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Photo of the Day Mar 2021
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 Golden Sunset at Ha Pak Nai With its long stretch of mangrove beach, mudflats and calm, reflective waters, many consider Ha Pak Nai as Hong Kong's best sunset spot. Flanked by mountains on one side, and views of Deep Bay on the other, this area in western New Territories is known for its biodiversity. Ha Pak Nai . Hong Kong | 2021 31 Mar 2021  Century-old Historic Qing Dynasty Kowloon Customs Stele One of the most important events in the history of Ma Wan is about the "Kowloon Customs" stele. In 1875, Britain and Qing Dynasty signed the unequal "Yantai Treaty", requiring the Qing court to increase trading ports, establish trade regulations and opium taxation. As a result, in 1886, China and Britain signed the 'Regulations for the Administration of Hong Kong Foreign Medicine Matters', stipulating that the British can set up "Kowloon Customs", responsible for tax collection, border patrols and prevention of opium smuggling. Money collected would be handed over to the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. There were several tax collection sites under the jurisdiction of 'Kowloon Customs', which were responsible for collecting taxes in the region. One of them was the "Kap Shui Mun Tax Site." The Kap Shui Mun Tax Site was located at today's Ma Wan Rural Committee building, with the 2 steles nearby. "Kowloon Customs" was carved on one of the stele plus an inscription "Auspicious Day in the 7th month of the 23rd Year of Emperor Kwongshui", commemorating the completion of the Kap Shui Mun Taxation Site in 1897. The second stele reads "Seven feet of land on loan to Kowloon Customs." It is said that during the establishment of the tax site, a small road leading to North Bay (near Ma Wan Pier) needed to be built to connect to Tsing Yi and Tsing Lung Tau area to facilitate joint anti-smuggling. However, this road required occupation of private land. After mediation, the villagers agreed to have their land on loan for the road, but the road width was limited to 7 feet only. So a stele was erected as a contract. Ma Wan . Hong Kong | 2021 30 Mar 2021  Exploring Deserted Fishing Village An avid urban explorer ventures into and is concerned about a deserted fishing village with a history of over 250 years. Once a thriving fishing village of several thousand residents with stilt houses, restaurants and a school, it is now mostly deserted. The village offers an eerily cool place full of wild, derelict buildings, with broken windows and graffiti, that have been reclaimed by nature. The residents were evicted by the government in 2011, some unwillingly, to give way to a huge luxury housing development for 5000 families. Recently, many of the deserted buildings have been re-fenced and locked-up; paths were widened and new cables were laid – all signs of imminent redevelopment. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 29 Mar 2021  Majestic Water Buffaloes of Lantau Majestic water buffaloes can be seen all around South Lantau Island and especially around Ngau Kwu Wan. There are an estimated 100 or so feral buffaloes. Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), are not native to Hong Kong. They were imported in the early 20th century because their strength made them ideal for plowing rice fields in coastal areas. After World War II Hong Kong developed rapidly into a manufacturing centre, and as people left the farms for better-paying jobs elsewhere the livestock they owned were left to fend for themselves. Lantau . Hong Kong | 2021 28 Mar 2021  Bamboo Scaffolding Bamboo scaffolding is widely used in Hong Kong for construction. Nylon straps are used to tie knots as couplers for binding. Over 5 million bamboo rods, each 6 to 7 metres long, are used every year by the construction industry. It takes strength, skill and intellect to be a bamboo artist, erecting intricate webs of sky-high walls and platforms strong enough to hold a legion of construction workers. Yaumatei . Hong Kong | 2021 27 Mar 2021  Exploring Abandoned Grand Hakka Mansion An avid urban explorer ventures into an abandoned Hakka mansion, a Grade III historic building in Yuen Long. Built in1933-36, the 2-storey mansion blends Chinese and Western styles with stone pillars, sculpted stone walls, wooden gate threshold and moulded concrete railings around the central lightwell on the upper floor. There is a gate tower, servants' house, bird feeders in the front garden. A revitalisation plan was confirmed at the end of 2019. The plan intends to retain its Hakka architectural characteristics, and to restore it with reference to the original design with Chinese and Western styles, for leasing to social enterprises. