C@The Hong Kong Observatory

What I want to introduce today is Hong Kong Observatory .Hong Kong Observatory known as the Royal Observatory Hong Kong  before 1997, is a department of the Hong Kong Government. The Observatory forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards.



The Observatory was established in 1883 by the 9th Governor of Hong Kong George Bowen. Early operations included meteorological and magnetic observations.The Hong Kong Observatory was built in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Peninsula in 1883. Observatory Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is so named based on this landmark. The Observatory is now surrounded by skyscrapers as a result of rapid urbanisation. However, it remains unrelocated.

 1883 Building
This building, built in 1883, is a rectangular two-storey plastered brick structure; it is characterised by arched windows and long verandas. It now houses the office of the directorate and to serve as a centre of administration of the Observatory.

The Friends of the Observatory, an interest group set up in 1996 to help the Observatory to promote Hong Kong Observatory and its services to the public, provide science extension activities in relation to the works of the Observatory and foster communication between the Observatory and the public, now has more than 7,000 individual and family members in total.
Voluntary docents from this interest group lead a "HKO Guided Tour" to let the public who applied for visit in advance to visit the headquarter of the Observatory, and learn about the history, environment and meteorological science applied by the Observatory.


Address: 134A Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

 Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Observatory
www.weather.gov.hk/contente.htm
www.heritage.gov.hk/en/index.htm

H@Kowloon Walled City Park

Do you know any about 'Kowloon Walled City Park'? if not, don't worry about it.
Let us introduce more about 'Kowloon Walled City Park'.

The Kowloon Walled City Park occupies one of the most historic sites in the territory.
Once strategically located at the north-eastern corner of the Kowloon peninsula and adjacent to what was to become Kowloon Bay, the site was used by imperial officials in the 15th century and was first fortified in 1668 when a signal station was established there.
The interior was dominated by the offices of the Commodore of the Dapeng Brigade, and the Kowloon Assistant Military Inspectorate, commonly known as 'Yamen'. In addition, there were more than ten numbers of military buildings including soldiers' quarters, gunpowder and ordnance magazines. Besides, some civilian houses could also be found in the City. The strength of the troops stationed there were 250 at the time of the completion of the City, which increased subsequently to more than 500 in 1898/99.

The park's design is modeled on Jiangnan gardens of the early Qing Dynasty. It is divided into eight landscape features, with the fully restored Yamen as its centerpiece. The park's paths and pavilions are named after streets and buildings in the Walled City. Artifacts from the Walled City, such as five inscribed stones and three old wells, are also on display in the park. On a green lawn surrounded by a brick wall lie broken engraved stones and stone foundations.
Remnants of the City's South Gate and its entrance plaques.

Components of the park include:

    * The Eight Floral Walks, each named after a different plant or flowe
    * The Chess Garden, featuring four 3 by 5 m (9.8 by 16 ft) Chinese chessboards
    * The Garden of Chinese Zodiac, containing stone statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals
    * The Garden of Four Seasons (named Guangyin Square after the small open area in the Walled City), a 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft) garden with plants that symbolize the four seasons
    * The Six Arts Terrace, a 600 m2 (6,500 sq ft) wedding area containing a garden and the Bamboo Pavilion
    * The Kuixing Pavilion, including a moon gate framed by two stone tablets and the towering Guibi Rock, which represents Hong Kong's return to China
    * The Mountain View Pavilion, a two-story structure resembling a docked boat that provides a good view of the entire park
    * The Lung Tsun, Yuk Tong, and Lung Nam Pavilions
    * The Yamen and the remains of the South Gate


About the declared monuments of Kowloon Walled City Park:

The Antiquities and Monuments Office conducted archaeological examinations as the Walled City was being demolished, and several cultural remains were discovered. Among them were the Walled City's Yamen and remnants of its South Gate, which were officially designated as declared monuments of Hong Kong on 4 October 1996.

The South Gate had originally served as the Walled City's main entrance. Along with its foundations, other remains included two stone plaques inscribed with "South Gate" and "Kowloon Walled City" from the South Gate and a flagstone path that had led up to it. The foundations of the City's wall and East Gate were also discovered. The Hong Kong government preserved the South Gate remnants next to a square in front of the Yamen. The Yamen building is made up of three halls; originally the middle hall served as the Assistant Magistrate of Kowloon's administrative office, and the rear block was his residence. After the government officials left the area in 1899, it was used for several other purposes, including an old people's home, a refuge for widows and orphans, a school, and a clinic. It was restored in 1996 and is now found near the center of the park. It contains a photo gallery of the Walled City, and two cannons dating back to 1802 sit at the sides of its entrance.

Do you know who is he?
I will tell all of you in next week.
Keep checking our blog please :)



Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City_Park#Kowloon_Walled_City_Park
http://www.lomographyasia.com/magazine/locations/2010/10/06/kowloon-walled-city-park
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/parks/kwcp/b5/index.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVlg7moyzLU&feature=related

RA@ Blue House (Hong Kong)

Are you interested about “Blue House”(藍屋)? You go to there because of its special appearance? Do you want to know where does the name of "Blue House" come from? Let me introduce you firstly.

"Blue House" is a four-storey building, which is named from the brilliant blue colour painted on its external walls. When we come closer to the building, it is not difficult to recognize that not all the external walls are coloured in blue! It was said that the workers of the Lands Department only got blue paint during the period of repairing work, so it was used to renovate the external wall at the time.

It is situated at 72 Stone Nullah Lane in Wanchai, named for the brilliant blue colour painted on its external walls. It’s a pre-war building with more than seventy years of history that shows architectural characteristics of both Chinese and Western styles. Many of the internal structures like purlin, staircase, and railing are still preserved in their authentic wooden fabric.

It is one of the few remaining examples of Tong Lau of the balcony type in Hong Kong and it’s classified as Grade I historic building now.

About the Blue House, the upper floors is apart from 72 Stone Nullah Lane, are of timber structures. It’s contains two wooden stairs with all the original elements intact, are well maintained. Since there is no flushing toilet facility inside the building, it still needs the service of "Tao Ye Heung" (somebody helps to remove the excrement from the building every night)!

Recently, the building was part of a HK$100 million plan, unveiled by the Housing Society and the Urban Renewal Authority. It aims to preserve nine Chinese-style buildings in Wan Chai.

As time changes, most of old building may be demolished or left abandoned. We hoped that the "Blue House" can also be turned into a living history museum, which to illustrate the perplexing past of Wanchai to Hong Kong peoples especially to the future young generations.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_House_(Hong_Kong)#External_links

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/template/apple/art_main.php?iss_id=20090923&sec_id=4104&subsec=11867&art_id=13239008