What does taking a walk mean to you? Few years ago, I would say it was an a post-meal activity that was good for digestion or a stress relieving exercise when we were in a bad mood. However, the pandemic has changed the living style of Hong Kong people. Taking a walk has become everyone’s routine as a way to kill boredom.
Recently, the word “strolling” (散策) that comes from Japan is always mentioned. The meaning is not only about strolling around but also appreciating the surroundings at the same time.
The most interesting point of strolling is that not only can we do exercise, but also record something fascinating around you. To Kwa Wan is definitely a place you can try strolling. In this issue, we will discover the beauty of To Kwa Wan through photography. We hope you can have your own strolling experience after reading it.
九龍城主題步行徑辦公室： 九龍馬頭涌真善美村低座一樓
Office: 1/F, Lower Block, Chun Seen Mei Chuen, Ma Tau Chung, Kowloon
季刊 第二十三期 Newsletter Issue.23 04-06.2024
編輯： 丘前朗
Edited by Frandie Yau
設計排版：林紫茵
Designed by Traci Lam
編審：陳詠琳、鄭詠恩
Reviewed by Gwyneth Chan, Vivian Cheng 督印人：何穎儀
Supervised by Joyce Ho
印量：8,000
8,000 copies in print
出版日期：2024年6月
First edition June 2024
躍變．龍城體驗館： 九龍譚公道115號運通大廈地下5號舖 Kowloon City in Transformation Information Centre：
Shop No.5, Ground Floor, Wan Tung Building, No. 115 Tam Kung Road, Kowloon
Recently, the Kowloon Walled City became popular again among ci tizens. Despite its notoriety, there are still many anecdotes about the residents’ lives, which serve as colle ctive memories of a generation.
You can experience the lives in old Kowloon Walled City by listening to sound stories. Let's visit Kowloon Walled City Park on weekends to listen to more sound stories!
掃描欄杆的圖案，細聽故事
Scan the graphic on the railings for sound stories 2
AR指示牌位置！ AR 迴·眸寨城 AR Panel Locations
聲音故事
收聽聲音故事 Listen to Sound Stor ie s
插班生 / Tr a n sf e r Studen t 1 2 3 4 5
自己零用自己賺 / Pocket Money B u s i nes s 七月十四 / H un g r y Ghost Fest i v a l
有排．無牌 / T he U n l i ce n se d
閒言閒語 / Goss i p
背水一戰 / Ba ttle fo r Wa te r 6 9 7 10 8
安樂窩 / Home S weet Hom e 童年之樂 / A B l i ssful Ch i ldhoo d
Photography is one of the best ways to get to know a district as the captures can often provide us with all details we may easily overlook. There are several unique attractions in To Kwa Wan which you are highly recommended to pay a visit and know their stories.
Besides I-Feng Mansions, K.K. Industrial Building was one of the places you could see in movies including the recent movie “The Narrow Road”. The cleaning company was exactly in this industrial building. You can see how dense the buildings in 13 Streets are when you are standing on the roof.
Set up by two prominent families the Wans and Fus, this large scale cotton mill used to export textiles worldwide. However, it was closed in the 80s and sold eventually. In 2010, the Government officially listed the Mill as a Grade III historic building. The owner decided to demolish the building 2 years after the recognition and only part of the façade was left.
Opened in To Kwa Wan for over 40 years. They insist on making desserts by themselves all year. In the classic TV drama “The Greed of Man”, Ding Haohai and Fong Ting (performed by Siu Chung Hang David and Lee Lai Chun Rachel) had dates in the shop as well.
It was the first modern ferry pier in Hong Kong built since the Second World War. The Pier witnessed the transportation development of Hong Kong and East Kowloon in the late 20th century. It provides service back and forth to North Point. The Pier is rated as a Grade II historic building in Hong Kong. Although the pier is named after Kowloon City, there is a 30-minute walking distance from the centre of Kowloon City to the pier.
1964年落成，樓高十四層，密集 居室營造出侷促感，加上天井設 計，散發着獨特舊式港味，且極具
視覺張力，因此導演鄭保瑞特意挑
選美景樓作《智齒》其中一個拍攝 場景。
Mei King Mansion is a 14-storey residential building built in 1964. Apartments were closely compressed and there was an atrium in the middle of the building. The cramped building design fully represented the living style of old Hong Kong. Mr. Soi Cheang, film director of “Limbo” realised the uniqueness of the building and selected it as one of the filming locations for his movie.
A traditional pastry shop for over 70 years. The owner insists on making use of fresh rice milk to make the signature dish, put chai ko (also known as red bean pudding). Other than the puddings, over 10 types of traditional pastries like steamed glutinous rice cakes and red bean cakes are worth tasting too. Let’s have some to recharge when you are strolling around the district.