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 26 Mar 2021  Century-old Barker Road Peak Tram Station Barker Road Peak Tram Station is located next to Barker Road in Central and Western District, at 363 metres above sea level. Built in 1888, it is the last stop of the tram service going towards the peak. It has only one platform, and one can watch the tram operations from a very close range. In 2021, it was listed as a Grade I historic building. The Peak . Hong Kong | 2021 24 Mar 2021  Praying for Blessings Sunlight streams through the roof of the Tin Hau Temple in Yau Ma Tei, a Grade I historic building in Hong Kong, while a man is praying for blessings from the Goddess of Heaven (Tin Hau) - protector of fishermen. Yau Ma Tei . Hong Kong | 2021 24 Mar 2021  The Mountain Lodge Guard House The Gate Lodge was originally one of the two gatekeeper’s lodges of the former Mountain Lodge, the Governor’s summer residence on The Peak. Constructed between 1900 and 1902, the former Mountain Lodge was modelled on the lodges typically found in Scotland and was demolished in 1946, leaving only this single gate lodge. The Gate Lodge is designed in a Neo-classical style with a compact floor plan. The front elevation is rectangular with attractively rounded, rather than right-angled, corners. The three small triangular pediments on the upper part of the facade also add to the classical appearance. Gate Lodge of the Former Mountain Lodge was declared a monument in 1995. The Peak . Hong Kong | 2021 23 Mar 2021  Sacha and Hugo Explore Abandoned Water Treatment Plant Sacha, an interior architectural spatial designer and holistic lifestylist, ventures into an abandoned water treatment plant together with Hugo, both avid urban explorers. The plant was built in 1963. As the population increased, its small scale and limited water treatment capacity rendered it obsolete. It was abandoned in 1995 and has been replaced by nearby facilities. The interior is dilapidated due to disrepair with broken equipment, lots of graffiti and gloomy atmosphere. Many movies have been shot here. It served as a counterfeit money factory in "Project Gutenberg" starring Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwok is well-known. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 22 Mar 2021  Artist Elizabeth Briel Showcases Ventilation Paintings Elizabeth Briel, an artist from California, showcases her latest work - Ventilation Paintings during her Open Studios at Jockey Club Creative Art Centre. Briel's art is brilliantly created with light, time, and chance. Her artworks document the passage of time by capturing the sun's UV rays or wind, our fast-changing lives, and a sensation of belonging nowhere yet anywhere. She has Open Studios every Sunday 2-6 pm at Room 615, 6/F, Jockey Club Creative Art Centre 30 Pak Tin St, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon, Hong Kong Website: ebriel.com Shek Kip Mei . Hong Kong | 2021 21 Mar 2021  Artist Long Yee X Ah Lung Dazzle at Rouge Me Exhibition Vocal artist Long Yee and visual artist Ah Lung all decked out for the opening party of Rouge Me photography and videography exhibition at The Orient in Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay. The exhibition showcases the work of photographer Jerry Choi and makeup artist Denise Seto on 19-31 March. Numerous Gothic, Steampunk and Cyberpunk fashion, accessories and art are on display. Causeway Bay . Hong Kong | 2021 20 Mar 2021  Sunflowers at Egret Lake in Tai Po Spring arrives in March. As earth rejuvenated, flowers bloom again. Recently, various flowers are blossoming around Egret Lake in Tai Po, offering a colourful display. The lakeside Billow restaurant is designed in a pure white European style. The adjacent area has many beautiful flowers including a patch of sunflower field in front of the restaurant entrance and and tulips nearby, attracting a lot of people to take pictures and selfies. The splendid views make one feel like being in Europe. TaiPo . Hong Kong | 2021 19 Mar 2021  European Style White Restaurant at Egret Lake The Western-style restaurant Billow Bar Seafood Bistro at Egret Lake in Tai Po is designed as a lakeside cottage. It has a pure white European style with a patch of sunflower field in front. Sitting in the restaurant and enjoying the Egret Lake view makes one feel like being in Europe. Tai Po . Hong Kong | 2021 18 Mar 2021  Exploring Deserted Love Hotel An avid urban explorer ventures into a deserted love hotel. The property is owned by the late Love Hotel King and covers an area of over 20,000 square feet. The hotel has 2 floors, with 10-20 rooms, each with a large bed, ensuite bathroom with bathtub, and some rooms have electric motion round beds. The second floor can be accessed via the interior carpeted stairs or the outdoor metal spiral staircase. The beds in the second floor rooms has been stripped. The laundry room has 8 large industrial washing machines. The hotel has been abandoned for many years, there are many debris on the floor inside the building, with bushes and trees flourishing wildly outside. