fishing village to modern urban metropolis. During 2007 in order to address increasing public concern over conservation the Old Wan Chai Revitalisation Initiatives Steering Committee was formed to study the cultural heritage of Wan Chai and on 27th September 2009 the Wan Chai Heritage Trail was launched. Wan Chai District Council, The Development Bureau, Urban Renewal Authority, MTR Corp, St James' Settlement and Wan Chai District Office are all partners in the revitalisation project. The Urban Renewal Authority is still negotiating with other building owners in Wan Chai with a view to renovation of other historic properties and the Wan Chai model will be used as the basis for other similar conservation projects in other districts of Hong Kong.
The trail starts at Mallory Street and ends at Wing Fung Street near Admiralty Station and takes in buildings of historical, architectural and cultural interest. Touch-screen computers have been installed at various points along the route to allow visitors to view details and obtain information about the history of the buildings.
TRAIL DESCRIPTIVE LEAFLET AND MAP
A descriptive pamphlet and map detailing the trail is usually available at Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Kowloon Park (closed Thurdays) and at the Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery (closed Tuesdays) at 2 Murray Road, Central. The leaflet can also be downloaded here;
http://www.wcheritage.org.hk/pdf/wan_chai_map_e.pdf
BUILDINGS ALONG THE TRAIL;
GREEN HOUSE (1-11 Mallory Street & 4-22 Burrows Street) – early 20th century cluster of buildings with narrow reinforced concrete balcony. French windows, cast iron pillar and iron balustrade reflect Western influence. Once housed the famous Yau Chai Kee Restaurant and Hong Kong Sinfonietta. In April 2010 a HK$100 million project first announced in 2005 was confirmed plans which will see the Green House turned into an artist's commune. Each of the 20 flats in the buildings will be shared by a different art group to create round-the-clock activity with activities such as pottery, jewellery, glass artwork, dance studios, painting classes and some units on the ground floor are expected to house exhibitions and cafes. The project is expected to be completed in 2012.
HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS CHEST AND HEART DISEASE ASSOCIATION - (266 Queens Road East) - built in "Bauhaus" architectural style in 1950. Former Royal Navy Hospital, now part of Ruttonjee Hospital.
WAN CHAI MARKET (Queens Road East) – rebuilt in 1937 with “Streamline Moderne” architectural style and curved façade influenced by curvilinear shapes of the early 20th century.
BLUE HOUSE (72-74A Stone Nullah Lane) – built early 20th century, the original site of Hua Tuo Temple and Hospital. Surplus blue paint from the government was used during renovation in 1920’s, hence the name “Blue House”. Number 74 now houses the Wan Chai Livelihood Museum, a small museum established by St James’ Settlement to preserve the cultural history of the area (open 11am to 5pm, closed on Wednesdays and public holidays). During September 2010 plans were announced for a revitalisation project for the cluster of buildings of which both the Blue House and Yellow House (see below) are a part. The project which is expected to cost over HK$56 million. In addition there will be a subsidy of over HK$4 million to St James's Settlement who will run the project which will see the buildings renovated, a residential scheme for new and existing tenants, culture and educational programmes, heritage tours, a dessert shop and vegetarian restaurant. Cocklofts will be preserved to display past living conditions. The work is expected to be completed in 2013.
Blue House, a Grade 1 Historic Building on Stone Nullah Lane
YELLOW HOUSE (2-4 Hing Wan Street) – Western style façade with “pediment resembling” moulding above the shop front, iron grilles and arched windows. The Yellow House is to be renovated under the same revitalisation project as the Blue House (see above) with work expected to be completed in 2013.
Yellow House on Hing Wan Street with Western style facade. The narrowness of the street means features such as balconies normally found in shophouses cannot be accommodated
PAK TAI TEMPLE (Stone Nullah Lane) – built 1862 in Chinese courtyard style and renovated 2005. Decorations include Chinese stone and wood carvings. The “Shiwan” pottery roof exhibits Cantonese opera stories.
Pak Tai Temple. The "Shiwan" pottery roof exhibits Cantonese opera stories, typical of "Lingnan" architecture
The temple contains various gods and statues with high aesthetic values and has Chinese stone and wood carvings and elaborate mouldings
CROSS STREET/TAI YUEN STREET OPEN MARKET – typical of street markets personified in films such as “The World of Suzie Wong”. Tai Yuen Street is also famous for its toy shops.
FORMER WAN CHAI POST OFFICE (Queens Road East) – built 1915 and now a resource centre. The letter pigeon holes are still preserved.
Former Wan Chai Post Office
186-190 QUEENS ROAD EAST - Guangzhou Verandah Type Shophouse built 1930’s with reinforced concrete. Tai Shing Goldsmith and Chi Sang Goldsmith operated there until 2005.
186-190 Queens Road East, a "Guangzhou Verandah Type" shophouse
HUNG SHING TEMPLE (Queens Road East) – Built mid-19th century against a boulder protruding inside which is used as a small altar table. “Shiwan” ceramic pottery decorations adorn the roof. Adjacent is Kwun Yin Temple built about 1910.
Hung Shing Temple, with "Shiwan" ceramiv pottery roof decorations
60A-66 JOHNSTON ROAD – Guangzhou Verandah Type Shophouse now known as “The Pawn” and splendidly restored to its original outlook. Built early 20th century with deep verandah in response to the tropical climate. Now houses restaurants.
60A-66 Johnston Road, restored and now "The Pawn" accommodating restaurants
18 SHIP STREET – built early 20th century with Western style decorations and plastered column motifs. The Chinese shop sign is still preserved. Now the “Private Kitchen” Restaurant.
NAM KOU TERRACE (Ship Street) – built 1918 by the tycoon To Chun-man. It has been vacant since his death but was purchased by Hopewell Holdings in the 1970’s for redevelopment. Built in both Chinese and Western architectural styles and also known as the “Red House” owing to the colour of its bricks. Reaching Nam Kou Terrace involves climbing a long steep set of steps.
Nam Kou Terrace
GRESSON STREET OPEN MARKET – established in the 1950’s along a short street selling both wet and dry goods.
Gresson Street Open Market
STAR STREET PRECINCT (INCLUDING 31 WING FUNG STREET) – St Francis Church and a hospital were built in the area in 1845 and the sloping St Francis Yard became a gathering place for catholics. In 1890 Hong Kong’s first power plant was built on the slope above St Francis Lane. 31 Wing Fung Street is an “art deco” style residential building.
"Art Deco" style building at 31 Wing Fung Street at the junction with Star Street
TRAIL WEBSITE
GETTING THERE
The nearest MTR station to the start of the trail at Mallory Street is Wan Chai Station. From Exit A3 follow the tram route east along Johnston Road then follow Wan Chai Road from its junction with Johnston road for a short distance to Mallory Street on the left.
Trams operating along the main route on Hong Kong Island through Wan Chai travel along Johnston Road passing close to both the start and finish points of the trail.
Queens Road East, Johnston Road and Hennessy Road are served by numerous bus routes.
The finish of the trail is close to Exit G of Admiralty MTR Station at Three Pacific Place.