Opened in 1959. It was a popular filming location of TV dramas and movies such as “The Greed of Man” and “Port of Call”. Old window grilles, mosaic tiles floor, three bladed ceiling fans and light green ceramic tile wall at the shop retain the same as the old Hong Kong style café.
「攝影散策」聽起來陌生又熟識。喜歡手執相機四
處遨遊，曾經是不少人在外地旅遊時的指定動作， 為的就是記下當地風土人情和青蔥歲月。除了記錄
異地趣聞，我們同樣可以從自己身處的城市出發， 攝下不同社區獨特之處。本地90後攝影師梁正灝
Kevin熱衷城市遊走，工餘時間就會安排自己來一 趟攝影散策。
"The art of photographic stroll" sounds new but familiar. Holding a camera and exploring the surroundings has been a common practice for many people while travelling, aiming to capture the local customs, vibrant moments, and the essence of time. Besides documenting interesting stories from different places, we can also embark on a journey within our own city and capture the uniqueness of various communities. Kevin Leung, a local photographer from the post-90s generation, is passionate about exploring the city. During his leisure time, he often arranges photography stroll for himself.
Slowly explore the city through the lens, record the beauty of the world
photographic style," recalls Kevin, reflecting on the
"After saving up and buying my own camera, I went to Central and give photography a try. Lots of subjects can be captured in Central, such as landscapes, people, and streets, but I decided to focus on street photography, which may have determined my future photographic style," recalls Kevin, reflecting on the beginning of his photography stroll. He mentions that Central and Sheung Wan are not just financial hubs but also blend in old-fashioned elements, representing the unique Hong Kong style. Through urban exploration, he gradually fell in love with street photography and found that old things were more captivating than new ones. It led him to venture into different communities and even visit places he wouldn't usually go, uncovering interesting things
past, I would walk to To Kwa Wan from home to he began to explore the community in a more serious
Kevin, who grew up in Ho Man Tin, has always had a connection to To Kwa Wan in his daily life. "In the past, I would walk to To Kwa Wan from home to do something specific, then grabbed a meal before heading back home," he explains. For him, everything he did in To Kwa Wan revolved around his daily life, or so he thought. Because of the photography stroll, he began to explore the community in a more serious manner. Returning to To Kwa Wan once again, he discovered aspects that he had overlooked before. He mentions that sometimes he would spend over an hour at a location exploring, and each time he would return with surprises. Through a fortunate encounter, Kevin collaborated with COMM,ON to start a photography project titled “inTo... the every little detail that matter”. It aimed to present the human
He mentions that sometimes he would spend over an hour at a location exploring, and each time he would stories and scenery from his photography excursions in To Kwa Wan through a series of photographs, allowing more people to experience the radiance of the community's subtle power.
Unleashing Multiple Possibilities from a Single Emotion
In recent years, the rapid changes in the city have created a pervasive sense of melancholy. Kevin, while strolling and documenting the cityscape, prompts himself to contemplate the emotional connection between people and the city. This led him to organise his first solo photography exhibition “The Hong Kong Blues”. "Whether it's a photograph or anything in life, there's more than one perspective to consider," he says. People tend to view things in the most familiar and simplistic manner. The blues in the photographs or the pure architecture often evoke a sense of melancholy. However, by gradually shifting the focus onto the interaction between residents and the scenery, incorporating techniques like double exposure, the photographs become filled with possibilities. Cities have always been 近年城市變化太快，一層鬱藍薄紗似乎
重新感受着內心平靜，再次連結城市。 exhibition “The Hong Kong Blues”. "Whether it's melancholy. However, by gradually shifting the ever- changing, infused with more than one emotion. Kevin hopes that those who reside in the city can observe it in a different way, paying attention to their surroundings. From the scenery to the people, from a single emotion to multiple facets of feelings, from melancholy to a sense of release, let us rediscover the inner tranquility and reconnect with the city once again.
"You never know what will happen next." The greatest allure of strolling for Kevin lies in the unknown and the uncertainty. Despite planning the locations and routes in advance, unexpected occurrences during the actual journey often allow the capturing of unique photographs. Through exploration, one naturally comes across places inaccessible by transportation and encounters people who would never be encountered in daily life. These individuals and experiences may become part of the photographs and also become a part of your memory.
Kevin also mentions that there is a personal "Google map" within his brain. Each time he goes out for a stroll, the map gets updated with accumulating stories. These stories and impressions interconnect every place on the map. Whenever revisiting familiar places, the stories or individuals associated with that location resurface in his mind. This is how photography stroll enhances his connection to the community.
