Wan Chai

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For other uses, see Wan Chai (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Chai Wan, another area on Hong Kong Island.
Wan Chai
Wan Chai Overview 2008.jpg
Wan Chai as seen from Victoria Harbour
Traditional Chinese 灣仔
Simplified Chinese 湾仔
Cantonese Jyutping waan1 zai2
Literal meaning "small bay" or "cove"
Location of Wan Chai within HKSAR

Wan Chai (English pronunciation: /ˌwɑːn ˈtʃaɪ/ traditional Chinese: 灣仔) is a metropolitan area situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area north of Gloucester Road is often called Wan Chai North. Wan Chai is one of the busiest commercial areas in Hong Kong with many small and medium-sized companies. Wan Chai North features office towers, parks, hotels and an international conference and exhibition centre. As one of the first areas developed in Hong Kong, the locale is densely populated yet with noticeable residential zones facing urban decay. Arousing considerable public concern, the government has undertaken several urban renewal projects in recent years. There are many unique buildings and skyscrapers, most notably the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), Central Plaza and Hopewell Centre.

Contents

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[edit] Names

Wan Chai originally began as Ha Wan (下環), literally meaning "a bottom ring" or "lower circuit".[1] As one of the earliest developed areas in Hong Kong. Central, Sheung Wan, Sai Wan and Wan Chai are collectively known as the four rings (四環) by the locals. Wan Chai literally means "a cove" in Cantonese, but the area itself is no longer a cove due to drastic city development and continual land reclamation.

[edit] History

The coastline of Wan Chai the early 1960s
Protest zones were setup in Wan Chai for the international 2005 WTO conference

Wan Chai was first home to the many Chinese villagers living along the undisturbed coastlines in proximity to Hung Shing Temple. Most of them were fishermen, who worked around the area near Hung Shing Temple overlooking the entire harbour. Hung Shing Ye, the God of the Sea, was one of the deities worshiped by the locals.[2]

With the growth of the British Hong Kong administration, centred in old Victoria, modern Central, Wan Chai attracted those on the fringes of society, such as coolies, who came to live on Queen's Road East. A focal point of development was Spring Gardens, a red-light zone.[3] By the 1850s the area was already becoming a Chinese residential area.[1] There were dockyards in Ship Street and McGregor Street for building and repairing ships. The edge of Sun Street, Moon Street and Star Street is the original site of the first power station in Hong Kong, operated by the Hongkong Electric Company, which began supplying power in 1890.[4] One of the first water-front hospitals was the Seaman's hospital built in 1843 funded by Jardine's. In was sold to the British Royal Navy in 1973 and redeveloped into the Royal Naval Hospital. After WWII, it was later revitalized as the Ruttonjee hospital.[5]

The district was home to several well known schools. One of these was established by the famous traditional teacher, Mo Dunmei (莫敦梅). Started as a shushu (書塾) in 1919, the school was renamed Dunmei School (敦梅學校) in 1934.[6][7] It taught classical Chinese writings and Confucian ethics.

During the Japanese occupation in the 1940s, many bombardments took place. Stories of cannibalism, starvation, torture and abuses by Japanese soldiers, and child labour were told. Senior residents recall vividly how they survived the hardships.[7] The Dunmei school was closed during the Japanese occupation period. After the war, the school continued to provide Chinese education for children from families of higher income.[6]

During the 1950s the pro-Communist underground cell network Hailiushe (海流社) was headquartered in the rooftop of a multi-story house on Spring Garden Lane. The group was successfully raided by the Hong Kong police.[8]

Prostitution is one of the oldest occupations in Wan Chai. There are numerous historical western accounts of women trading sex for western merchandise as soon as sailors got off the trading ships.[9] In the 1960s, Wan Chai became legendary for its exotic night life, especially for the US service men resting there during the Vietnam war.[1] Therefore, it was ridden with sex crimes. Despite rapid changes due to reclamation and redevelopment, the presence of sex workers operating among ordinary residents continues to be a distinct feature of the area. Some of the lifestyle has been illustrated in the past in movies such as The World of Suzie Wong.[10]

Wan Chai's HKCEC was the site of the Hong Kong handover ceremony in 1997. The WTO Ministerial Conference in 2005 was also one of the largest international events ever hosted in Hong Kong, with 148 nations participating.