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 17 Mar 2021  Fashionable Jheng Frolicks in Central Hip and trendy Jheng from the Philippines savours a fashion photo shoot in Central. Central . Hong Kong | 2021 16 Mar 2021  Fashionista Yumi Sparkles Yumi, a fashionista from the Philippines, sparkles with a red frock at a fashion photo shoot in Central. Central . Hong Kong | 2021 15 Mar 2021  Exploring Deserted City-centre Apartments An urban explorer ventures into a deserted apartment complex in city-centre, just 6 minutes' walk from the nearest MTR station. There are several blocks of 5-storey buildings that have been deserted for over 15 years. Furniture including pianos and sofas, family photos and personal items were left inside the apartments. Graffiti has been sprayed on the walls. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 14 Mar 2021  Lanterns of Hung Shing Temple in Wanchai The Hung Shing Temple on Queen's Road East in Wanchai was originally a small altar on a rock on the coast built in 1847 by the citizens. It was expanded in the 10th year of Hamfung's reign during the Qing Dynasty (1860). The temple was originally located by the sea, but it is now inland due to reclamation. The ancient temple enshrines Lord Hung Shing, the god in charge of the ocean and weather, and is now a Grade I historic building in Hong Kong. Wanchai . Hong Kong | 2021 13 Mar 2021  Striking Street Art in Shamshuipo Eye-catching street art and murals can be found all over Shamshuipo, a historically blue-collar neighbourhood just north of Boundary Street, offering inexpensive Michelin-recommended food and shopping plus cheerful experiences that can't be found anywhere else in the city. Shamshuipo . Hong Kong | 2021 12 Mar 2021  Deserted Century-old Senior Home with Revolutionary Past An urban explorer enters an abandoned century-old senior home to explore. The home was rated as a Grade I historic building in 2001 but was re-graded as a Grade II historic building in 2010, and there is a revolutionary history. In the 1980s, there were still about 10 buildings in the compound, but now only 1 villa built in 1919 plus a gatehouse and a dormitory built in 1920 remain, which have a century-old history. The design is simple, influenced by neoclassicism and British colonial architectural style with a unique triangular space on the top floor. In 1908, Sun Yat-sen's elder brother Sun Mei supported Tongmenghui running revolutionary activities in Guangzhou. He made party flags, recruited party members, and this location served as a meeting place. The developer has applied to the government to build a 60-storey residential building on this land, and bulldozers are stationed at the senior home. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 11 Mar 2021  Great Egret in Flight at Dusk A Great Egret is in flight near Wah Fu Estate as the sun is setting. The Great Egret has a long, thin, yellow beak that may become darker in the breeding season. The Little Egret has a black beak. Pokfulam . Hong Kong | 2021 10 Mar 2021  Spiny Spider Flower Spiny Spider Flower, aka Cleome spinosa, is native to Arabia, North Africa and America. Its flower has 4 petals, and dances like a drunken butterfly when it sways in the wind. It also looks like a spider, and so named. Wanchai Gap . Hong Kong | 2021 9 Mar 2021  International Women Explore Abandoned Hakka Mansion Avid urban explorers Sacha from UK, Lene from Denmark, Singaporean Tia and Elizabeth from US venture into an abandoned Hakka mansion, a Grade III Historic Building in Yuen Long, to celebrate International Women's Day. Built in 1933-36, the 2-storey mansion blends Chinese and Western styles, with stone pillars, sculpted stone walls, wooden gate threshold and moulded concrete railings around the central lightwell on the upper floor. There is a gate tower, servants' house, bird feeders in the front garden. A revitalisation plan was confirmed at the end of 2019. The plan intended to retain its Hakka architectural characteristics, and to restore it with reference to the original design with Chinese and Western styles, for leasing to social enterprises. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 8 Mar 2021  Lenny Explores Abandoned 19th Century Mansion Lenny, an avid hiker and urban explorer, ventures into an abandoned mansion built in 1887. It is one of the oldest surviving European houses at Mid-levels and has been a Grade I Historic Building since 2011. The 2-storey house was remodelled in 1894 with external ornamental classical features typical of Palladian villas. The first floor is accessed through a portico reached by a flight of external steps flanked by stepped planters and also by an internal spiral staircase. The ground floor windows are smaller than the first floor windows with curved heads and deep reveals. A moulded cornice runs all around the house at eaves level. With age and disrepair, part of the ceiling is exposed. