Field Trip Sites
The Two Heritage Sites
兩處文物遺址
Click on each site to explore our observations, analysis, and reflections from the field trip.
See — What We Observed
Direct observations from the field trip
Architecture & Layout:
- A compact, one-hall traditional Chinese temple built with granite boulders from the nearby hillside — the rear wall actually rests directly on natural rock
- Elaborate Shiwan ceramic ridge decorations (石灣陶瓷) dating from 1909, featuring colourful dragons, phoenixes, and traditional figurines along the sweeping roof ridge
- Granite platform in front of the main hall, supported by intricately carved granite columns; staircases on both sides rather than centrally
- A separate Kwun Yum (觀音) annex temple added to the left in 1867, painted white
- Red lanterns hanging from the eaves, golden incense urns, and the warm amber glow of hundreds of coil incense spirals suspended from the ceiling
- A persistent haze of incense smoke, dense enough to create a sense of sacred enclosure
Current Use:
- Actively used for worship — worshippers seen making offerings and prayers
- Managed by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals on behalf of the Chinese Temples Committee
- Part of the Wan Chai Heritage Trail (since 2009), attracting both devotees and heritage tourists
- Surrounded by modern residential and commercial buildings — a dramatic contrast
Think — What It Makes Us Think
Interpretation and deeper reflection
- The temple was originally built on the shoreline facing the sea — but due to successive land reclamation projects, the harbour is now nowhere to be seen. This illustrates how drastically Hong Kong's geography has been transformed by human intervention
- The fact that the temple has survived for over 177 years, through the colonial era, WWII Japanese occupation, and rapid urban development, speaks to the resilience of local religious and community life
- Hung Shing (洪聖) is the God of the Southern Seas, venerated as a protector by fishermen and coastal communities. The temple's survival in an area that is no longer coastal reflects how communities maintain cultural memory even as physical landscapes change
- The Shiwan ceramic decorations — produced in Guangdong province — indicate strong cross-border trade and cultural ties between Hong Kong and mainland China, even during the early colonial period
- The juxtaposition of ancient incense rituals against the backdrop of modern glass towers prompts us to think about Hong Kong's identity as a city caught between East and West, tradition and modernity
Wonder — Questions We Ask
Curiosities and further inquiry
- Why was Hung Shing chosen as the patron deity for this particular temple, and who were the original founders? Was it the comprador Lee Foon Wai who purchased the land in 1847?
- How did the worshipping community adapt their religious practices as the surrounding neighbourhood transformed from a fishing village into an urban commercial district?
- The Kwun Yum annex was added 20 years after the main temple — what social or religious factors led the community to incorporate the Goddess of Mercy into the same site?
- How has the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals' management shaped the conservation and ritual practices of the temple over the decades?
- If the land reclamation had not separated the temple from the sea, how might the rituals and festivals have evolved differently?
Quick Facts
- Builtc. 1847
- GradingGrade I Historic Building
- DeityHung Shing 洪聖 (God of the Sea)
- Location129–131 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
- Managed byTung Wah Group of Hospitals
- Roof CeramicsShiwan Kiln, 1909
- Annex AddedKwun Yum Temple, 1867
- Renovations1857, 1860, 1867, 1949, 1992
Photo Gallery
Location
129–131 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
MTR: Wan Chai Station Exit A3 · ~5 min walk
See — What We Observed
Direct observations from the field trip
Architecture & Design:
- A row of ten pre-war tenement houses (唐樓) built in the 1910s, displaying a unique hybrid of Western and Chinese architectural styles
- Distinctive cantilevered verandahs (騎樓) that project over the street, providing covered walkways — a hallmark of South Chinese/Southeast Asian shop-house architecture
- Preserved timber French doors and louvred shutters painted in muted heritage greens and teals
- Original tiled pitched roofs and internal timber staircases — remarkably intact for 110+ year old structures
- Decorative plaster mouldings around window arches and cornices — blending classical European architectural grammar with Chinese building patterns
- A small public open space (~300 sq m) created between buildings for community use
Current Use:
- Revitalised as M7 by the Urban Renewal Authority — housing retail shops, restaurants, art galleries, and exhibition spaces
- Themed around "Culture in Motion, Connected Living" — promoting community cultural exploration
- A lively mixture of heritage visitors, local shoppers, art exhibition attendees, and café patrons
Think — What It Makes Us Think
Interpretation and deeper reflection
- The buildings were originally owned by Burrows and Sons, an American firm, before being acquired by Lawrence Mallory of the Hong Kong Timber Yard — reflecting how Wan Chai was shaped by diverse colonial commercial interests
- The tong lau (唐樓) typology — with its blend of European Neo-Classical facades and Chinese spatial organisation — embodies Hong Kong's hybrid colonial identity. It is neither purely Chinese nor purely Western
- The URA's decision to revitalise rather than demolish these buildings shows a shift in Hong Kong's attitude toward heritage conservation — from a "clear and rebuild" mentality to one of adaptive reuse and community integration
- The verandah/arcade (arcade walkways shielding pedestrians) reflects a pragmatic adaptation to Hong Kong's subtropical climate — demonstrating how architecture evolves through lived experience
- The renaming from "Comix Home Base" (2013) to "M7" (2022) signals a repositioning — from niche pop culture to broader community cultural engagement
Wonder — Questions We Ask
Curiosities and further inquiry
- What were the lives of the original residents like? Who lived and worked in these buildings during the 1910s–1940s, and what businesses occupied the ground-floor shop-fronts?
- How did the buildings survive the Japanese Occupation (1941–1945) and the post-war urban transformation largely intact?
- Does converting heritage buildings into retail and café spaces risk turning "living history" into a commercialised spectacle? How can authentic community uses be preserved alongside tourism?
- The verandah system created a semi-public zone between private and street. With the modern renovation, has this ambiguous, community-oriented space been preserved or lost?
- Would the story have been different if the URA had not intervened — could these buildings have been preserved by the private market, or were they destined for demolition?
Quick Facts
- Builtc. 1910s
- GradingGrade II Historic Buildings
- Buildings10 pre-war tenement houses
- Location7 Mallory St., Wan Chai
- Current NameM7 茂蘿街7號
- Managed byUrban Renewal Authority (URA)
- Opened2013 (revitalised)
- StyleTong Lau · Western–Chinese hybrid
Photo Gallery
Location
7 Mallory Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island
MTR: Wan Chai Station Exit A3 · ~8 min walk