In May 2009, 300 guests and staff members at the Metropark Hotel in Wan Chai were quarantined, suspected of being infected or in contact with the H1N1 virus during the 2009 swine flu outbreak. A 25 year old Mexican man who had stayed at the hotel was later found to have the viral infection. He had traveled to Hong Kong from Mexico via Shanghai.[11][12]

[edit] Reclamation

The changes of Wan Chai's coastline from 1842 to 1997

Wan Chai has been extended outward with a series of land reclamation schemes. Early in 1841, where the earliest coastline was located at Queen's Road East, the first reclamation took place. The project was privately funded and the government did not take part. There was no name associated with the first project.[13] The next reclamation that had an effect on Wan Chai was the Praya East Reclamation Scheme. The coastline was extended to Praya East, that is, today's Johnston Road and Hennessy Road. The reclamation after World War II from 1965 to 1972 pulled the coastline out to the areas around Convention Avenue and the Wan Chai Pier. The 1990s Wan Chai Development project added land to where the current HKCEC exists today.

[edit] Community life

Book fair inside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

[edit] Arts and culture

Wan Chai is a major hub of foreign and Chinese culture in Hong Kong. It is home to Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institut and the British Council. Near the waterfront are the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and Hong Kong Arts Centre, two of the most popular venues for theatrical and cultural performances in the region. The academy is a convenient venue for drama, mini-concerts, dance, and musicals. Every year there are many Broadway musicals playing in the academy, including Western plays such as Singin' in the Rain, Saturday Night Fever, and Annie. The Arts Centre also houses galleries, rehearsal rooms and a restaurant overlooking the harbour. In halloween, expect to see youngsters to dress in costumes trying to scare passersby.The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), a HK$4.8 billion convention centre extension completed in 1997, covers over 16 acres (65,000 m²) of newly reclaimed land that added an extra 38,000 m² of functional space to the existing convention centre.[14][15] It remains a venue for international trade fairs, some of which are the biggest in the world. The July annual Hong Kong Book Fair along with cosplay competitions are also held at the facility.

[edit] Dining

Lung Mun, an old-styled Cantonese restaurant

[edit] Southorn activities

Southorn Playground is a major landmark in Hong Kong, particularly to the senior residents. It is a place associated with entertainment as well as work, with its atmosphere changing throughout the day. In the morning, labourers come together to wait for employment. In the evening, it is altered into an open-air area with people selling food, performing magic and kung fu.

Some of the trademark activities include senior citizens playing Chinese chess. The younger generation would play football and basketball with street basketball games attracting flocks of young spectators and players. Occasionally, three-player drill contests and hip hop dance competitions are held in the park.

[edit] Religious diversity

Hung Shing Temple

Wan Chai offers a wide range of religion like Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Christianity, Sikhism and Islam. Despite such great differences, many religious structures are located in close proximity with one another. Hung Shing Temple, for example, is a typically Taoist temple. Inside, there are Buddhist Kwun Yum chapels next to the main altar. People coming to worship Hung Shing Ye could also burn joss sticks to Kwun Yum as well. Villain hitting is another blended ceremony, combining the disproportional Confucianism, Taoism and even folk religion. Some old female "psychics" perform this ancient ceremony under the Canal Road Flyover in particular days of a lunar month. The Wan Chai Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple is the biggest Sikh temple in Hong Kong.[16]

[edit] Tourism and landmarks

The Golden Bauhinia Square at night

Wan Chai offers historical conservation spots including Old Wan Chai Post Office, Hung Shing Temple and Pak Tai Temple. Many of the medium-sized shopping centres are named in numerals, such as Oriental 188, 328, and 298 Computer Centre. The numbers may come from the earlier days when prostitution houses were all numbered, and referred to as "big numbers" (大冧巴, dai lum bah).[1] There are also many commercial complexes and skyscrapers. The HK$4.4 billion 78-story skyscraper Central Plaza currently stand as the second tallest in Hong Kong.[17] The apex of Central Plaza is designed as a unique neon tower clock. It consists of four neon spandrel bands, each representing 15 minutes, and the colour changes from top to bottom. When the four bands are of the same colour, an hour has passed. More than an innovative clock, "Lightime" has become a new symbol the same way Eiffel Tower reminds people of Paris. Small but free art exhibitions are on also the second floor year round. Other tourist attractions include Golden Bauhinia Square featuring a flag-raising ceremony held daily outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony is enhanced on July 1 (handover anniversary) and October 1 (National Day).

View of Wan Chai at night from Stubbs Road, also showing Central Plaza on the right

A 3-story pergola exhibit is built opposite to Li Chit Garden. Tai Fat Hau footbridge also holds an art display of 30,000 citizens' fingerprints slated for the Guinness Book of World Records.[18] The sticker pictures on the 50 poles of the bridge are roughly called the "50 landscapes of Wan Chai" (灣仔五十景).[18]

Lovers' Rock reclines on the hillside of Bowen Road near Shiu Fai Terrace and looks like a stone pen sticking out of a stone base. This special looking rock is said to have granted happy marriages to devoted worshippers.[19] Many people are attracted by its reputation.

