Received via email:
To complement Hedda Morrison's photo.
A look at Nathan Rd northbound at road level showing the Rose and Star Hotels. Photo probably taken in the late 40s or early 50s. Note the banyan tree in front of the Star Hotel [MrB: the tree is also visible in the Hedda Morrison photo] across the road from the Chungking Market which unfortunately is not visible.
Date picture taken
1950s
Gallery
Shows place(s)
Comments
Another photo of the same
Another photo of the same location from Hong Kong Public Library. It was taken in 1948, Entrance of Chungking arcade can be seen. http://hkclweb.hkpl.gov.hk/hkclr2/object?svc=objrtv&src=CM&itemid=YZORKFV@HYNWQGJV&pid=1&mime=image/jpeg
1950s Rose and Star Hotels
Yes, that banyan tree is unforgetable. When my bus (Number1, 2, 6, 8-10) turned onto Nathan Road from Salisbury, I would look for that tree from the upper deck bus. Bless that tree, as are all the other trees that once adorned Nathan Road on the curb lanes.
Rose & Star Hotels
Three more pictures of the area, received by email: 1, 2, 3.
One more
from the 1930s
I think this photo shows
I think this photo shows what happened to the banyan trees - the building being constructed must be where the Star Hotel was. You can see the banyan tree looking pretty knocked about by that stage. the first photo of the Star Hotel in the 1950s section is a more direct comparison
http://hkclweb.hkpl.gov.hk/hkclr2/object?svc=objrtv&src=CM&itemid=QYTFW0EGYJ8YHY6%23&pid=1&mime=image/jpeg
and here's another from the
and here's another from the same time - 1963 - showing nathan road in all its new sixties glory. Chungking Mansions and the Imperial Hotel are clearly on the right. the banyan still lives.
http://hkclweb.hkpl.gov.hk/hkclr2/object?svc=objrtv&src=CM&itemid=A8DK5XIQFXTDXEQ5&pid=1&mime=image/jpeg