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Gang wei,
or literally Hong Kong taste, is a concept often talked about, but almost impossible to define. No one can tell what the taste is exactly, yet it can be found everywhere in the city: the ting-a-ling of the trams, the shumai in tea houses and the burning incense in the Tin Hau Temple. As the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region celebrates the 20th anniversary of its return to China, we bring a series of stories to try and explore the spirit of Hong Kong from some of the most intriguing aspects of the city.
The tramway (
ding ding
)
Local residents call these double-decker trams "ding ding" due to the double bell ring the trams use to warn pedestrians of their approach.
Since 1904, trams have been running east and west along the northern coast of Hong Kong Island. The tramway is a living, evolving connection between Hong Kong's colorful history and modern culture.
Currently there are a total of 164 tramcars running through Hong Kong, including two antique trams and one sightseeing tram. It is the world's largest double-decker tram fleet still in operation, carrying an average of 200,000 passengers everyday.
There are ongoing debates about whether or not to remove
ding ding
to give way for more modern vehicles like buses and cars on such a congested island. But Hong Kong people stood up to keep them around for nostalgic purposes.
The Hong Kong Star Ferry is one of the city's most iconic tourist attractions and has been plying Victoria Harbor, between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, since the late 1800s.
With its distinctive green and white exterior, the Star Ferry is an integral part of the city's history and is beloved by locals and visitors alike. The
National Geographic Traveler
named the ferry crossing as one of 50 places to experience in a lifetime. The ferry ride is also well known as being one of the best value sightseeing trips in the world.