[edit] Buildings and constructions

Old-fashioned shops (tong-lau) in Wan Chai are typical examples of Lingnan architecture, comparable to those found in Guangzhou and Taipei. Attached to the second story from the pavement, numerous pillars were built in front of the closed stores.
Banners brandished all over Lee Tung Street against the demolishing action of the government
The floor plan of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation

[edit] Architecture

Throughout Wan Chai's history, construction styles have changed according to the architectural movement at the time.

Era Style Examples
Qing Dynasty Chinese-style Hung Shing Temple
1910s-1920s Neoclassical architecture Old Wan Chai Post Office

Blue House

1930s Streamline Moderne architecture Wan Chai Market
Post-WWII Bauhaus-style Shop houses (tong-lau) on Lee Tung Street, Tai Yuen Street

Caltex House

In the 1950s and 1960s, an increasing number of girlie bars and nightclubs were opened in the red-light district by Jaffe and Lockhart Road. The establishments entertained visiting sailors landing at Fenwick Pier. Beyond Gloucester Road is the commercial area developed in the late 1970s and 1980s, a time at which Hong Kong underwent economic development at full speed. At the same time, buildings like the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, HKCEC, and Central Plaza were constructed on the newly reclaimed land.

[edit] Urban decay and renewal

Many of Wan Chai's older buildings now face a serious problem of urban decay. In order to tackle the problem, the government has launched a series of urban renewal projects to bring new life into the area. Many local residents have relocation worries such as whether the Urban Renewal Authority can compensate enough to put them in a new space of equal size. Other concerns involve the loss of building character that make up part of that Hong Kong cultural identity.

[edit] Central and Wan Chai reclamation

Main article: Central and Wan Chai Reclamation

After the completion of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Feasibility Study in 1989, the Land Development Policy Committee endorsed the idea of an ongoing series of reclamation.[20] The reclamation comprises three district development cells separated by parks, namely, Central, Tamar and Exhibition. Each cell was further divided into five phases.

[edit] Transportation

Geographically, Wan Chai is the midpoint between the west (West Point/Central) and the east (Causeway Bay/North Point), linking all points on Hong Kong Island. The transport infrastructure is efficient, convenient and highly accessible.

A panorama view of Wan Chai Pier Transportation Interchange

[edit] Ferries

Star Ferry is the sole ferry operator in the area at Wan Chai Pier. Several lines cross Victoria Harbour from HKCEC, Wan Chai. Destinations include Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and Whampoa Garden in Hung Hom. Even though there are now numerous ways to cross Victoria Harbour, the Star Ferry continues to provide an inexpensive option. Numerous shipping companies also have their headquarters in Wanchai such as Anglo-Eastern Group.

Gloucester Road in Wan Chai

[edit] Main roads and tunnels

Wan Chai's Gloucester Road is connected to Cross-Harbour Tunnel, the first underwater tunnel in Hong Kong.[21] Bridging Hong Kong Island at Kellet Island and a reclaimed site at Hung Hom Bay in Kowloon, the tunnel provides a direct link. Prior to the tunnel's opening in 1972, crossing the harbour depended solely on the Star ferries.[22] Linking the main financial districts on both sides of Victoria Harbour, the tunnel carries 123,000 vehicles daily.[23] Other roads such as Queen’s Road East have been one of the earliest development spots in the history of Hong Kong. Landmarks such as Hennessy Road were named after previous Governors, leaving an impression of its Colonial past.

Wan Chai MTR Station

[edit] Mass Transit Railway

The main MTR railway is beneath Hennessy Road in the locality. Due to the large area of Wan Chai, more than 50 entry/exit gates and 8 entrances/exits are set up. One of the entrances/exits is on the footbridge along O'Brien Road, which leads to Immigration Tower in Wan Chai North.

[edit] Trams

Tram services are available between Shau Kei Wan on the east of the island, and Kennedy Town on the west, with a branch circuit in Happy Valley. The route serves Johnston Road and Hennessy Road.

A Wan Chai street filled with buses and taxis

[edit] Buses

Most buses travel in Wan Chai from Admiralty to Causeway Bay via Hennessy Road, whereas one would use Johnston Road or Gloucester Road as detours.

