Last week I posted photos from my first year in Hong Kong alongside those that I took last month. So today when I was looking through photos my mom and her parents shot in Hong Kong–going back 50 years ago–I realized just how many of those pictures mirrored ones my husband Tom took in April.
For instance, this is what my mom saw from the Peak in 1962.
And this is how it looks today.
Central has always been the most glamorous area of Hong Kong. Here’s a photo my mom took in 1962.
And this is another part of Central today.
This is the Hong Kong harbor front my mom saw in 1962.
And this is how Tom and I found it last month. (I don’t like the new ifc building, so I’ve left it out here on purpose!)
Junks were commonplace in Hong Kong even back in the 1970s. My grandparents took a photo of this one in 1974. It looks spooky.
You won’t see them now unless it’s this touristy one.
In 1974 my grandparents stayed at the Sheraton in Tsim Sha Tsui.
I wanted to be close to the harbor on Kowloon side, so Tom and I stayed near the Sheraton. This is what it looks like today.
My grandparents explored outdoor markets in 1965 with this American friend who lived in Hong Kong.
And this is a photo Tom took at another outdoor market (Ladies’ Street) last month. While each outdoor market is unique in its own way, I thought the overall look hadn’t changed too much.
Finally: the New Territories. My grandparents snapped this one in 1974.
And this is how it looks further north today, still developing, still growing.
As one friend once wrote, each time you visit Hong Kong you’ll find some things to be completely new and modern while at the same time some places haven’t changed in decades.
I know I am a bit late to the party but I just found this post (via Jocelyn’s blog). It is truly amazing to see the change. I was looking at a city in China on google maps the other day and my Chinese fiance looked at it and said that the pictures (when you go into the google earth view) were already really out of date and they can’t have been taken that long ago. It really made me realise the pace of change in China.
Thank you so much for your comment! I was in China when you wrote it and am sorry it took so long for me to reply. I can imagine how rapid China has changed. I only went to Shanghai (and Hong Kong) on my recent trip, but the skyline across the Bund wasn’t there when I was last in Shanghai. I’ve heard that smaller cities, like in Hubei where my ex-husband comes from, have changed so they’re unrecognizable, too. It’s amazing how much can happen in 10-15 years!
I’ve always wanted to visit Hong Kong, Susan, and your photos only make me want to go more.
You should definitely go! The non-stop from Chicago isn’t bad at all. Next TWA reunion in Hong Kong!
Looks great, but everything did back then… still looks pretty good now, despite the monumental population growth.
Eh, one day I’ll get there.
But you have been there, right? In the service? There have been some good changes and some bad ones. I do like the skyscrapers along the harbor front except for the tallest one that doesn’t look like it belongs.
That is so true. The spirit of Hong Kong never dies. Thankfully. 🙂
I’m not a big fan of the IFC building, either. I don’t blame you for leaving it out. ha ha!
Thanks so much for your comment, Amy! Yes, I agree about the spirit of Hong Kong. It’s what makes it a special place.
As if the IFC weren’t bad enough, now these gargantuan towers are being built on Kowloon, which really stand out. 🙁