Route 2 - Wan Chai Expo East - Convention Centre - Hung Hing Road - Victoria Park Road Flashcards
(6 cards)
Route 2 - Points to mention
(Expo Drive East - Convention Avenue - Hung Hing Road - Victoria Park Road)
5 sites - 3-7 minutes
- Cross Harbour Tunnel (left)
- Wan Chai (front)
- Wan Chai Promenade (left)
- Noonday Gun (left)
- Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (left)
Cross Harbour Tunnel
0. Transition (1)
1. Significance (2)
2. Key Features (3)
3. Current Situation (5)
2 minutes
0. Transition: (1)
* In addition to the Star Ferry crossing Victoria Harbour, this area is also home to Hong Kong’s first underwater tunnel, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, linking Hong Kong Island and Kowloon beneath Victoria Harbour.
1. Significance: (3)
* It was privately built at a cost of HK$320 million, with construction taking three years before opening in August 1972.
* Before the tunnel, vehicles relied on vehicular ferries, which were slow and often delayed by weather conditions like typhoons, leaving the city temporarily disconnected.
* The original toll was HK$5 per car, and impressively, the tunnel’s construction costs were recovered in just three and a half years.
2. Key Features: (3)
* The total length of the tunnel is 1.86 kilometers (1.16 miles).
* It consists of twin tubes, each with two lanes of traffic.
* It runs approximately 25 meters below Victoria Harbour, making it an engineering feat of its time.
3. Current Situation: (5)
* Today, the tunnel handles about 110,000 vehicles daily.
* It is known as one of the most congested roads in Hong Kong.
* Tolls are variable, depending on vehicle type and time of day.
* The tunnel is popular with buses, taxis, and private cars, but it’s wise to avoid peak hours due to heavy traffic.
* Although there are two alternative crossings—the Eastern Harbour Crossing and the Western Harbour Tunnel—the Cross-Harbour Tunnel remains the most used thanks to its central locations in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.
District Wan Chai
1. Location (2)
2. History (5)
3. Transportation Demands (3)
4. Current Situation (2)
2:10 minutes
1. Location: (2)
* We now are in Wan Chai, one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most dynamic neighborhoods.
* Located on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, it lies between Admiralty and Causeway Bay.
2. History: (5)
* Due to its geographical location, in the old days the district was known as “Ha Wan” in Cantonese (i.e. Lower District), named after the small bay, which local villagers called “Wan Chai.”
* It originated as a small coastal village near today’s Hung Shing Temple, with most of the population being fishermen.
* After the colony of Hong Kong was established, Wan Chai became a major Chinese settlement and one of the city’s earliest developed areas.
* It also served as a British colonial military base, and was once known for its nightlife and red-light district in the mid-20th century.
* The location of the 1957 novel and 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong is set in Wan Chai.
3. Transportation Demands: (3)
* Since the 1972 opening of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel connecting Causeway Bay and Hung Hom, Wan Chai has become a key transport hub between the island and Kowloon.
* Positioned between Central and Causeway Bay, it also serves as a vital interchange on Hong Kong Island.
* Although home to around 160,000 residents, more than 600,000 people commute through Wan Chai daily.
4. Current Situation: (2)
* Wan Chai is a densely populated and vibrant district, blending modern skyscrapers with historic temples, markets, and lively nightlife.
* It is both a commercial center for SMEs and a popular residential and entertainment area, reflecting Hong Kong’s layered identity.
Unique features of the Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade
1. Overview (5)
2. Development and Design (4)
4. When to Visit (3)
2: minutes
1. Overview: (5)
* As we continue driving along the waterfront, we now shift our view toward to the harbourfront on your left, where one of Hong Kong’s most scenic public spaces awaits.
* The Wan Chai Promenade is a scenic walkway stretching along Victoria Harbour, from Kennedy Town in the west to North Point in the east, with the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as a striking centerpiece.
* It features (5) stunning skyline views, seating areas, landscaped greenery, children’s play areas and interactive art installations.
* It is also Hong Kong’s first pet-friendly promenade, with dedicated dog-friendly features like drinking fountains and open lawn areas.
* The Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade is enjoyed by (5) locals and tourists, families, joggers, pet-owners, and photographers alike.
