Five Hidden Secrets of the Sheung Wan District
Welcome to Sheung Wan, where bursting with culture, history, and vibrant energy. There are many places you can go, but there are some hidden gems that you want to pinpoint them. Now let’s see what fun to do in Sheung Wan, all the way from west to east!
Artlane in Sai Ying Pun — Hong Kong Street Art
Artlane is a small street filled with graffiti artwork. Artlane grew out of an initiative by the local community to transform an ordinary alleyway into a vibrant art hub. The project encourages local artists to showcase their talents, turning Sai Ying Pun into an unexpected treasure trove of street art. Each artwork tells a story, reflecting the creativity and diversity of Hong Kong’s urban art scene. No matter where you stand, you can take pictures with texture and integrate yourself into a part of the work.
Antique Street — Hong Kong Cat Street
Close to the Man Mo Temple is a street selling all kinds of old handicrafts, antiques, and cultural relics. You can find porcelain, bronze Buddha, jade, Buddha statues, calligraphy, and paintings, which are more local than those souvenir streets. In the back of Antique Street are artisans with antique skills, selling hand-made letter boxes and some ironware. These shops are time-honored brands with one store in a lifetime. They are the main street scenes in Sheung Wan District.
By the way, do you know why it is called ‘Cat Street’? It is rumored that some shops here sell stolen antiques commonly known as “rat goods”, so people who buy mouse goods will be called like cats, so it is gradually called “cat street”, not because there are many cats here. But you can still find the cats here because some of them are partners of the shopkeepers!
Man Mo Temple — The Oldest Temple in Hong Kong
Built in 1847, Man Mo Temple is a place of blessing for Hong Kong people and a living testimony of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage.
What must you see there? First, Man Mo Temple is the main temple, and the largest room is dedicated to Wenchang and Wusheng, while other gods are in the side temple. When you enter the gate, you can turn the windmill by hand to blow away the bad luck wrapped around you.
Pay attention to what you need to do before entering the temple! First, bow three times, then cross the threshold, ring the bell three times and beat the drum three times, greeting the gods, and lastly, burn incense sticks three times.
When you enter the temple, you will see the plaque with more than a hundred years, 「帝德同沾」, which means that the people of all peoples are grateful and benefit from God’s holiness together. It prayed for the success of the temple building project when it was launched in the 19th year of Emperor Guangxu (Qing Dynasty).
Come to Taxiang, and this scene symbolizes Man Mo Temple. Many Hong Kong movies and dramas have been filmed here. Incense stands for Xinxiang, a signal used to communicate with the gods in the heavens and then convey their wishes.
Then there is the Palace Lantern, which can be understood as a Chinese version of a lover’s lock. Lovers can make a wish to get together life-long.
And those who are studying or working should visit Wenchang God! Pray for doing well in the exam, getting promoted, and making a fortune.
Kung Lee Sugar Cane Drink — Leslie Cheung Footprint
All the way to the east, you can go and find Kung Lee Sugar Cane Drink to taste traditional cane drink. It is a family-run shop. You can see the ancestral family instructions on the store’s wall, write down the identification method of bamboo cane cultivation, share with customers the method of planting and how to identify good cane and add reminders for the descendants.
The public uses steaming, which makes the sugar content more prominent and will have a sweet feeling when drinking. The shop chooses thick, juicy, sweet jade cane from Guangdong and Guangxi. They insist on washing and peeling the cane one day earlier every day. They steam it to make the sugar more prominent. The colour of the cane juice is yellow-green. You can watch the whole production process in their store!
Are there any fans of Hong Kong superstar Leslie Cheung? He filmed the movie “Arrest the Restless” here. It is worth getting into the store and sitting where he once sat to recall.
Besides cane drink, it is a traditional herbal tea shop, and you can also try some delicious desserts there!
Western Market — The Oldest Market in Hong Kong
This English Edwardian architectural style red brick building group, formerly known as the Sheung Wan Market, is now converted by the government into a shop site. It is hard to see the scenery back then, but you can feel and take pictures with British-style facilities such as red telephone booths. The mall has all kinds of shops, including clothes, boutiques, personal art shops, etc. It is a good place to buy souvenirs. If you like models of vehicles such as buses and planes, you can visit the 80M Bus Store. There are various styles here, and you can find what you like.
The upper floor is mainly a rented venue for wedding banquets, so you usually walk around between the ground and the first floors.
Sheung Wan has something special waiting for you. It is hard to walk through each of them in a day. Whether you’re a foodie, art lover, history enthusiast, or nature seeker, Sheung Wan makes you a day. So, stay in the hub and go through the spots as much as possible in The Sheung Wan!