我想説的是……
Regarding Photography Stroll, Here's What I Want to Say... 關於攝影散策
Embarking on a photography stroll isn't difficult. By preparing the followings, you can approach your stroll with ease and engagement.
Preferences and Planning 二、 好奇心 Curiosity
Kevin suggests starting by asking yourself what you enjoy photographing, such as old districts, streets, landscapes, animals, and so on. Different preferences will lead to different route planning. Through constant questioning, you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself. Then gather information and roughly familiarise yourself with the location details, such as the shops, buildings, etc. Planning to visit different spots will help you avoid aimless wandering and missing interesting things on the streets.
During our interview, Kevin was looking around the streets, observing everything. He discovered a Buddha statue placed near a yellow fire hydrant, unexpectedly matching in colour. "Pay constant attention to the streets, look at everything, from the buildings to the rubbish bins," he says. Delightful details can be found right on the streets. When you come across something interesting, it will undoubtedly boost your motivation for future community exploration.
The streets undergo constant changes, and capturing exactly what you envision is not an easy task. Kevin believes that even if you can't capture a particular moment, you can capture other things in that same second. If you spend time in a certain location, there's always something special to gain. He has encountered different people and engaged in conversations while on photography strolls. During these strolls, it's important not to be fixated but rather to go with the flow and discover more in the present moment.
Kevin enjoys listening to music and slowing down his pace while taking photos. He says it's his most comfortable way of immersing himself in the pulse of the city, and it adds a special emotional touch to his photography. He emphasises that the streets are ever-changing, and by walking slowly and finding your own rhythm, you can create a space to observe the people and surroundings around you.
Regarding Photography Stroll, Here's What I Want to Say...
From purely documenting the city to now venturing into communities, Kevin continuously explores various possibilities and captures photos in different ways. What he consistently insists on is capturing the essence and temperature of the city through his photographs. Perhaps one day, while you're on a stroll, you might encounter Kevin. Feel free to nod and smile, experiencing the surprises that strolling bring.
This is Kevin's photography stroll. How will your photography stroll be?
Different stories happen all the time everywhere. What are your experience and memories in the community? We are now collecting stories of the Kowloon City District, whether it is about the changes in the old district, the neighbourhood, or the little things of life, you are welcome to contribute and share with us.
A normal Saturday afternoon, my father and I had a relaxing stroll in our district after lunch.
We started at Kau Pui Lung Road then walked straight to Tin Kwong Road passing through those elite schools where my brother, sister and I had lots of memories there as a student. Continued down Farm Road until reaching Tin Kwong Road, then turned into Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground. There was a big lawn on our left and a softball field managed by Hong Kong China Softball Association on our right. The open view and relaxing vibe around the area were totally out of my expectation. I could not believe these were part of To Kwa Wan.
We followed the stairs on the hillside behind the tennis court in Tin Kwong Road going downward to Ma Tau Wai Estate. This was my first time being there although I have been living in this district for over 20 years. My father said my grandpa used to do morning exercise and by the way took tennis balls outside the court back home for his grandsons. Oh I see! This was where the tennis balls came from. To be honest, I had a vague impression of my grandpa but whenever I imagined what he did for us, it warmed my heart.
Finally reached Ma Tau Wai Estate, the place was as peaceful as usual. My father remembered the days when he brought my sister to school before going to work. It seemed like a long time ago. The brick-coloured buildings in front of us were over 60 years old. I was afraid it would soon be demolished just like those short buildings in Shing Tak Street.
To Kwa Wan is an old district that keeps the original appearance of old Hong Kong. The featured buildings, old shops, historical attractions and unique cityscape are worth paying a visit. Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail previously organised “Family Adventure Challenge: Discovering To Kwa Wan's Gems” to let families gain a deeper understanding of To Kwa Wan through city navigation.
Each family had to follow the instructions written in the adventure handbook and complete the tasks of each checkpoint. During the adventure, participants may find it easy to understand the stories behind every attraction.
The funniest part of city navigation is that you can develop your own route of adventure. It is definitely the best way to deeply understand the community. Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail will organise the city adventure event once again, stay tuned!
焦點活動 Highlighted Programme
開 展 百 年 龍 城
穿梭之旅 梭之旅
Start Your Time Travel of Kowloon City
書展 開賣 ！
「步走龍城之旅」桌遊
Debut at Book Fair! Kowloon City Themed Walking Saga
九龍城主題步行徑辦公室：九龍馬頭涌真善美村低座一樓 Office：1/F, Lower Block, Chun Seen Mei Chuen, Ma Tau Chung, Kowloon 躍變．龍城體驗館：九龍譚公道115號運通大廈地下5號舖 Kowloon City in Transformation Information Centre: Shop No.5, Ground Floor, Wan Tung Building, No. 115 Tam Kung Road, Kowloon
