Sheung Wan Upper

Upper Sheung Wan (up the hill) is the area containing Po Hing Fong and Tai Ping Shan Street extending into Bridges Street. This area has been nicknamed Poho and it’s THE hip area of Hong Kong Island. Sheung Wan was one of the earliest areas of Hong Kong to be settled by the British in the 1840s and became a working-class enclave for much of the 20th century. From about 2011 the little car repair shops and printing stores along Tai Ping Shan Street began to give way to a cool coffee shop here and there. Gentrification happened quickly. Poho is now home to independent boutiques, trendy eateries, street art and the government supported creative hub PMQ. Tai Ping Shan literally means “Peace Hill” and it’s apt. The low-rise buildings, Blake Garden and big old trees give the area a quiet calm which stands in stark contrast to busy Central next door. This is a lovely area to chill out and investigate the creative talents (artistic and culinary) of Hong Kong.

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Open Quote

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*** PLEASE NOTE: Open Quote is currently no longer operating permanently in Sheung Wan but as a pop-up around Hong Kong, please check their Facebook page (they are in the area of San Po Kong at the time of writing, May 2017). Open Quote was started by artist Ricky Lai as a platform for young local artists to showcase their talents and ideas, hence the name of the store. He is an artist himself so he gets how difficult it can be to gain a mainstream audience. The space is divided into three parts – lifestyle products, books and music, and gallery. I love its agenda. I’ve been introduced to some amazing Hong Kong artists whilst browsing through its contents. Thoughtfully there are some seats in the books sections so you can take your time. Also, for the environmentally-minded there are some quirky recycled products such as pens made of egg shells and tea leaves. If I had to name one favorite store in my neighborhood this would be it.

Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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Open Quote
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teakha

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