Conservation on the Star Ferry

Star Ferry is a landmark in Hong Kong and we have deeply memory on it. We all know that the pier is disappeared from the original place because of the government decision and future development. therefore, this issue make us more emphasize on the conservation and heritage protection. You can enjoy the video that we suggest to you.

   







Reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJyKS6lbXts&feature=related

by Peral

SPD3159: Heritage Hong Kong: Food - Dim Sum

                

              

              

Dim Sum - Dim Sum - Dim Sum

Have you  taste the Dim Sum? Do you know the background of Dim Sum? No problem, let us share with you about the special food - Dim Sum.

The unique culinary art of Dim Sum originated with the Cantonese in southern China, who over the centuries transformed Yum Cha from a relaxing respite to a loud and happy dining experience. In Hong Kong, and in most cities and towns in Guangdong province, many restaurants start serving dim sum as early as five in the morning. It is a tradition for the elderly to gather to eat dim sum after morning exercises, often enjoying the morning newspapers. For many in southern China, yum cha is treated as a weekend family day. Consistent with this tradition, dim sum restaurants typically only serve dim sum until mid-afternoon and serve other kinds of Cantonese cuisine in the evening. Nowadays, various dim sum items are even sold as take-out for students and office workers on the go.

While dim sum (touch the heart) was originally not a main meal, only a snack, and therefore only meant to touch the heart, it is now a staple of Chinese dining culture, especially in Hong Kong. Health officials have recently criticized the high amount of saturated fat and sodium in some dim sum dishes, warning that steamed dim sum should not automatically be assumed to be healthy. Health officials recommend balancing fatty dishes with boiled vegetables, minus sauce.

Therefore, when you taste it once then you will love it forever because it is a special food for you to taste with your family and friends.

by Iris

SPD3159: Heritage Hong Kong: Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Here! I would like to share the Hong Kong museum to all of you which is Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin New Town. It located in a wooded setting away from the New Town's high-rise housing complexes, the museum's architecture is patterned after the traditional Si He Yuan style, a compound of harmoniously-blended houses built around a courtyard.

Do you know the information of the museum? Let me tell you. It opened in December 2000, the museum covers 32,000 square metres and is divided into 12 exhibition galleries, each a treasure house of relics of the history, culture and arts of early Hong Kong and the nearby South China region.

Thus, it is a valuable place for you to understand the culture in Hong Kong which has various special features including a collection of Chinese paintings by the acclaimed artist Zhao Shao'an, and an exhibition tracing the development of Cantonese opera and etc.

by Iris

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong: Lam Tsuen - Wishing Tree (林村許願樹)

Outside the Tin Hau Temple in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, New Territories, there was a Banyan tree which the local peoples named " Wishing Tree". You may find some colourful clothes and plastic bags hanging on the branches. Actually they carry the wishes and prayers of the worshippers.

Tree worshipping is popular throughout China. It is evidenced by the reluctance of the people to cut down trees in the neighbourhood of temples and graves. Also, shrine to some local god is often placed at the roots or in the fork of a tree remarkable for its size and beauty. It is believed that the soul of god resides in the tree, which is therefore held to be sacred, and if anyone digs it up or cuts it down, they are liable to die !

For the tree at Lam Tsuen, people have special way to entreat. They will try to throw some small pieces of red or yellow clothes (sometimes bags of ingots or paper offerings), up to the tree. If these clothes or plastic bags remain hanging on the branches, their wishes will come true.

To cater for both nature conservation and traditional wish-making practice, Tai Po District Office installed Chinese-style wooden racks next to the Wishing Trees to encourage visitors tying wish-making papers onto the wooden racks.

The wishing tree, now is prohibited to throw any clothes up to the tree since 2003.

Wooden racks

by Wendy

SPD3159: Heritage Hong Kong: Disappeared MTR stations

There are three stations was built but never in use.

The first station is Lam Si station(林士站). In the old time, people saw a female ghost in white cloth jumped into the trail repeatedly. At the same time, there was a worker dead when building this station. Thus, the construction of this station is stopped.

