Urme ale perioadei coloniale a orasului se gasesc in special in partea de nord a Insulei Hong Kong. Se poate merge in plimbare pe un anumit traseu sau pot fi vazute cu ocazia altor drumuri. Nu le-am vazut pe toate, nu am avut timp, dar cateva tot am “prins”.
Prima cu care am inceput este Western Market, o cladire aflata nu departe de hotelul nostru. Ea a fost construita in 1906 si a servit ca sediu administrativ al portului, apoi ca piata alimentara. Inchisa, apoi renovata, a fost redeschisa in 1991.
Cladirea in stil Edwardian se afla chiar vis-a-vis de debarcaderul pentru Macao, deci cei mai multi dintre turistii care merg la HK vor trece prin apropierea ei.
In drum spre tramvaiul care ne-a dus la The Peak, am poposit putin la Catedrala Sf. Ioan. Desi in jurul sau sunt numerosi zgarie nori, cladirea este inconjurata de o curte linistita, unde nu auzi zgomotul strazii. Poti sta sa te relaxezi pe o banca sau sa ii observi pe vizitatori, care vin aici in grupuri mici sau individual.
Catedrala Sf. Ioan
Catedrala dateaza din 1849 dar stilul in care este construita este cel gotic. Chiar in spatele ei, vedem o alta cladire mai veche, cea a Fostei Misiuni Franceze, construita in 1917. Nu se poate vizita deoarece adaposteste acum Curtea Hong Kongului pentru Ultimul Apel. Granitul si caramizile rosii au fost materialul de constructie pentru cladirea in stil neo-clasic.
latura a cladirii dinspre Catedrala Sf. Ioan
Fosta Misiune Franceza
In alta zi, am dat intamplator de Casa Elena May, construita in 1914 si deschisa in 1916 ca…hostel pentru femei! In timpul celui de-al doilea razboi mondial aici au fost incartiruite trupe japoneze. Chiar langa ea se afla Biserica Sf. Iosif, construita in 1871. Desi a supravietuit razboiului a fost demolata si reconstruita la mijlocul secolului al XX-lea.
Biserica Sf. Iosif
Fringe Club si Clubul Corespondentilor Straini ocupa aceeasi cladire din 1913, respectiv 1917, aflata in apropiere de Lai Kwai Fong, o zona intesata de restaurante. Cladirea este usor de recunoscut dupa dungile alb-rosii caracteristice.
Fringe Club
Clubul Corespondentilor Straini
Nu departe, o alta cladire din vremea britanicilor, este Magistratura Centrala. A fost construita din granit, in stil clasic grecesc, in 1914.
Magistratura Centrala
Un alt loc care ne aminteste de vremurile de altadata este reprezentat de scara de granit de pe strada Duddell, construita intre 1875-1889. Ea pastreaza inca felinarele care functionau odinioara cu gaz. Pana si o mireasa apreciaza romantismul locului, facandu-si aici fotografii!
Duddell Street
Din aceasta serie nu poate lipsi nici Legfo sau Consiliul Legislativ, din Central. Initial, Curtea Suprema, a fost construita in 1912 de catre Sir Aston Webb, arhitect cu contributii la constructia Palatului Buckingham si a Muzeului Victoria si Albert din Londra. In fata sa, un mic scuar, cu fantani decorative.
A Different China: Hong Kong 8. Memories of British Hong Kong
There are in the Northern part of the Hong Kong Island some British buildings, which can be seen during a special walk or on your way to other objectives. I had no time to see them all, but only some of them.
The first one for us was the Western Market, built in 1906. It was the site of the harbor administration, and then a food market.
On our way to the tram for The Peak, we entered in the St. John’s Cathedral.In spite of being built in 1849, the style is gothic.
Over the little garden, it is the Former French Mission building. Now it hosts the Court of the Last Appeal. The construction year is 1917.
An older building is that of the St. Joseph’s Church – 1871. It time it was demolished and reconstructed toward the middle of the XX-th. century.
The Fringe Club and the Club of Foreign Correspondents (1913 and 1917) are in the red and white stripes building. It is a neo-classical one, not far from a well-known restaurants zone, Lai Kwai Fong. The Central Magistracy is not far (1914).
On the Duddell Street it’s still to be seen a granite stair with lamps which used gas for illumination. It is a more romantic place in the middle of the sky scrapers.
We can not avoid the Legislative Council from this series. The architect of this building (1912) was Sir Aston Webb, who contributed to the Buckingham Palace and the Victoria and Albert Museum too.
Nice photographs. I really like the wedding couple and the artwork in the fountain.
Thank you, Randy! Coming toward us, the couple saw us photographing and smiled. We congratulated them.
A strange mix of good and less good architecture, but always interesting… Love the round bench!
You’re right, V.P.! Look in your mail box:)
With you, my dear friend, I travel to places that will not ever go.
In thanks for the nice photos and interesting information!
Be healthy and travels everywhere!
I wish the same for us!
many kisses
Never say “never”, Magda! When I was much younger, I couldn’t dream to travel to the places I have been, from various motives. So, one never know…
Thank you for your comment, my dear friend. Hugs from Romania
What an interesting collection of buildings, with such a Western influence. I like seeing the happy couple (I remember those times), and the modern fountain, with all the amazing colors!
It is the “British” part of the city and the influence is strong. Among the skyscrapers you could think you are in London, not much difference. I like the older buildings:)
My kind of post. Superb buildings from yesteryear all displayed in unusual settings or styles. Interesting church windows, I would love to photograph that although the city seems a bit cramped in places for photography.
You are right, J_on_tour. It isn’t easy to take photographs everywhere. But all in all, HK has much to offer to a photographer. I loved those buildings too.
Tare interesant, mi-a plăcut acest tur cu aer British. La urma urmei, britanicii pe unde au fost au lăsat în urma lor o civilizaţie. Frumoase fotografii!
Multumesc, Mira! Mai sunt asemenea locuri in oras dar n-am ajuns sa le vad. Cred ca daca as mai fi stat vreo 10 zile, era mai bine:)
Imi plac articolele tale, fotografiile si modul tau concis de a transmite mesajele articolului. Nici prea putine cuvinte, nici prea multe sa ma plictiseasca, destul pt. a-mi dau contur mesajelor tale. Fotografiile tale sunt elocvente, de-ajuns sa completeze vorbele spuse de tine.
Bine ai venit pe blog, Cristina! Multumesc pentru comentariu.