Breakfast at the Eaton Hotel is in the basement and is set up like a food court. Really nicely done and everyone can find something here. At 9:30 a.m. we meet Polly, our German tour guide for today, whom Markus and Robert met 9 years ago. We take the bus to the promenade by the water.
It offers a perfect view of the skyline of Hong Kong. The train station used to be here. Only the Clock Tower remains.
After a few exciting explanations about the individual buildings, we take the Star Ferry over to Hong Kong Island. The ferry is from the 50/60s and painted in green and white. The innovation from back then still exists today and you can also fold down the bench backrest so that you can always sit in the direction of travel, because the ferry does not turn around. We take the ferry Solar Star built in 1958. Hong Kong has 263 islands and 75% of its area is undeveloped. There are 47 nature conservation parks. In 1841 Hong Kong was ceded by China to the English. In 1997 Hong Kong went back to China under the condition of a special administration for 50 years.
In the Central Plaza there is a floor with a 360 degree view, without any people, so an absolute insider tip. From there you can see the horse racecourse as well as the Happy Valley, which is a cemetery. Hong Kong has 13 typhoon shelters. Since 1973, the middle underwater tunnel has connected Kowloon and HK Island. There are a total of 3 tunnels. Since the middle of the 18th century, Hong Kong has been enlarged by 67 km2 through land reclamation. In 1998, the airport was moved from the center to one of the islands. At the old location is now the modern cruise terminal. Unbelievable how the planes had to land dangerously through the houses back then.
We stroll through a street market and on the way to the temple we pass the well-known blue house. Even the gully lids indicate this.
There are about 600 temples in HK, we are at the largest Taoist temple from 1863 Wan Chai Pak. In the Chinese horoscope, the 12 year zodiac signs paired with the five elements play a role, so there are 60 personal deities on the wall. Polly also explains the rituals here. Such a wonderful place.
We continue through the weekly market. In the past, a hanging basket was the cash register and today it is the hanging buckets.
There is a lot to try, an egg tart, a thousand-year-old egg and a kind of moonkake. Later we take a break and eat something small.
At Status Square there is another insight into the past and how the then 10 statues fared in the Second World War. They were taken by the Japanese to make ammunition out of them. Two have been found again. We also learn a lot about the banknotes, because they are printed by the three private banks by arrangement and look accordingly different.
Yes, we are in the financial sector. Did you know that HSBC was founded in 1865 by Thomas Jackson in HK to trade with Singapore? In front of the third building at the same location, as is customary in China, sit two lions. They are Western lions and symbolize the quiet Mr. Stitt and the loud Mr. Steven, the first managers of the bank. The bullet holes of the war and the defacements during the 2019 riots were largely left.
Now we go over Li Yuen Street, an old local street to the longest covered escalator. There are 19 individuals with a total of 80 meters. Of the many food stalls, only 17 remain, today there are the food courts.
Aberdeen Street is extremely steep and therefore well-known. On Hollywood Street you can find many antiques or just junk? Polly shows us another street where there are many dried goods, such as fish bladders, good for joint fluid and collagen, sea cucumbers, abalone and so much more…
And now to the tram, called “Ding Ding”, which has been around since 1904, at first only one-storey, but soon also two-storey. It is the cheapest means of transport on the island. No matter how long you drive, it is always 3.30 HKD, 0.33 centimes. After 8 informative hours we are back at the hotel.
But not for long. We follow Polly’s advice and enjoy the evening in the rooftop bar “Eye Bar” with a perfect view of the illuminated skyline and the rather modest light show at 8 pm.