The 2nd station is Whitty station (屈地站). This station is near the mental hospital. Lots of strange incidents were happened.

The 3rd station is Sai Ying Pun Station(西營盤). This station is near the High street haunted house. When constructing this station, numerous accidents were happened.
At present, as the enlargement of MTR, these three station are going to open again.

By Reed.

http://tv.on.cc/index.html?s=5&ss=26&i=OSU101110-11859-701M&d=1289886229

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong: Clay-pot Puddings 砵仔糕

Clay-pot Puddings (砵仔糕) is a snack which originates from Hong Kong. The pudding cake is palm size and taste sweet . It is soft, but it can hold its molded shape outside of a small bowl. The cake is made from different forms of steamed sugar and select ingredients.


I like red bean pudding, becasue my mother alsways bought for me when i was young. let me talk about the ingredient more detail of Clay-pot Puddings.


 The previous bowl cake usually made with brown sugar, but now some in yellow sugar, white sugar or other sugar, which are suitable for different tastes. The taste is not only creative, but also very healthy e.g green tea, pumpkin.




Nowadys, you can find Clay-pot Puddings in Hong Kong easily. Because of the price is inexpensive, so most of Hong Kong children and people like it very much, including me XD...

by Franky

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong: Temples and religion

While on the surface Hong Kong may appear to be obsessed with trade, industry and commerce, it still has its spiritual side. Everyone here in Hong Kong practise his religion freely, with little or no interference, intolerance or discrimination.

Around 10 % of the total population are Pretestant and Roman Catholics, with 242,500 Catholics and 300,000 Protestants spread over 50 denomination. There are also 50,000 Muslims, 12,000 Hindus and 1000 Jews.

About half of the population will tell you they are Buddhists, but the majority of them are using Buddhism as a collective term. In fact, many of them are Taoist, Confucians, and ancestor worshippers, or they may just worship some deities or Chinese gods.

There are more than 600 Chinese temples in Hong Kong, most of which are Buddhist, although Taoist, Confucian, Syncretic and ancestor Worship temples can be found. The design concept of many Chinese temples in Hong Kong is based on symmetry and the courtyard plan. In addition, almost all the major temples in Hong Kong were built according to "Fung Shui", which has always been a serious cincern here.

You can see that the pictures below are based on symmetry and the courtyard plan:

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Man Mo Temple

Po Lin Monastery 

Lung Ngam Monastery


by Wendy

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong: The Yuen Yuen Institute (圓玄學院)

The Yuen Yuen Institute is a non-profit organization devoted to the religious and social concerns of Hong Kong. Founded by the late Mr. Chiu Lut-san J.P. in 1950, it is committed to the three Chinese religious, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, and the eight virtues upheld through their religious practices.

The Yuen Yuen Institute is an important sites for learning about the Chinese cultural, religious and artistic traditions. The temples, pavilions and gardens are based upon centuries-old architectual styles. The art objects inthe Lung Wah Building feature fine examples of many traditional religious and secular art froms not on display in other Hong Kong venues.

A visitor can appreciate the significance of Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist contributions to society and the influential roles they play in morden living. Therefore, in combining components of heritage and contemporary life, the site provides an educational and eye-opening entree to everyday life in Hong Kong.  

by Wendy



SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong : Food - Nián gāo (年糕)

Today let me introduce one of the heritage food is Nián gāo, Year cake or Chinese New Year's cake is a food prepared from glutinous rice and consumed in Chinese cuisine. It is available in Asian supermarkets and from health food stores.

While it can be eaten all year round, traditionally it is most popular during Chinese New Year. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao during this time, because "nian gao" is a homonym for "higher year." The Chinese word (nián), meaning "sticky", is identical in sound to, meaning "year", and the word, meaning "cake" is identical in sound to, meaning "high". As such, eating nian gao has the symbolism of raising oneself higher in each coming year.

Different parts of Asia have mixed the cake with different ingredients such as red bean paste or even lotus seed paste. They are not considered to be main branches or major cuisine variations.

by Franky

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong : Building - Hong Kong International Airport

Hello everyone! Today, let me introduce one of the best architecture to you -Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).
It is located less than five flying hours from half of the world's population. HKIA is the third busiest international passenger airport and operate the busiest international cargo facility in the world.


