Old Hong Kong – Historical Cruise Excursions
Hong Kong Island, The Peak, Peninsula Hotel, Aberdeen and Star Ferry
Jun 10, 2009
In the bustle of ultra-modern Hong Kong, ‘The World of Suzie Wong’, with its silken cheongsam dresses and starchy colonial attitudes does indeed seem a world away. The 150 years of British rule, before 1997 when Hong Kong reverted to China, was the time when the Governor’s household summered on The Peak to avoid the monsoon humidity, Noel Coward sipped tea at the Peninsula Hotel and the ‘Noble Houses’ of trading boss tai-pans ruled the teeming waterfront.
For some, those times are best forgotten in Hong Kong SAR’s determination to be Asia’s World City. For others, it’s a sense of history, nostalgia, or a wish to relive favourite films or books that brings them to Hong Kong.
The search for historic Hong Kong starts with a short walk from Harbour City Terminal or the hotel district, past the Peninsula Hotel with views across Victoria Harbour to the impressive skyline of Hong Kong Island and The Peak.
Victoria Harbour and Star Ferries
- Suzie Wong and her American artist began their classic East-West romance by meeting on the Star Ferry. It’s cheap and easy to negotiate without a word of Cantonese.
- Few people want to miss out on this iconic slice of old ‘Honkers’, although Hong Kong Island (where most other places of historical interest are located) is accessible by the MRT rail tunnel.
The Jardine Connection and Hong Kong Island Waterfront
Once across and exiting the terminal, wonder at the amount of land reclamation still going on.
- The old shoreline, once full of sampans (houseboats), junks and tea clippers from China, is now marked by Queen’s Road and Queensway.
- The ‘Noble House’ of Jardine Matheson, tai-pan founders of a vast trading empire, is now marked by Hong Kong’s first skyscraper, and is linked to a high-tech covered walkway lined with designer-label shops.
- See also Jardine’s Lookout on the Peak, Jardine’s Bazaar and Jardine’s Crescent Bridge.
The Peak and Government House
- The 121-year-old Peak Tramway is one of the world’s oldest funicular railways.
- Another HK institution, it climbs a breathtaking 400 metres (1300 ft) in 1.4 km (under a mile).
- Don’t miss the The Peak Tram Historical Gallery, and hope for a clear view from top - The Peak Tower.
- Government House, dwarfed by skyscrapers, can be seen from Upper Albert Road on Government Hill, near pleasant Hong Kong Park.
Aberdeen Fishing Village
Once the haunt of pirates, then a floating village of junks, sampans and fishing boats, it’s now full of seafood restaurants and trips round the bay, surrounded by skyscrapers but the atmosphere is the nearest visitors are likely to the old Hong Kong lifestyle.
Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go Out in the Midday Sun
Remember the words of Noel Coward’s wickedly irreverent song? ‘In Hong Kong, they strike a gong, and fire off the Noonday Gun / To reprimand each inmate, who’s in late.’
- The Noonday Gun still fires, but the ‘inmates’ are far too busy in their air-conditioned high-rises to notice. Find it on Victoria Park Road (there’s a lot of her about too), Causeway Bay.
- Sip afternoon tea or cocktails at the Peninsula Hotel (tip of West Kowloon), or the Mandarin Oriental Hotel near Jardine House, where it all began.
More information: Hong Kong Cruise Terminals, Hong Kong Maps
Lyrics Mad Dogs and Englishmen
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