In the minds of many, Hong Kong is merely a temporary transit point, a duty-free shopping paradise, a cultural desert, a modern metropolis filled with skyscrapers, bustling pedestrians, and indifferent faces... In reality, Hong Kong is more than just the impression you have of it. Tea houses that have weathered half a century of change, old film studios that have recorded the passage of time, workshops where artisans persistently hone their crafts, and independent bookstores that harbor deep sentiments all hide traces of Hong Kong's culture—the Hong Kong classics that time cannot erase.
Literary sentiments at the street corner
In this modern metropolis of skyscrapers, old-fashioned film studios, traditional leather craftsmanship, retro-style hostels, and Tong Lau (tenement buildings) that tell the old stories of Hong Kong seem like anomalies, yet they are unforgettable. If you immigrate to Hong Kong, it is well worth spending an afternoon taking photos and whiling away the time in these places.
Shan Mei Photography – The last film photo studio in Hong Kong
In an era where digital SLRs are ubiquitous, some say film photography is long outdated, and those who still use it are too stubborn. Yet, in the Shan Mei Photography studio in Yau Ma Tei, there is a stubborn and persistent old man who still insists on doing just that.
On a quiet street, with a quaint blue sign and a faded crimson flag nearby, one can catch a glimpse of a strong sense of history as time passes in the old building. Walking up, you see many photos posted in the display window: graduation photos of students, wedding photos of newlyweds, and formal ID photos. If you look closely, you can even spot the faces of familiar celebrities. The photos are slightly yellowed, and a sense of nostalgia spreads from here.
The shop is filled with antique cameras. Besides shooting with film and developing photos in a darkroom, the process also involves retouching negatives with pencils and photos with brushes. From "taking photos" to "developing" and "retouching," these are traditional crafts passed down for many years. The precious memories here are something even the "Time Thief" cannot steal.
Address: 2/F, 17 Pak Hoi Street, Yau Ma Tei
Brother Leather – Unique human touch in leather
In an era where almost everything is readily available, fewer and fewer people seem to make small trinkets by hand. However, Brother Leather, located near the bustling Apliu Street, has perfected this leather craft, becoming a favorite among literary youths and artisans.
The storefront is small. The owners are a pair of brothers who, after testing the waters by making a batch of leather crafts and selling them online, opened their own physical leather shop. The shop is simply furnished, yet everywhere there are finished products for sale, unfinished works, and leather materials of varying shades. The most eye-catching feature is the workbench on the right side of the entrance, where all kinds of tools with names unknown to most visitors pique their curiosity.
Usually, passing customers will stop at the workbench, either quietly watching the owner demonstrate or rolling up their sleeves to give it a try. Sometimes, free market events are held regularly in the Tai Nan Street area, where they chat with passing tourists, demonstrate their craft, and showcase the human touch of old Hong Kong.
Address: 208-222 Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:30-19:30, Sunday 11:30-17:00
WONTONMEEN HOSTEL – A short-term hostel full of stories
WONTONMEEN—at first glance, one might be puzzled by this word, but those who understand Cantonese know it is the transliteration of the classic Hong Kong dish "Wonton Noodles." This youth hostel, which is only over 1,000 square feet (about 90 square meters), is quite famous among backpackers visiting Hong Kong.
Unlike other YHAs that are overly tidy, WONTONMEEN has a cluttered, retro feel. Antique furniture found everywhere, old-fashioned signs, long-discarded light bulbs, as well as hung-up bicycles, red-white-blue woven bags, and old radios are all placed with careful consideration, reminding people of the street culture of old Hong Kong.
Although the space here is small, with only ten beds, the owner is unwilling to add more to attract guests. Moreover, the minimum lease term here is one month, which allows designers, photographers, band musicians, tattoo artists, bartenders, and others who come here to communicate in depth. Every tourist has their own story, just like this WONTONMEEN, which is independent and unique.
Address: 135 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po
Visiting hours: Monday to Thursday 12:00-16:00
Blue House – Hong Kong imprints under residential life
Lo Ta-yu made "Queen's Road East" a hit, and also sang about the daily lives of Hong Kong people with great skill. Standing on Queen's Road East, it is easy to notice the colorful, rainbow-like Blue House Tong Lau building complex.
Just like the Red Square in Malacca, this brick-and-wood arcade-style Tong Lau building represents the imprint of an era in Hong Kong. Once an ordinary residence for many, with the evolution of time, part of the ground floor of the Blue House has become the "Hong Kong House of Stories." It retains the architectural features of the Tong Lau and exhibits daily necessities from old Wan Chai. The most ordinary items—gargle cups, washbasins, clothes drying racks, as well as wooden chairs, lampshades, pots, and pans—all display the daily lives of Hong Kong people in the past.
In fact, ten families still live here, but it is not convenient; there are no bathrooms and no Wi-Fi. However, for the sake of convenient transportation and relatively cheap rent, they have to make do here. This is the most ordinary imprint of Hong Kong.
Address: G/F, 72 Stone Nullah Lane, Hong Kong Island
Hours: 10:00-18:00, closed on Wednesdays