Gresson Street is a short, steep climb that connects the bustle of Johnston Road to the quieter slopes above. It is named for William John Gresson, a nineteenth century merchant who served as the chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber…
Wan Chai Street Markets
This walk takes you through the bustling street markets and historic tenement architecture of Wan Chai, tracing the neighborhood's evolution from a working-class colonial waterfront to a dense, energetic urban community.
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1. Gresson Street
2. Lee Tung Street
Lee Tung Street carries a canopy of red lanterns above a wide, paved pedestrian walkway. For decades, this address housed dozens of small businesses focused on printing traditional Chinese wedding invitations. Families traveled across the…
3. Tai Yuen Street
Tai Yuen Street holds a distinct profile in Wan Chai, characterized by the dense clusters of plastic toys, household sundries, and colorful trinkets spilling out onto the pavement from stalls that line both sides of the narrow road. Once a…
4. Wan Chai Market
The Wan Chai Market building features an unmistakable curved facade of Bauhaus-style concrete, painted a bright, distinctive cream. Designed by the Public Works Department in nineteen thirty-seven, it served as the neighborhood hub for…
5. Blue House
The Blue House at Stone Nullah Lane stands out for its vibrant cobalt facade and traditional wooden balconies. Built in the nineteen twenties, this four-story tenement house originally served as a hospital for martial arts practitioners…
6. Wan Chai Pak Tai Temple
The Pak Tai Temple in Wan Chai is marked by a wide, granite staircase leading up to an ornate, three-hall structure with sweeping ceramic-tiled roofs. Built in eighteen sixty-three, it was funded by local residents to house a bronze statue…