Synopsis this book traces the evolution of the hong kongs popular culture, namely film, television and popular music also known as cantopop, which is knotted with the citys geopolitical, economic and social transformations. The book is an excellent thriller outright, but is also an insight into the. Ironically, it was not until they were faced with the imposition of mainland power with the signing of the sinobritish joint agreement in 1984 that the denizens of the colony began the search for a hong kong identity. With everything from topnotch restaurants to delicious street food, hong kong s renowned cuisine is reason enough to visit. Packed with nature reserves, bustling markets, dai pai dongs and teetering tower blocks, hong kong is as fastpaced as it is diverse. Hong kong, special administrative region of china, located to the east of the pearl river estuary on the south coast of china. Hong kong as a world city draws on a rich variety of foundational texts in film, fiction, architecture and other forms of visual culture. Ive read many books on hong kong that fail to capture the true essence of the city. The book s forewords see artist and filmmaker ai weiwei hail wong as a new generation of rebel and the last british governor of hong kong, chris patten, warn you cannot defeat an idea. A memoir and fervent call to arms from a key leader of hong kong s prodemocracy protests, written with jason y ng. A consideration of what the culture of hong kong tells us about the state of the world at the findesiecle. Hong kongs young protest leader issues a call to arms.
The best way to understand a country and its culture is by reading its. The bestselling guide to the etiquette and customs of hong kong a. Ingham captures the natural beauty and dynamic energy of this amazing city while also exposing hong kong s warts. Parallels five people in hong kongs book industry have disappeared. Add it to the list, sophie, we use these lists as aide memoirs as to what to read next and having just checked out the blurb on the piano teacher, that might just be the one i go for next. In this timely and insightful book, yiuwai chu takes stock of hong kongs culture since its transition to a special administrative region of the peoples republic of china in 1997. Jul 25, 2018 the latest novel from haruki murakami, japans most celebrated literary export, has fallen foul of censors in hong kong, where it was ruled to be indecent by a tribunal and removed from display. East asiasoutheast asia hong kong the world factbook. All were linked to books forbidden in mainland china. Covering the political and cultural angles on the city as well as fiction and personal memoirs, these are our ten best books about hong kong. Parallels five people in hong kong s book industry have disappeared.
A recent history of dissent in hong kong by anthony dapiran. The ancient fishing port continues to preserve its ancient lifestyle and remains a scenic highlight of your hong kong tour. From dim sum to dried abalone by adele wong is a 352page hardcover dedicated to exploring the city through its rich food and culture. Collected poems of louise ho, a book by hong kongs leading english. Visitors marvel at hong kong s breathtaking location, its amazing architecture, its exciting shopping. Hong kong culture, culture of hong kong, people, religion. Anyone with an interest in the politics of culture in hong kong must be grateful for being presented with the opportunity to learn from such a stimulating and. Dec 28, 2016 in hong kongs book industry, everybody is scared this article is more than 3 years old hong kong used to be a place of relatively free speech in china, but that was before xi jinpings crackdown. Hong kong as a world city draws on a rich variety of. The hong kong bookseller whos keeping banned books. Hong kong hosts the largest concentration of ultra highnetworth individuals of any city in the world.
Reaching beyond the golden age 1980s of hong kong popular culture and afar from a filmcentric cultural narration, this book, delineating from the dawn of the 20th century and following a chronological order, untangles how the nowadays popular hong kong film, hong kong tv and cantopop are derived from earlyage sinophone cultural heritage, reshaped through cross. The bookworms guide to hong kong the art worlds eyes are on the citystate for art basel hong kong but how is the former colony portrayed in literature. A cultural history cityscapes and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Ironically, it was not until they were faced with the imposition of. Pretty good book summing up the history and development of hong kong since its establishment up to year 1997. After writing about food for the english media industry for a few years, i noticed that. Hong kong is famous for comic books often with martial themes and set in a vague imperial past that are read throughout the chinesespeaking world. Learn handy cantonese terms and classic hong kongstyle recipes along the way, for a fully immersive journey. Hong kong is one of the worlds most enigmatic cities and its complex history has captured peoples imaginations around the world, these ten mustread books about hong kong will help visitors understand what makes this extraordinary citys heart beat. Mar 19, 2020 after more than 40 years of business in hong kong, singapores bookstore chain popular has closed all its 16 branches across the city amid a retail market slump, with critics warning of more. Thats because, since the handover of the territory from the uk to the peoples republic of china in.
From dim sum to dried abalone, an homage to our fair citys vibrant, unique and complex culinary culture. If youre truly interested in hong kong, this is a wonderful book that brings hong kong to life. This book is a mustread for every foodie who wants to gain a broad understanding of the diversity of cantonese food in this exciting city. Kowloon bay and tsim sha tsui star ferry pier are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the areas natural beauty can explore kowloon park and kowloon walled city park. Although the city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, there is severe income inequality among its residents. Leading singaporean bookstore chain popular closes all 16. Sep 04, 2019 hong kong exists as a special administrative region controlled by the peoples republic of china and enjoys its own limited autonomy as defined by the basic law. Aug 02, 2018 hong kong has avoided the strict censorship the chinese government imposes on the mainland.