In 2009, 46.2 million passengers used the airport, and some 3.35 million tonnes of air cargo passed through Hong Kong. With over 800 aircraft movements every day and around 95 airlines operating from HKIA, the airport links Hong Kong with more than 155 destinations around the world, including some 40 cities on the Chinese Mainland.

Since HKIA commenced operations in July 1998, they have made every effort to provide passengers with customer-focused facilities and services. This commitment has earned them the recognition as the world's best airport about 30 times.

With the opening of Terminal 2 in June 2007, HKIA is now a two-terminal and two-runway facility contributing to the economic growth for Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Today, the 60,000-strong airport community serves as the key contributor to Hong Kong's position as a leading international and regional aviation centre.

Morever, HKIA is a gateway of China. To serve growing demand, they will continue to strengthen their integrated, multi-modal transport network with the Mainland, especially the PRD.

Every day, cross-boundary coaches carry passengers on about 460 round trips linking HKIA with 115 PRD cities and towns. Passengers looking for point-to-point transport services can use the cross-boundary limousine to get to your PRD destinations directly.

The SkyPier cross-boundary ferry service connects passengers between the PRD and international destinations via HKIA, in comfort and without going through immigration and customs formalities in Hong Kong.

Eight ports – Shekou and Fuyong in Shenzhen , Guangzhou Nansha, Dongguan Humen, Zhongshan, Zhuhai Jiuzhou as well as Macao's Maritime Ferry Terminal and Taipa – currently offer these speedy cross-boundary arrangements. Passengers can even pre-check their baggage and obtain their boarding pass at Shekou, Macao's Maritime Ferry Terminal, Fuyong and Dongguan Humen.

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong : Traditional Chinese Taboo

Taboo in Wedding

1. The night before the wedding, they should find a boy sleep with the broom in the bed.

    They think only one person sleep in the bed before wedding will make either one of the couple die

2. On the wedding day, before going to the bed. All the people should avoid getting close to the bed and

the couple should not touch the side of the bed. Since it will have bad luck.

3. On the wedding day, new marriage couple should not sit on the bed

4. On the wedding day, the bride should not arbitrarily laying on the bed, if not she will get sick forever.

5. Before the wedding day, bride's aunt should not farewell with the bride.

6. On the day the bride leaving her home, the bride should cry as loud as she can. The louder she cries, the more money she can earn. 

7. The wearings of bride should not have pockets, since it will bring her family's luck away.

8. Bride's mirror should not be lent to the others.

9. Within 4 month of wedding, bride should not stay overnight other than their home. (Honeymoon is exceptional)

For foreigner who wants to get marry in China, here is a good reference for you to know more about Chinese Culture

By Reed Lam

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong: Bronze Lion statues

You can see that there are two lions in front of HSBC headquarters in Central, do you know what is their name? Let me tell you, they are called Stephen and Stitt. Stephen was named for A G Stephen, the Hong Kong manager in 1920-1924 and G H Stitt, was the Shanghai manager at the same period. Stephen is look like roaring, but Stitt is sitting quietly, someone said that this represented the characters of these two famous bankers.

This pair of lions contains a meaning of safety and guard, each of them is weight 2250 pounds. You may not know that actually these pair of lions is a copy version, the original version is now located in Shanghai museum. There are three pairs copy version of bronze lion, the first pair is in Hong Kong, the second pair is in London while the third version is in Shanghai.

During the Japanese occupation, these two bronze lions were confiscated by Japanese since they are lack of army material and they intend to melt down two bronze lions to get material. Fortunately, Japan surrender in 1945 and two lion were discover by a American sailor in a shipyard which is located in Osaka, therefore, two bronze lions were returned to Hong Kong a few month later and restored to original position in October 1946. 

You can see that there are some bullet scars on the Stephen’s body, it is because of the Japanese occupation and this always reminds Hong Kong people do not forgot the war. These lions had witness the Hong Kong history development and grow with Hong Kong people. They become a landmark of Hong Kong and represent HSBC.

