Curators Showcase Miniature Replica Of Hong Kong Streets and Buildings in 1960s

The Fulong Teahouse prototype is a replica based on the real-size teahouse signboard back in the day. The red human cargo tricycle parked on the street is also a cargo vehicle that has disappeared. Courtesy of Yeung Kwok-bo

Hong Kong, the once-colonial city, was a village-turned-trading port before becoming the international trading hub it is today. As technology advanced, many traditional trademarks of Hong Kong are dissipated with time. But a group of curators is showcasing miniature replicas of Hong Kong before the neon lights and veranda shops were torn down.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Heritage Courtyard and Exhibition Center has curated a special art exhibition called Hong Kong Memories: Miniature Model and Photo Exhibition of Old Streets of Hong Kong.

Art of the Veranda Shop

A veranda shop is an open-air balcony attached to the outside of a building. These architectural patios have a rich history in Southern China. They were built to be shophouses—vernacular architecture. The building is usually two to three stories high. The first floor, or ground floor, was used as a shop, while the second and third floors were for residents. These structures can be seen in old buildings still erect in Malaysia, Singapore, and Penang.