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Gwulo.com is for everyone that is interested in old Hong Kong.

If it's your first visit, you might like to start with one of the popular articles listed on the right, or just scroll down to browse through recent articles.

I hope you'll join in too, and ask a question or share your knowledge. Most pages let you leave a comment, and there's always the Forum where you can post a new message.

Enjoy the site,

David

PS 'Gwu lo' is roughly how '古老' sounds in Cantonese. It means 'ancient' or 'old-fashioned'.

Aberdeen Dockyards

Submitted by David on Tue, 2010-02-09 16:19
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There were dockyards here from the 1850s: Read more »

c.1900 View over Garden Road

Submitted by David on Fri, 2010-02-05 12:53
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Image: 

Here's a view over Garden Road, taken around 1900.

The pitched roofs in the bottom right corner are the old terminus building for the Peak Tram. A tram was in the station when this photo was taken.

Behind the terminus are some large trees, and behind that appears to be the roof of a temporary matshed structure.

Next is St John's Cathedral Read more »

1910s View of The Peak

Submitted by David on Mon, 2010-02-01 18:19
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Image: 

I'm guessing 1910 as the date for this postcard, but corrections are welcome.

The excellent 1912 map (thanks to the anonymous submitter) shows what we're looking at.  In the foreground is Chamberlain Road (called 'Peak Road' today), sloping down to the left, before curving round to the right and out of sight. Just above that is Treverbyn with the large arched window, and behind that we can see the back of the Peak Hotel. Further up the slope to the right is Formosa. Read more »

How to add a Place to an Image

Submitted by David on Mon, 2010-01-25 21:57

The trick is to let the computer give you a list of suggested matches, and choose from that instead of typing in the full name yourself. Here's a short (40-second) video showing how to do it: Read more »

1901. People & boats along the new Praya

Submitted by David on Thu, 2010-01-21 10:07
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Image: 

There are several stories to be told in this photo.

Let's place it first. The printed description is:

3703 On the Praya, (Water-front) Harbor of Hong Kong, China.
Copyright 1901 By H. C. White Co. Read more »

John Olson

Submitted by David on Tue, 2010-01-19 21:01
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This story covers rags-to-riches, mixed-marriage, family intrigues - and it's all true! Read more »

Dates on Places - second attempt

Submitted by David on Mon, 2010-01-18 18:21
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I haven't written much these last few days. Instead I've been working down in the engine room on a couple of new features: Read more »

1955 - Wong Ma Kok Rd - view toward Stanley Waterfront

Submitted by annelisec on Tue, 2010-01-12 21:01
Video clip: 

The clip starts at  8 minutes 53 seconds

1954 Vegetable hawker, Aberdeen

Submitted by David on Tue, 2010-01-12 16:33
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Image: 

I've been asked if there are any photos of people instead of buildings. So, here is the first of a few people photos. These notes are hand-written on the back:

Coolie girl going to market at Aberdeen, Hong Kong Island. She is barefoot & is carrying a baby covered by a quilt on her back.

5 Dec 1954

We can see Aberdeen harbour and Ap Lei Chau in the background. Read more »

c.1904 View of Union Church and east along Kennedy Road

Submitted by David on Tue, 2010-01-05 15:02
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Image: 

This is one of a set of four photographs that were sold marked 'c.1900'.

The hill on the left of the photograph is where the British Military Hospital will be seen later. That opened in 1907, so the photo was taken earlier than that. However Read more »

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