 

by Wendy

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong :Central and Western Heritage Trail

I would like to introduce another heritage trail in the Central and Western district. It consists of three routes that were launched in three phases. The Central Route, the Sheung Wan Route and the Western District & the Peak Route were launched in 1997, 1999 and 2000 respectively. Walking along the route, you will discover that each route of trail has its own characteristics.

There are many shops selling dried seafood and herbal medicine in the Sheung Wan Route. You can take the Central - Mid-levels escalator up to Staunton Street and the SoHo area. It is the world’s largest covered escalator; therefore, you need to take about 20 minutes to travel. After that you can find a dining place offering variety of cuisine including Italian, Spanish and Mexican within the SoHo area.

On the other hand, the Western District & the Peak Route covers numerous historical buildings such as Former Upper Levels Police Station. Also, it is easy to access to the Peak Tram Terminus if you follow to the route. Taking the trip by the Hong Kong’s oldest form of mechanical transport (Peak Tram) allow you to see the panoramic view of Hong Kong.

The different districts integrate the ancient and the modern city landscape and building. In the meantime, it offers a precious opportunity to you experiencing Hong Kong’s living culture among the residents and the attractions.

by Peral

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong : Building - Noon Day Gun

Today, let me bring you go to the Noon Day Gun! It is located on the waterfront in Causeway Bay.
It is very famous by the Noel Coward song Mad Dogs and Englishmen. This gun is fired once every day at 12. The tradition is said to date back to the time a Jardine employee fired a one-gun salute when the head of the company sailed into port. A senor Royal Navy officer took offence at this practice and as a penalty, the company was ordered to fire the gun at noon every day as a time signal.


History and hearsay all mixed together, the story behind the Noon Day gun goes something like this. In the early 1900's an overenthusiastic employee of Jardine and Matheson, one of Hong Kong's most influential companies at the time, fired the gun to salute one of the companies ships as it sailed into/out of the harbour. Gun salutes were supposedly the sole privilege of the Governor, who was so outraged by this break in protocol that he ordered the gun be fired every day. More realistically, if less romantically, it's believed the gun was probably fired to help ship's set their clocks to the correct time.

Noel Coward immortalized the clock in his song “Mad Dogs and Englishmen”, in the lyrics In Hong Kong/They strike a gong/And fire off a noonday gun/To reprimand each inmate/Who's in late. The song inspired the phrase “only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun”.

 by Carmen

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong: Gate of hell

What is Gate of hell?

Gate of hell is a Chinese believe. People think the dead people's soul will come out from the hell. From 1st of lunar July to 30th, the gate of hell opens to allow the ghosts come to the real world. Those ghosts are someone who not yet turn into a new live in the hell.

People usually are not recommended to walk on the street in the mid-night. Since the ghosts are very active. They may affect the people's luck and fate. Most likely, people will have bad luck and downturn.

There are some examples or activities are not recommended to do during this period of time.

1. Marriage
2. Surgery
3. Taking photos at night
4. Don't look back easily
5. Don't shave the leg hair
6. Don't pat the others' shoulders

There are many examples and different culture in China has different prohibit activities.
Source:http://www.feverforum.com/redirect.php?tid=158037&goto=lastpost

by Reed

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong : food - Zongzi 粽子

Today I would like intrude the heritage food is my favorite food call Zongzi 粽子. Which are traditional Chinese foods, made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, they are cooked by steaming or boiling.


Zongzi is traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, commemorating the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet from the kingdom of Chu who lived during the Warring States period. Known for his patriotism, Qu Yuan tried unsuccessfully to warn his king and countrymen against the expansionism of their Qin neighbors.


When the Qin general Bai Qi took Yingdu, the Chu capital, in 278 BC, Qu Yuan's grief was so intense that he drowned himself in the Miluo River after penning the Lament for Ying. According to legend, packets of rice were thrown into the river to prevent fish from eating the poet's body.
But nowadays you cannt fall the Zongzi in the river, if not you will be fine $1500 by Goverment. @_@"

by Franky

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong :Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail

Have you ever been to Lung Yeuk Tau before? The second heritage trail is established by the government which is called Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail.

