Wan Chai - Where New and Old Coexist

Street views of Wan Chai

I love going to Wan Chai because it is one of the very few metropolitan areas in Hong Kong that still gives a neighborhood and indigenous feeling to me.  It is in between two busy commercial districts, Admiralty and Causeway bay, but the atmosphere and the appearance of Wan Chai is totally different from the two.    Wan Chai comprises of many old buildings while there are also new ones in between.   What is so unique about Wan Chai is that it is at the heart of Hong Kong Island but  is not occupied by modern commercial buildings nor there are any luxury shopping malls. You can still see many small shops selling all kinds of different things that are mainly for local people. 

During the weekends, I love going to Wan Chai to have breakfast at a local coffee shop called Luxury Coffee House (translation).  Actually, it isn't luxury at all and is just a very old and vintage look coffee house.  I like this place because it completely reflects what old Hong Kong looks like.  All the staffs there are over fifties.  Sitting inside it is like going back to the old times.   Besides, its menu is very simple.  It only sells certain kinds of noodles and sandwiches, but the price is super affordable and the taste is reasonably good!  Particularly, its Hong Kong style milk tea is a must try.  If you want to experience local Hong Kong people's life style, this is the place that you should go.

Wan Chai Market

Another place that I really like in Wan Chai  pertains to the wet market.  Because Wan Chai isn't a major tourist area and most shops serve the neighborhood, prices of most merchandises are more reasonable than the other metropolitan areas.  That's why I like buying daily things there.  Apart from major Chinese daily produce and vegetables, we are also able to buy products from different countries.  For instance, if you want to have Thai cuisine for dinner, you are able to find all necessary
ingredients in this market.  One year I hosted a dinner party for my family and needed to buy a whole Salmon fish.  I searched many supermarkets and wet markets and just couldn't find a whole Salmon or they were simply too expensive.  Lastly, I managed to order one in a small shop located in this market.  Since then, I buy almost most of the food there.  Some people might argue that the food there isn't as cheap as other districts such as Shum Shui Po or Tai Po, where income level are much lower than Wan Chai.  Well, one thing I am fairly sure is that the food varieties and quality are overall good.

Apart from daily merchandises and food, one place that my husband has to visit every week in Wan Chai is the Computer Center.  It is a "shopping mall" comprises of many small shops that sell  computers, cell phones and other electronic gadgets.  Not only local people, plenty of tourists and expats also make purchases there.  For myself, I bought all my iPad case, cell phone case and all kinds of cool gadgets from those shops. 

Gloucester Road, a modern side of Wan Chai

These days in Hong Kong, many small shops are forced to close down due to relentless increase of rent.  In many metropolitan areas, small shops are gradually replaced by chain stores, property agency branches, banks or humongous shopping malls.  While many areas are rapidly developing, old buildings are torn down and replaced with new tall ones.  When this is happening, it also signifies the lose of our history.  When history is disappearing, so do our memories and values.  There is nothing to share between generations.  This is very pathetic.  As Wan Chai pertains to one of the highest land value place on Hong Kong Island, having the balance of new and old is very challenging.  After all, Wan Chai is one of the very few places where the new and old architectures still coexist.   Therefore, we local people, developer and the government should treasure these precious local cultures and should do our very best to preserve it.