[edit] Taxis

Only red taxi services are available in Wan Chai. Besides some restricted kerbs in the highways, there are some designated pick-up and drop-off points in the region.

[edit] Minibus

There are two types of minibus in Wan Chai, green minibus and red minibus. In general, green minibuses operate scheduled service, with fixed routes and fixed fares. Red minibuses run on non-scheduled service, although some routes may in effect become fixed over time.

[edit] Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wan Chai

Wan Chai skyline

A printing shop closed down with a sign posted by the Urban Renewal Authority

Old dilapidated buildings in metro area

Tai Yau Arcade

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Wordie, Jason. 2002 (2002) Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 962-2095631
  2. ^ "Wan Chai". Thaiworldview. 1998-01-01. http://www.thaiworldview.com/hongkong/hkisland/wanchai2.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  3. ^ 24-site heritage tour for Wan Chai, SCMP, 6 Oct 2008, quoting Ho Pui-yin, Chinese University historian
  4. ^ "Hong Kong electric company generation". Hong Kong Electric. 2007-07-27. http://www.hec.com.hk/hehWeb/MajorGroupCompanies/TheHongKongElectricCompanyLimited/Generation/Index_en.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  5. ^ "Hong Kong royal navy". private website citing Harland, Kathleen, The Royal Navy in Hong Kong since 1841, Maritime Books, Liskeard, Cornwall, undated; and Melson, Commodore P.J., White ensign - red dragon, Edinburgh Financial Publishing, Hong Kong. 1997-01-01. http://www.pdavis.nl/RN_Hosp.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  6. ^ a b "Hong Kong Dunmei school history". Hong Kong university. 2007-01-01. http://www.hku.hk/sociodep/oralhistory/2/2.2.2.4.html. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  7. ^ a b "The Hong Kong Oral History Archives Project". University of Hong Kong Centre of Cultural studies. 2007-01-01. http://www.hku.hk/hkcsp/oral_wanchai.html. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  8. ^ Fung, Chi Ming, [2005] Reluctant Heroes: Rickshaw Pullers in Hong Kong and Canton, 1874-1954. ISBN 9622097340
  9. ^ Shi, Shuqing. Lin, Sylvia Li-chun. Goldblatt, Howard. [2005] (2005). City of the Queen: A Novel of Colonial Hong Kong. Columbia university press. ISBN 0231134568.
  10. ^ Eric Cavaliero, face of Wan Chai, The Standard, July 03, 1997
  11. ^ Cheng, Jonathan; Ye, Juliet; Stein, Peter, "Hong Kong Orders Quarantine of Hotel", Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2009
  12. ^ Dasgupta, Saibal, "Swine flu scare: China puts 460 in isolation", The Times of India, 3 May 2009.
  13. ^ "A historical and architectural appraisal of Queen's Pier central". Amo gov hk. 2007-01-01. http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/AAB_Paper129_queen_annexb_e.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  14. ^ "Government gives policy support to TDC's atrium link extension proposal". HK Government. 2005-06-16. http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200506/16/06160199.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  15. ^ "Letterhead of Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention organiser's and supplier's association". HK Legislative Council. 2001-01-12. http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr00-01/english/panels/ci/papers/552e04.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  16. ^ "Wan Chai1". Thaiworldview. 1998-01-01. http://www.thaiworldview.com/hongkong/hkisland/wanchai.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  17. ^ "Wan Chai central plaza architecture". Hong Kong university. 2007-01-01. http://courses.arch.hku.hk/IntgBuildTech/cases/centplaz/centplaz.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  18. ^ a b "天橋畫廊砌出灣仔五十景". Epochtimes. 2001-01-04. http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/1/1/4/n29855.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  19. ^ "Lover's Rock". Go hk gov. 2007-01-01. http://www.gohk.gov.hk/eng/welcome/wc/wc_info_wc10.html. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  20. ^ "Central and Wan Chai Reclamation". Hong Kong civil engineering and development department. 2007-06-27. http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/about/achievements/regional/regi_central.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 
  21. ^ Bray, Denis. [2001] (2001). Hong Kong Metamorphosis. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 962209550X.
  22. ^ Harper, Damian. [2005] (2005). China. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1740596870
  23. ^ "Hong Kong, the Facts transport". Hong Kong government. 2007-04-01. http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/transport.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-28. 

[edit] External links

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[edit] Bibliography

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Wan Chai District
(Victoria Harbour)
Central and Western District Main borders and locations Eastern District
Causeway Bay | Happy Valley | Jardine's Lookout | Stubbs Road | Tai Hang | Wan Chai | Wan Chai North | Wong Nai Chung Gap
Southern District

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