Hong Kong City Tour: A junction of cultures

The Colonial Heritage

80,000 square meters of lush greenery now cover this space, once known as Cantonment Hill. In 1841, the British colonial forces built the Victoria Barracks, one of the 1st British military compounds in Hong Kong. Hong Kong would be a British colony, part of the larger British Empire, from 1841 to 1997, creating a society, segregated between Europeans and Asians, that followed the British cultural norms, such as teatime. As you wander around the city, you will see many historical buildings, such as Cassels Block, Wavell House, Rawlinson House, and Flagstaff House. Some of their typical elements are the Greco-Roman columns, the white colour and the flat-fronted wood shuttered windows that can be found throughout former British colonies in Asia. This park also features extensive greenhouses, an aviary, and a tai chi garden, where many people practice tai chi amongst the pavilions, usually in the mornings. This is a practice more than 2000 years old that originally developed as a martial art and today is recognized with several health benefits associated with longevity.