Welcome

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'.

RMS Queen Elizabeth: final resting place

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2009-10-12 21:19

According to this SCMP clipping from IDJ, the remains of the ship now lie beneath Container Terminal 9:

Furama Hotel [1973-2001]

Submitted by David on Fri, 2009-10-09 12:59

1, Connaught Road.

Can anyone confirm the opening date for the Furama? The Emporis website says 1977. But the left edge of this photo dated 1972 shows the building almost finished, so it seems unlikely it would have sat empty for 4-5 years. [12 Oct update: opening date set to 1973].

Wikipedia says it "closed in November, and was demolished in December 2001."

Nothing old to see in Hong Kong? Bollards!

Submitted by David on Tue, 2009-10-06 15:12

Nothing old to see in Hong Kong? There's loads of stuff! Just don't be looking up in search of old buildings, instead turn your eyes to the floor...

Read more »

Marina House [1935-1980]

Submitted by David on Fri, 2009-10-02 12:11

15-19, Queen's Road Central.

Some notes I've found about this building:

1935. The 3rd Dec edition of the HK Telegraph reports that Marina House is complete:

"With every modern convenience and imposing in design, the new building next to the Hongkong Hotel in Queen's Road Central, to be called "Marina House", is now completed and will be ready for tenants to move in on January 1, 1936. Read more »

Which piece of land in Hong Kong has been re-developed most often?

Submitted by David on Fri, 2009-09-25 11:25

Here's the plot we've been looking at recently, which currently has it's fourth-generation building under construction: Read more »

Old Maps of Hong Kong

Submitted by David on Tue, 2009-09-22 14:27

Old maps are my favourite tool for investigating Hong Kong's history. Sometimes they help answer questions, eg finding which building used to stand at a certain place in Hong Kong.

Other times the maps raise their own questions - I'll find something marked that I didn't know about before, and that gets me interested to learn more.

So where to see these maps? Read more »

How to use gwulo.com to find old Hong Kong friends and photos?

Submitted by David on Sat, 2009-09-19 17:49

I received this question by e-mail, and with Peter's permission have copied it here:

Dear David,

I have just subscribed to Gwulo. I would like to find out if any other subscribers went to the Peak School and/or lived at Peak Mansions during the late 50s and early 60s, and if they have any photos. I am not sure how to go about this or even if your website is designed for this kind of exchange. Any pointers would be much appreciated.

Best wishes, Read more »

Blake Pier (1st generation) [1900-1965]

Submitted by David on Thu, 2009-09-17 22:22
in

Blake Pier was built on Connaught Road at the end of Pedder Street, and opened in 1900. The Report of the Director of Public Works for 1900 said: Read more »

Telegraph Office, Connaught Rd. [1898-1948]

Submitted by David on Wed, 2009-09-16 11:16

The 1910 postcard below describes the building as 'Hong Kong Telegraph Office'. Read more »

Soldier of Fortune (1955)

Submitted by philk on Fri, 2009-09-11 17:31
in

Soldier of Fortune starring Clark Gable and Susan Hayward is a story about a woman (Hayward) who comes to Hong Kong to look for her missing husband. She ends up reluctantly accepting the help of a local businessman-cum-crook (Gable) to rescue her husband from the clutches of the Communist Chinese on the Mainland.
 Read more »

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