2. How: (4)
* The promenade was created in phases through urban redevelopment and land reclamation projects.
* Its first section opened in 2007, marking the start of a long-term waterfront enhancement initiative.
* The walkway is well connected to adjacent urban zones and accessible by public transport.
3. When to Visit: (3)
* The promenade is open year-round with no formal operating hours, as it is a fully public space.
* The best times to visit are at sunrise or sunset, offering beautiful panoramic views.
* It’s also a top spot during festivals and special events like the (3) Symphony of Lights, fireworks, or drone displays over the harbour.
Noonday Gun
1. Overview (3)
2. Location (1)
3. Historical Facts (8)
4. Daily Firing Event (3)
5. Fundraising Events (3)
6. Tour Guide Tips (3)
2:40 minutes
1. Overview: (3)
* As we drive into Causeway Bay, you might not see it from the bus, but there is cannon wrapped in blue canvas on your left called the Noonday Gun, a ceremonial gun fired daily at noon by Jardine Matheson staff, accompanied by a short ritual including the ringing of a bell.
* It is a quirky and historic tradition that draws both tourists and locals to the Causeway Bay waterfront.
* The event offers a glimpse into a colonial-era custom that has remarkably survived for over a century.
2. Location: (1)
* The Noonday Gun is located near the waterfront in Causeway Bay, adjacent to Victoria Park and the Typhoon Shelter.
3. Historical Facts: (8)
* The Noonday Gun is a former naval artillery piece owned by the British trading company Jardine Matheson.
* In the 1850s, Sir Robert Jardine, general manager of Jardine Matheson, returned to Hong Kong from England.
* To celebrate his arrival, the company fired 21-gun salutes, a gesture usually reserved for British royalty or naval officers.
* The British military was offended, as Jardine was a merchant, not entitled to such honors.
* As a punishment, Jardine’s staff was ordered to fire one cannon shot daily at noon, beginning the tradition.
* During the Japanese occupation in 1941, the original cannon was taken and its fate remains unknown.
* In 1945, after WWII, the Royal Navy gifted Jardine Matheson a new six-pound cannon to continue the tradition.
* The firing ceremony resumed on July 1, 1947, and has continued even after Hong Kong’s Handover in 1997.
4. Daily Firing Event: (3)
* Each day, a Jardines’ guard in uniform marches up to the gun, and unlocks the chain.
* The guard rings the bell, fires the gun, rings the bell again, and then locks the chain around the site.
* The gun is also fired at midnight on New Year’s Eve, marking the start of the year.
5. Fundraising Events: (3)
* Since 1989, Jardine Matheson has used the gun for charity fundraising.
* Anyone who donates HK$48,000 or more can personally fire the cannon.
* Donors receive a commemorative shell casing engraved with their name.
6. Tour Guide Tips: (3)
* Visitors can watch the ceremony free of charge.
* It is easily accessible from Victoria Park or Causeway Bay MTR Station.
* Arrive a few minutes before noon to secure a good spot and enjoy the full ritual.
Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
1. Establishment and Purpose (4)
3. Cultural Significance (4)
1:50
1. Establishment and Purpose: (4)
* The Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, completed in 1883, was Hong Kong’s first typhoon shelter, built in response to the devastating 1874 typhoon, which destroyed nearly every vessel in the harbor.
* Until 1953, the original location was where Victoria Park now stands, and it was designed to offer protection for small and medium-sized boats during violent storms.
* Even today, it provides anchorage for fishing vessels during the fishing moratorium, when offshore fishing is paused for ecological recovery.
* The eastern end of the shelter is still home to traditional fishing boats, while the western side features luxury yachts, creating a vivid contrast between Hong Kong’s seafaring past and present prosperity.
2. Cultural Significance: (4)
* In the 1950s and 60s, the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter gained fame as a “floating nightclub district,” where visitors could enjoy live music, food, and nightlife aboard docked boats.
* Iconic dishes such as typhoon shelter crab, boat congee, and fried noodles were popular attractions that drew both locals and tourists.
* The boats would line up in such an orderly fashion, they were compared to a street, earning the nickname “Floating Shanghai Street.”
* There were even song boats, dedicated solely to musical performances, which added to the vibrant and unique waterfront nightlife culture.
