Hong Kong Culture and Living Space: Sheung Wan

1. Introduction

Sheung Wan, a business district where skyscrapers, dried seafoods and Chinese medicine meet.

Keyword: Residential area、Hong Kong-Macau Pier、Trams、Temples

Geographical context:

Located at the southern tip of mainland China, in the center of the coastal countries of the Western Pacific and at the shipping crossroads of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Hong Kong is one of the few "free port cities" in the world. The open area encompasses the entire Hong Kong region, while other free ports around the world often designate only the areas near the port as free ports. Long ago, Hong Kong became the main trade route for interactions between southern China, Southeast Asia, and various countries around the world, specifically in the northern part of the Central and Western District of Hong Kong Island, adjacent to the Victoria Harbour.

The cultural policy of the Hong Kong government includes the following four key elements: respect for creative and expressive freedom; providing opportunities for greater public participation; encouraging diverse and balanced development; and offering a favorable environment and conditions (venues, funding, education, and administration).

Culture：

Before Hong Kong was opened as a port, it was part of the Guangdong region in South China, and Hong Kong's culture has a continuous lineage with the Lingnan culture of places like Guangzhou (Cantonese). After becoming a British colony, Western culture began to enter Hong Kong. Over the following hundred years, Chinese and Western cultures continuously developed, influenced, and integrated with each other, gradually forming a unique Hong Kong culture that blends both traditions.

Hong Kong culture: freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Cultural Geographical Perspective：

Geographical Context+ Culture= Cultural Trace

Place=N *Cultural Trace

2. Cultural Geographical Perspective in Use

Cultural Geographical Perspective:

What is a method or field of study to understand why the surrounding world is the way it is today? What role do we play in its formation? How can we maintain or change it?

Geographical Context:

Countries or political regions, physical landscapes, and specific environments (such as language, laws, customs, etc.) are omnipresent in the geographical context.

Culture：

Thoughts and values, as well as various aspects of society, politics, and economics, come in different types: mainstream, non-mainstream, and counter-mainstream.

Cultural Geographical Perspective:

Propose and study the interaction between geographical context and culture that produces "traces."

Material Traces：

Architecture, sculpture, graffiti, dance.....

Non-material traces:

Behavior, rituals, performances, emotions, memories...

3. Empirical Analysis

Phenomenon 1: Western Market

A shopping mall built in the British Edwardian architectural style, constructed of red brick with a granite foundation, featuring a large arch at the main entrance.

Geographical Context: Victoria City is a commercial center that attracts merchants from around the world for trade. At that time, the primary mode of transportation was by sea. To manage maritime affairs, the British colonial government constructed the Marine Department Headquarters building in 1906, which became the predecessor of West City.

Culture: Following the relocation of the Marine Department, the building transformed into a market and later became the current shopping mall. The entire structure continues to thrive with the support of Hong Kong citizens, highlighting the spirit of heritage conservation among the people of Hong Kong.

Phenomenon 2: Hong Kong Tram

Geographical Context: The northern part of Hong Kong Island developed rapidly. By 1881, the population of Hong Kong had grown to 160,400, but at that time, there were only rudimentary modes of transportation such as horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws, and sedan chairs, which could not meet the demand. There was an urgent need to introduce a collective transportation system. In June of that year, members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong proposed the establishment of a tram system for the island, which was approved. Due to funding constraints, the Hong Kong Tramways Company began laying track in sections in May 1903. The initial routes completed were from Happy Valley and east of Causeway Bay to Shau Kei Wan, followed by the section from the western part of Wanchai's Arsenal Street to Kennedy Town, which was completed from July to August 1904. On August 13, 1904, the entire line from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan was opened for service.

Culture: The Hong Kong tram system allows passengers to board at the rear and disembark at the front while making payments, increasing the efficiency of getting on and off. This design reflects Hong Kong's emphasis on efficiency as a cultural value.

Phenomenon 3: Proliferation of Dried Seafood and Chinese Medicine Shops

Geographical Context: In the mid-19th century, the Taiping Rebellion occurred in China, causing a large number of refugees to flee to Hong Kong. Among these refugees were many merchants who established numerous shops along Bonham West Street, near the triangular pier by the sea, focusing on trade between the north and south. Dried seafood and Chinese medicinal herbs became popular goods in this trade.

Culture: Hong Kong people place great emphasis on health, drinking herbal tea in spring and summer, and nourishing tonics in autumn and winter. In their daily lives, they select various nourishing dried seafood and medicinal ingredients according to the seasons, using them as ingredients in dishes or soups to promote well-being.

Phenomenon 4: Kwong Fuk Yik Temple and Man Mo Temple

Geographical Context: The temples were built between the 1840s and 1860s, during the early days of the port's opening when laborers from Guangdong settled in Sheung Wan in search of job opportunities. To ensure their work went smoothly, they constructed Kwong Fuk Yik Temple and Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan to worship Taoist deities for safety and success in their endeavors. At that time, some laborers who died in accidents and could not be returned to their hometowns for burial would have their spirit tablets placed in Kwong Fuk Yik Temple, expressing gratitude for their contributions to Hong Kong's development. As a result, the temple was also referred to as the "Common People's Temple." Today, it is dedicated to the worship of Che Kung and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Culture: To this day, Man Mo Temple remains one of the most popular Taoist temples in Hong Kong. Because Hong Kong people place great importance on academic performance and career prospects, they visit Man Mo Temple to offer prayers to the literary and martial deities, hoping to gain favorable opportunities in their careers.

Phenomenon 5: Tai Dap Tei (or "Big Market")

Geographical Context: During British rule in Hong Kong, after the British army landed in Sheung Wan, a military camp was established on Water Street. Later, when the military camp moved away, the vacant land became a gathering place for local residents, featuring various stalls, street performances, hawkers, and "dai pai dong" (open-air food stalls). This space provided entertainment and relaxation for the citizens of that time, as well as a livelihood for the hawkers. However, in 1992, the British colonial government reclaimed all the land in Sheung Wan designated for Tai Dap Tei under the pretext of developing Hong Kong.

Culture: Although Tai Dap Tei has been reclaimed, many stall-style eateries and shops can still be found in the Sheung Wan area today. Many tourists specifically visit the dai pai dongs or tea stalls in Sheung Wan to savor the authentic flavors of old Hong Kong. For example, "Bing Kee Tea Stall," a favorite of singer Eason Chan, has attracted many visitors in recent years.

4. Conclusion

In Sheung Wan, we observe many unique phenomena, such as buildings in the English architectural style, the distinctive trams of northern Hong Kong Island, numerous dried seafood and Chinese medicine shops, and traditional temples that showcase unique architecture. Sheung Wan is a community rich in both Chinese and Western cultures, encompassing continental-style buildings, traditional Chinese architecture, and the older structures of Hong Kong. We are eager to explore the reasons behind the formation of these phenomena, so we plan to analyze the geographical context of Sheung Wan from a cultural geography perspective, combining the thoughts and values of Hong Kong citizens to see how the interaction of these elements shapes these phenomena.

References

這些香港地道文化，你體驗過沒有？ | 香港旅遊發展局. (n.d.). Dhk-Local-Market. https://www.discoverhongkong.com/hk-tc/explore/culture/experience-hong-kong-s-traditional-rituals-and-ceremonies-like-a-true-local.html

穿越古蹟一日遊 | 香港旅遊發展局. (2024). Discover Hong Kong. https://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/explore/culture/experience-hong-kong-s-east-meets-west-heritage-in-one-day.html

香港電車 - 電車史話. (n.d.). Www.hktramways.com. https://www.hktramways.com/tc/our-story