The Central and Western (C&W) District is one of Hong Kong’s 18 districts, and it’s situated on the island’s northwest coast. The C&W District borders the Southern District to the south, and it links to the Wan Chai District to the east. The Yau Tsim Mong District and the Kwai Tsing District are visible from the northern side of the C&W District across Victoria Harbour, while the Islands District is bordered by the western seas.
Central is Hong Kong’s central business centre and central urban area. The Western District includes portions of Lung Fu Shan, Kennedy Town, Sai Ying Pun, and Shek Tong Tsui. The neighbourhood was a component of the first urban settlement in colonial Hong Kong, called City of Victoria.
I recorded the sound in the Central and Western that represent this place including the signature road sound, people’s chitchatting, walking sound and the sound of some trams driving nearby.
Here are my audio clip
The C&W District, which was the first developed sector in the territory from the outset, is currently Hong Kong’s political and economic hub. Among other significant organisations, it is the location of the Legislative Council Complex, the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, the Government House, and the Central Government Offices of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. Due to the presence of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, numerous bank headquarters, and foreign financial institutions, the C&W area is also an essential component of Hong Kong’s core business area.
Here is Hang Seng Bank, one of the bank in Central with two buses parking underneath.
Beyond its glamorous and prosperous cosmopolitanism, the C&W District also protects a number of well-known landmarks and historic structures, such as the Central Market, the PMQ (formerly the Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters), and the Central Police Station Compound (also known as “Tai Kwun”), all of which have become popular destinations after being preserved and revitalised.
Here is Tai Kwun, it is famus for its red brown looking building.
Here are some famous historic structures in Central and Western including the Central Market, Central and Western District fruits and vegetables and some others local shops.
Central Market is the first Hong Kong’s wet markets, it has undergone numerous changes. The most recent version of Central Market was a four-story structure constructed in 1939 in the then-popular Bauhaus and Streamline Moderne architectural styles. However, as the 1990s arrived and urban consumer preferences shifted, sections of the market were gradually transformed into shopping booths and links, until Central Market closed its doors in 2003. Six years later, it was announced that the Urban Renewal Authority would take over Central Market for revitalisation. Donald Choi, the executive director and CEO of Chinachem Group, the property developer, would spearhead the redesign of the 11,330-square-meter landmark.
Here are some of the local shops that really worth going to.
The oldest still standing market structure in Hong Kong is called Western Market. Completed in 1906, the red-brick Edwardian-style building with its unique corner towers and granite entrance was used as a produce market until 1988. After renovations and a reopening in 1991, it now houses eateries, cafes, curio stores, and fabric merchants that were previously housed in nearby lanes. It is situated in Sheung Wan and is easily accessible by tram on Des Voeux Road Central, which is also one of the tramway’s termini. It is situated on a block between Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central.
Here is the Western Market
Shops selling arts and crafts, and fabric merchants inside the Western Market.
Last but not least, I am going to show the video that I filmed.
I really enjoy when I am doing this project since I can slow myself down and have a little walk. I also explored more about the Central and Western. My favourite place of the Central and Western is propably the Western Market. There are some art work and fabric selling inside the market, those are what we won’t often see on the street or in the shopping mall.