Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
1
Bank of China Tower
BUILDING
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
Designed by IM Pei, Hong Kong's third-tallest building has an asymmetrical form com-
prising cubes and prisms. Some locals say its jagged silhouette evokes a meat cleaver
poised to chop the HSBC Building. The observation deck (42nd floor) has views extending
to Kowloon.
(
www.bochk.com
;
1 Garden Rd;
Central, exit K
)
8am-6pm Mon-Fri;
Understand
Walls in Sheung Wan
In the 19th century many Chinese flocked to Hong Kong from the mainland in search of employment. The major-
ity were coolies who settled in Sheung Wan. Afraid they'd get too close to the Europeans living nearby, the Brit-
ish imposed a segregation policy: Chinese to the west, Europeans to the east, with Aberdeen St serving as the in-
visible wall between the two. Conditions in the Chinese quarter were atrocious. The British turned a blind eye,
and a bubonic plague broke out in 1894, killing 20,000.
From the time of the plague until after WWII, other walls were erected in Sheung Wan. To prevent landslides
on steep Hong Kong Island, masonry workers shored up many slopes adjacent to main roads with stone retaining
walls. Open joints between the stones allowed strong species such as Chinese banyans to sprout, further strength-
ening the walls.
Today Sheung Wan is one of Hong Kong's most cosmopolitan areas, but the 'wall trees' are still there.
2
Two IFC
BUILDING
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
This 88-storey colossus is Hong Kong's second-tallest building. Designed partly by Cesar
Pelli, it's been christened Sir YK Pao's Erection, a reference to the developer who built it.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority Information Centre, on the 55th floor, runs guided
Hong Kong, exit E1)
3
Government House
BUILDING
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