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Fold 1MINI GUIDE
Architecture
in Hong Kong
Welcome to one of the most dazzling skylines in
the world, where skyscrapers march up from
the steep, jungle-clad hills – these buildings
deserve closer inspection.A view over Hong Kong
from Victoria PeakPre-colonial
Colonial Contemporary
FORMER LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL BUILDING
This colonnaded and domed
building (1912) was built of
granite quarried on Stonecutters
Island, and served as the seat of
the Legislative Council from
1985–2012. Now the most
imposing colonial edifice left in
town, during WWII it was an HQ
of the gendarmerie, the Japanese
version of the Gestapo
(8 Jackson Rd, Central).GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Parts of this erstwhile official
residence of the chief executive
of Hong Kong, and previously
the colonial governors, date
from 1855. Other features were
added by the Japanese, who
used it as military headquarters
during the occupation of Hong
Kong in WWII, making it an
elegant, indubitably rare
neo-Georgian and Japanese
hybrid. It’s open to the public
on weekends a few times a year- check the website for dates
(ceo.gov.hk/gh; Upper Albert
Rd, Central).
ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL
Criticised for blighting the
colony’s landscape when it was
first built, today this Anglican
cathedral is an oft-forgotten
reminder of Britain, and it
stands on the only piece of
freehold land in the whole of
Hong Kong. Services have been
held since the cathedral opened
in 1849. It suffered heavy
damage during WWII, and the
front doors were remade using
timber salvaged from a British
warship (stjohnscathedral.org.
hk; 4–8 Garden Rd, Central;
7am–6pm).PING SHAN
From Tin Shui Wai station in the
northwestern New Territories,
a one-mile heritage trail takes
in centuries-old ancestral halls,
including one bearing the name
of the Tang clan, which follows
a unique structure that showed
their status in the imperial
court. Also take in Tsui Sing Lau,
the only surviving ancient
pagoda in Hong Kong (amo.gov.
hk; ancestral halls open
9am–1pm & 2pm–5pm).TAI MIU TEMPLE
One of several temples dedicated
to Tin Hau, goddess of the sea,
this one facing Joss House Bay was
built in the 13th century in
gratitude by two Fujianese who
escaped a storm at sea. The
temple was restored in 2009.
Just behind it is a Song-dynasty
rock carving dating from 1274.
It is the oldest inscription extant
in Hong Kong (ctc.org.hk; Tai Au
Mun Rd, Clearwater Bay Peninsula;
8am–5pm).SAM TUNG UK
MUSEUM
This well-tended museum
portrays rural life as it was in this
late-18th-century walled village,
the former residents of which
(the Chan clan) were resettled in- Within the complex a
dozen three-beamed houses
contain traditional furnishings,
kitchenware, wedding items and
agricultural implements
(heritagemuseum.gov.hk; 2 Kwu
Uk Lane; closed Tue; free).
HSBC BUILDING
This 52-storey glass and
aluminium masterpiece of
precision by Sir Norman Foster
is full of good feng shui: there’s no
structure blocking its view of
Victoria Harbour because water is
associated with prosperity. Take
the escalator to the 3rd floor to
gaze at the cathedral-
like atrium (1 Queen’s Rd Central,
Central; 9am–4.30pm Mon–
Fri, 9am–12.30pm Sat).BANK OF CHINA
TOWER The awesome
70-storey towe, designed by IM
Pei (of Louvre Pyramid fame)
rises from the ground and is
then successively reduced,
quarter by quarter,
until the south-facing side is left
to rise on its own – it is often
compared to bamboo. The
public viewing gallery on the
43rd floor offers panoramic
views of the cityscape (1 Garden
Rd, Central; gallery 8am–6pm
Mon–Fri).HONG KONG
CONVENTION &
EXHIBITION CENTRE
This massive centre, which was
built in 1988 and extended onto
an artificial island in the harbour
for the official ceremony of the
return of sovereignty to China
in 1997, has been compared
with a bird’s wing, a banana leaf
and a lotus petal. It’s a leading
venue for large trade fairs,
exhibitions and conventions
(hkcec.com.hk; 1 Expo Dr).Government House was used by
British governors for 142 yearsTai Miu Temple is Hong Kong’s
oldest and largest Tin Hau templeExperience a feline artistic
overload at the KattenkabinetFold 2