Short trips to Hong Kong are often the opportunity for business meetings and intense shopping. Although a lot has been destroyed, there are a few places in Hong Kong that have historical interest. Below are a few points of interest:
St John Cathedral: Although I have been to Hong Kong quite a few times, I somehow always missed the few heritage of the colonial timest behind rows of tower of Central. Located on the hills of Central, St John Cathedral and other related buildings used to be visible from the sea as seen in the exhibition mentioned below. They are now small heritage niches engulfed in the sky scrapers.
1881 Heritage: Occupying the building of the former Marine Police Headquarters and open in 2009, 1881 Heritage is a luxury shopping center (what else in Hong Kong) that managed to preserve the heritage of the building. Located next to Peninsula hotel, it was preserved as it is the 4th oldest building in Hong Kong. The compound also enclosed the Kowloon fire station and the signal tower, giving weather indications to ships in the harbour in a similar way as the Guslav tower on Shanghai Bund. The main building has been transformed in a boutique hotel with numerous restaurants and bars in it. Taking high tea on the terrace seems to be one of the tourist new activities though the view from the terrace is not the sea, but Hong Kong Cultural Center that is now blocking the view. The renovation of the building seems of vey high quality, creating a wonderful atmosphere of time travel.