An antique Chinese junk boat across the waters of Victoria Harbour. Its simple and rustic design makes it seem as if it has traveled through time from ancient China. Stepping into its historic cabin to admire the captivating cityscapes of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is a wonderful way to explore Hong Kong.
In this episode, we board the “Dukling," a Chinese junk boat. We’ll cruise Victoria Harbour on this 70-year-old sightseeing boat, converted from a fishing vessel. Although the day of our departure was overcast without blue skies, and at times even rainy, viewing the rain-swept scenery from the sea, accompanied by the cool sea breeze, offered a unique charm of its own.
Officially named “The Blue House Cluster", it comprises three historic buildings: Blue House, Orange House, and Yellow House – all simply named after their exterior paint colors.
Each building dates from a different era. Blue House’s exact construction year is unknown; it originated as Wah To Hospital, with earliest records appearing in 1872 government rate books. Orange House (1950s) is the newest, while Yellow House was built in the 1920s.
Today, Blue House is a revitalization project housing F&B outlets and event spaces. Most uniquely, it remains a living community – unlike typical heritage sites, it pulses with authentic residential energy.
以下地圖標示了本節目曾經到過香港什麼地方，方便大家查閱及前往探索。
番組内で紹介した場所は、以下の地図で確認・探索するのに便利です。
The following map indicates the places introduced in this column, which is convenient for you to check and explore.
Today, we return to discover more of its heritage. This episode begins at Nam Koo Terrace, a Western-style mansion built in the 1910s. Abandoned since the 1940s and left in disrepair, the building is now fenced off for restoration. Yet, its distinctive architectural beauty remains visible from the exterior.
Next episode, we’ll visit The Blue House in the same district – a rare example of a historic building still actively inhabited.
以下地圖標示了本節目曾經到過香港什麼地方，方便大家查閱及前往探索。
番組内で紹介した場所は、以下の地図で確認・探索するのに便利です。
The following map indicates the places introduced in this column, which is convenient for you to check and explore.
Hong Kong is renowned as a modern metropolis of skyscrapers, yet its century-long urban history has left certain districts visibly aged. These “old quarters"—like Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island, Sham Shui Po and To Kwa Wan in Kowloon—are now undergoing redevelopment.
Before construction begins, an uncanny scene emerges in the wake of long-term residents’ departure: “no-man’s zones" abruptly materializing amidst bustling cityscapes. A silence resembling frozen time pervades these areas, starkly contrasting the surrounding urban cacophony. Derelict shops and peeling signage whisper fragments of vanished daily lives.
In this visual essay, we document To Kwa Wan’s redevelopment zone in eastern Kowloon. Through the lens, we trace the rapid erosion of old Hong Kong’s memories. Witness the transient aesthetics of these urban “voids"—vanishing realms suspended between demolition and rebirth.
以下地圖標示了本節目曾經到過香港什麼地方，方便大家查閱及前往探索。
番組内で紹介した場所は、以下の地図で確認・探索するのに便利です。
The following map indicates the places introduced in this column, which is convenient for you to check and explore.
Tin Hau Temple, Yaumatei: A Historic Oasis in Hong Kong’s Urban Jungle
Hong Kong boasts hundreds of Tin Hau Temples (dedicated to Mazu, the Chinese Goddess of the Sea), traditionally built along coastlines to protect seafaring communities. However, decades of land reclamation for urban development have dramatically reshaped the city’s shoreline. What were once seaside shrines now stand surrounded by skyscrapers, creating striking contrasts between timeless traditions and hyper-modern cityscapes.
Tin Hau Temple, Yaumatei, the largest and oldest Mazu temple in Kowloon, epitomizes this unique blend. First constructed near today’s Pak Hoi Street in 1865, it was destroyed by the catastrophic 1874 Great Typhoon (one of Hong Kong’s deadliest storms) before being rebuilt at its current location in 1876. For over 150 years, it has witnessed Hong Kong’s metamorphosis from fishing port to global metropolis.
The temple complex isn’t just a single shrine. Wander through its atmospheric courtyards to discover:
The Main Tin Hau Temple with its iconic tiled roof and incense-filled halls
Fook Tak Tsz (honoring the Earth God)
A transformed Kung Sor (community hall) repurposed as a Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) pavilion
One of the Shu Yuen (study halls) now housing shops selling traditional crafts and souvenirs
This architectural time capsule reveals how Hong Kong preserves its heritage amid relentless urbanization. While high-rises tower overhead, the temple’s carved stone lions, red lanterns, and curling incense smoke transport visitors to another era.
Ready to explore? Hit play to step inside this tranquil sanctuary where history whispers through every archway – a quiet rebellion against the city’s breakneck pace.
以下地圖標示了本節目曾經到過香港什麼地方，方便大家查閱及前往探索。
番組内で紹介した場所は、以下の地図で確認・探索するのに便利です。
The following map indicates the places introduced in this column, which is convenient for you to check and explore.
