These photos show the changing face of Sheung Wan and the area where our showroom is based. Opposite the office is a Tong Lau, a beautiful tenement building, which has been there since before the 1920s. It used to house a shop called Yau Kee Hop which sold preserved meats, then later became a Chinese herbal tea shop, vegetable stall and grocery store. It's now got a new lease of life as a community hub.
I love seeing these old photos of Hong Kong - especially comparing it to nowadays. These photos are right on the corner of Queen’s Road West and Bonham Strand and opposite our office showroom in Arion Commercial Building. They hold a special fondness as I love this area so much!I’ve often wondered about the beautiful Tong Lau building opposite so it was great to read more about it recently and find out about it being given a new lease of life as a community hub.
It currently serves as a third space for the kaifongs (neighbours) of Sheung Wan. You can drop by to enjoy a free space that provides water, wifi, and washroom facilities. This community project is also centred on holistic wellbeing, so services on Mondays offer physical and mental health checks, while there are also free counselling and meditation sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively. There is even a community nanny team that can provide childcare services. One bite Social is offering a way to connect with the neighbourhood and community around us in meaningful ways, so pop by 1 Queen’s Road West while you can to support the latest events. It is open until April.
Have you seen the lovely Tong Lau print illustrated by Natalie Hui?
