Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A short distance to the east of Wan Chai Market is this tiny colonial-style building erected in
1913 and now serving as a resource centre operated by the
Environmental Protection De-
partment
( 2893 2856; 10am-5pm Mon-Tue & Thu-Sat, 10am-1pm Wed, 1-5pm Sun)
.
TEMPLE
HUNG SHING TEMPLE
Nestled in a nook on the southern side of Queen's Rd East, this narrow, dark and rather for-
bidding temple (c 1847) is built atop huge boulders. It was erected in honour of a deified
Tang dynasty official who was known for his virtue (important) and ability to make predic-
tions of great value to traders (ultra-important).
PARK
SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND
This unspectacular-looking sportsground is in fact the social hub of old Wan Chai, offering
up a cross-section of life in the hood at any time of the day. Seniors come to play chess, stu-
dents and amateur athletes to shoot hoops and kick ball. There are hip-hop dance-offs,
housewives shaking a leg, outreach social workers, cruisers looking for a booty call, and a
daily trickle of lunchers from the banks and construction sites.
Southorn is bound by Hennessy, Luard and Johnston Rds, and the Wan Chai Computer
Centre.
SIKH TEMPLE
KHALSA DIWAN SIKH TEMPLE
4am-9pm; 10 from Central)
Sitting quietly between a busy road and a cemetery is Hong Kong's largest Sikh temple, a
descendant of a small original built in 1901 by Sikh members of the British army. The
temple welcomes people of any faith, caste or colour to join in the services. Sunday prayer
(9am to 1.30pm) sees some 1000 believers and nonbelievers in collective worship (fewer at
the daily prayers, 6am to 8.30am and 6.30pm to 8pm).
More famous are its free vegetarian meals (11.30am to 8.30pm), a simple dhal or
sabzi
(vegetable stew) handed to anyone walking through the blue-and-white gates. You could re-
turn the favour by helping to wash the dishes.
CEMETERY
HONG KONG CEMETERY