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 7 Mar 2021  Dense Fog Shrouds Hong Kong Dense fog shrouds Hong Kong and one cannot see what is ahead. A couple of days before, 53 pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged with subversion. Every prominent Hong Kong activist is now either in jail or exile. The Peak . Hong Kong | 2021 6 Mar 2021  Exploring Abandoned Pre-war Cinema An abandoned pre-war cinema, built in 1931, with an area of about 30,000 square feet, has served the neighbourhood for more than 60 years. It stopped operation in the early 1990s, and has been abandoned for nearly 30 years. In 2011, it was rated as a Grade III historical building. The cinema is 2 storeys high and was built with bricks and large stones in a Chinese eclectic architectural style. Above the entrance is a decorated canopy with the name of the cinema. Behind the entrance is the ticketing lobby with the projection room above on the first floor. There were originally over 600 seats in the cinema, but due to disrepair, only a few dozen are still standing. There is a gaping hole in the roof, damaged by wind and rain. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 5 Mar 2021  The Puzzle I by Angela Yuen at 26th IFVA Festival The Puzzle I, an art installation by Hong Kong artist Angela Yuen, projects a miniature skylines assembled from small locally manufactured objects as a rotating light sculpture. These old plastic toys and stationery represent a significant era of the golden heyday of Hong Kong's manufacturing industries in the 1950s and 60s. This is one of the finalists of the Media Art category of The 26th IFVA Festival. The exhibition is open from noon to 8 pm, from 2 to 14 March at Pao Galleries of Art Centre. Free Admissions. Wanchai . Hong Kong | 2021 4 Mar 2021  Light and Shadow at Sunset Light and shadow during sunset at Wah Fu Estate in Hong Kong. Pokfulam . Hong Kong | 2021 3 Mar 2021  Sacha Explores Abandoned Seminary with Seaview Sacha, an interior architect designer, holistic lifestylist and an avid urban explorer, ventures into an abandoned seminary with a colonaded balcony that offers expansive seaview. There are 2 buildings hidden behind trees and bushes with roots entangled with the structure. One of the building appears to be a dormitory with a room of broken bunk beds. A third building is found further down the slope. But uncertain if it belongs to the same compound. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 2 Mar 2021  Hundreds in Defiant Protest over Mass Arrest of 47 Pan-Democrats on Subversion Hundreds of defiant Hong Kong protesters risked arrest outside West Kowloon Law Court in the largest demonstration in months, as 47 of the city's most prominent pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged on subversion under the National Security Law. The mass arrest of opposition figures include key protest organisers Joshua Wong, Benny Tai and Jimmy Sham, etc, over their roles in an informal election primary last year represented the most sweeping use of the National Security Law imposed by China last year. Protesters chanted 'Free Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Time' and gestured the '5 Demands, Not One Less' protest slogan while waiting to enter the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts in a long queue that almost circled around the entire block. Students from Ying Wah Primary School adjacent to the court joined in the chant. Bull Tsang led members of of The League of Social Democrats in raising a series of "Free All Political Prisoners" banners in Chinese and English along the queue and later consolidated outside the entrance to the court. Not only did participants risk arrest by attending an unauthorised rally, they chanted “Free Hong Kong! Revolution of our time!” - a slogan banned by authorities since the National Security Law was enacted. The latest charges were condemned by the US and the European Union (EU), with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for the 'immediate release' of the activists. Charles Whiteley, Representatives of the EU and many prominent democrats, such as former Cardinal Joseph Zen, Martin Lee, Emily Lau, Albert Ho were also present. Cheung Sha Wan . Hong Kong | 2021 1 Mar 2021 Archive: Feb Jan 2021 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2020 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2019 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2018 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2017 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2016 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2015 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb 2014 |
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