Envision a bustling metropolis combining the best of both (literal) worlds: a cultural melting pot of the East and West with a cityscape where gravity-defying skyscrapers meet classical Lingnan architecture. A juxtaposition is struck between the hilly mountain ranges and grand contemporary structures, serving as a reminder of its past as a fishing port before its transformation into an international financial hub. The described landscape is Hong Kong — the city that has instilled in me an appreciation for the malleability of urban space and the evolution of cities.
Having frequently meandered down the backstreets of Hong Kong and ventured to the border for 19 years, I have lived amid the city’s ever-fluctuating physical landscape. Having witnessed glistening glass towers and towering concrete edifices erected annually along Victoria Harbor, urban development shows no sign of slowing down. Despite its ubiquitous modernity, glimpses of Hong Kong’s cultural history can still be seen in certain pockets of the city. Whenever I step foot into the Kowloon neighborhood, I am engulfed by the rows and clusters of densely packed properties, reminiscent of old Hong Kong. Passing by 19th-century tong laus (tenement buildings), I take in the surrounding relics from the colonial Hong Kong era. During my trips to the rowdy wet market in Sham Shui Po where the freshest produce always is, I recognize the dynamic culture of Cantonese “banter,”amongst many of Hong Kong’s efforts in recognizing its humble beginning as a small fishing village. Going on weekly family hikes along Hong Kong’s countless mountain trails, I immerse myself in the vast protected rural landscape, a side of Hong Kong that remains the city’s best kept secret from the world. The dichotomy between the glass towers in the urban district and the sometimes adjacent alleyways which cling onto the “old Hong Kong aesthetic” is indicative of the city’s drastic evolution. The state’s geographical proximity to and political involvement with China ensures it preserves its Chinese heritage, while remnants of its colonial past are evident in its politics and surrounding architecture. This culmination of influences constitutes Hong Kong’s unique character – I’ve grown exceedingly fond of this amalgamation of bifurcated cultures. Despite its ever-shifting identity, the city retains elements of old. From my experience, simply traversing Hong Kong’s various districts allows you to delve into its rich historical narrative.
The transformation of my city’s iconic skyline is indicative of the fact that cities truly are living organisms, so to speak. It is Hong Kong’s adaptability and fluidity that perpetuates its prosperity as an “Economic Tiger.” As the city steps into tomorrow, its urban landscape will naturally undergo change. Currently, in the face of climate change, tumultuous political unrest, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, the current built environment appears yet again subject to reform in the near future.
I invite you to visit Hong Kong: she weaves modernity into the nuances of her colonial legacy. The aroma from her stirring the melting pot of East and West reminds me of Home.
Comments