Lung Yeuk Tau is located in Fanling where known as Lung Ku Tau and is also called Lung Ling (Mountain of Dragon). The name came from the legendary saying that there was once a dragon leaping in the area. The trail is opened to the public in 1999. It believed that the Tang clan who is one of Five Great Clans of the New Territories inhabited in this place.

You will discover a number of walled villages still remain unchanged, as long as you walk along the trail such as the Ma Wat Wai, Lo Wai and San Wai (Kun Lung Wai). In the meantime, there are lots of traditional Chinese buildings such as the Tin Hau Kung and the Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall.

Therefore, it is a valuable attraction for you to visit because of traditional village customs and historical development still existing in there.

Reference:

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/en/trails_lung.php

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/things-to-do/images/09-hkwalks-eng-fanling.pdf

by Peral

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong : Building - Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower

Today, I will bring all of you to visit The Hong Kong Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower.  It is located in Tsim Sha Tsui and it was opened for traffic on 1 October 1910. The construction of a terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui started in 1913 and the clock tower was completed in 1915 to form part of the complex. The main terminus building was demolished in 1978 leaving only the clock tower which has become a landmark of Hong Kong. The clock tower is 44m high surmounted by a 7m lightning rod.


Nowdays, the train station is already move out to Hung Hom and Tsui Sha Tsui East. The Clock Tower change to an attraction now. It attracts many tourists to take photos here. As  I mention before, the clock tower is already a landmark of Hong Kong. It can represent Hong Kong. In there, people can walk along the pier, see the beautiful seeview of Victoria Harbour. So everyone should bring your camera to go to Tsim Sha Tsui take the wonderful memory.

by Carmen

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong :Clothing changing

At the early time, most of the Hong Kong residents are worker, farmer and fisher in Hong Kong. Their clothing material is rough, with wide body and sleeve design, which is conventient for their working. Since Hong Kong is a fishing port on that time, most of the people are living in a boat as their house. The clothing they wear usually called Hakka clothing. On the other hand, most of the people clothing were made by themselve because of poor.

Until 50 era, some western style clothing became popular, for people who had some money, male wear suit while female wear dress, but there was less clothing change for the people who were relatively poor or got lower social level.

70 era, casual wear became main stream, especially the jeans, it was the trendy icon. Until now, there are many choice of clothing for people to choose, also, people are more rich than the past, so that they have the ability to buy clothing.

      The hat that  Hakka people wear

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

reference: http://www.uwants.com/viewthread.php?tid=7269770
                http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/History/b5/gallery4.php

by Wendy

SPD3159 Heritage Hong Kong : Temple - Chi Lin Nunnery / Nan Lian Garden

Today, I would like to share my favorite temple in Hong Kong with you. It is Chi Lin Nunnery/Nan Lian Garden. Did  you visit any temples in HK? It is an valuable property and culture that Hong Kong has many ancient Chinese temples spread throughout the territory. They serve followers of Buddhism and Taoism as well as a number of deities. There are also a number of monasteries and nunneries, some in very remote areas.

Let me give you some brief informations in relation to the Chi Lin Nunnery and  Nan Lian Garden. For Chi Lin Nunnery , this Buddhist nunnery is stunning with its monastery complex having been renovated as a piece of Tang dynasty architecture. The grand and elegant complex will surely become one of China's great cultural attractions in the years to come. There are other halls containing a treasure trove of religious relics as well as restful lotus ponds.

For Nan Lian Garden , it located amid the high-rise apartment blocks is the tranquil Nan Lian Garden, a newly opened public park built in the ancient style of the Tang dynasty. The scenic garden is meticulously landscaped over an area of 3.5 hectares, in which every hill, rock, body of water, plant and timber structure is placed according to specific rules and methods.

Thus, I very recommend you to visit and experience any temples in Hong Kong. It not only is  a good place for you to relize the Hong Kong Culture, but also is a good location for you to take various specvial photos.

(Sources:http://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/attractions/culture-chilin-nunnery.html)

by Iris