The culture of hong kong encompasses jackie chart and john woo, british colonial architecture and postmodern skyscrapers. This book examines the british cultural engagement with hong kong in the second half of the twentieth century. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Bbc culture how the hong kong book fair became the world. Hong kong secondhand bookshop owner surdham lam wants to create a lending library that lets borrowers keep the books as long as they like. While the city isnt exactly known for its independent book outlets, here are a few gems where you can browse through some preloved volumes. Just a 5min walk from mtr sham shui station and 7min walk from mtr prince edward station, minimal hotel culture offers comfortable rooms equipped with private bathrooms, toiletries, free wifi, 24hour reception and more. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Ackbar abbass extraordinary account centers on these junctures and becomes an examination of culture in a space of disappearance. It provides helpful advice and cultural insights on business practice and social etiquette.
Helpers, maids, while others were covered extensively e. Each year students, scholars, and readers of all kinds will focus their attention on one single book. This situation led to the diversity of its culture and the people there are openminded to accept variety. Taschen store hong kong, shop 01g02 tai kwun, 10 hollywood road central hong kong sar, china.
A synopsys of hong kong s culture through its heritage, traditions, values, language and food. How to get published in hong kong blacksmith books. Once described as a barren island, the former fishing community has been transformed by its own economic miracle into one of asias world cities, taking in its stride the territorys 1997 return to chinese sovereignty. Hong kong culture was born in a sophisticated fusion of east and west. Actually, the development of hong kong s political comics is nonstop, comics artists got the idea based on the political situation in china or hong kong. It explores new hong kong imaginaries with regard to the complex relationship between the local, the national and the global. The hong kong bookseller whos keeping banned books on. The major theoretical thrust of the book is to address the reconfiguration of hong kong s culture and society in an age of global modernity from the standpoints of different disciplines, exploring the possibilities of approaching hong kong as a method. Growing from a fishing village to a bustling colonial trading port and one of asias most powerful financial centres, hong kong has a colourful history and complex sociocultural dynamics. How a hong kong bookstore owner is creating a new way of. Lee is a hong kong born american author of korean descent. Book appointment to apply for hong kong smart identity card.
Edited by kam louie, dean of the faculty of arts at the university of hong kong and a prolific scholar in chinese literature, the essays in this book come from. The 3star hotel has airconditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free wifi. She is best known for her international bestselling 2009 debut novel the piano teacher. Hong kong continues to link its currency closely to the us dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983. Reaching beyond the golden age 1980s of hong kong popular culture and afar from a filmcentric cultural narration, this book, delineating from the dawn of the 20th century and following a chronological order, untangles how the nowadays popular hong kong film, hong kong tv and cantopop are derived from earlyage. Hong kong, has no precolonial past, only a colonial present and always the imminence of its disappearance.
It shows how the territory fit unusually within britains decolonisation narratives and served as an occasional foil for examining britains own culture during a period of perceived stagnation and decline. The culture of hong kong, or hongkongers culture, can best be described as a foundation that began with lingnans cantonese culture which is distinct to begin with and, to a much lesser extent, noncantonese branches of han chinese cultures. The hong kong bookseller whos keeping banned books on his shelves. So, assuming youve written a great book, you dont necessarily need an agent to get published. To eat as the locals do, tuck into cantonese noodles and roast meat, or stack up dim sum dishes and wash them down with fragrant tea. From its start, its been a business oriented place, shameful as it were, from the despicable practice of british empires opium trade to the modern financial centre, its always been a special place, distinct from any other british colonies, while seen as a unjust theft by the china. Culture hong kongs traditions, beliefs and customs. Project muse hong kong and british culture, 194597. This is your chance to experience how to ride or stay in a sampan boat as the local fishermen did for the longest time. Lee is a recent novel that is also set in hong kong. Mar 19, 2020 hong kong secondhand bookshop owner surdham lam wants to create a lending library that lets borrowers keep the books as long as they like.
Hong kong culture and society in the new millennium hong kong. Books set in hong kong 167 books goodreads share book. Bbc culture how the hong kong book fair became the. Entry to hong kong during the fight against novel coronavirus. Book direct on our website to enjoy exclusive discount and privilege. Online shopping for hong kong from a great selection at books store. In a space of disappearance, in the unprecedented historical situation that hong kong finds itself in of being caught between two colonialities britains and chinas, there is a desperate attempt to clutch at images of identity, however alien or cliched these images are. Haruki murakamis new novel declared indecent by hong kong. In hong kongs book industry, everybody is scared books. Heres our guide to the best fiction and nonfiction books offering invaluable insight into hong kong. Either procommunist side or anticommunist side had published the political comics such as archung yen ekings creations. Ironically, it was not until they were faced with the imposition of mainland powerwith the signing of the sinobritish joint agreement in 1984that the denizens of the colony began the search for a hong kong identity.
Hong kong unveiled goodreads share book recommendations. Located in kowloons mong kok neighborhood, minimal hotel culture is in the city center and near a metro station. The culture of hong kong encompasses jackie chan and john woo, british colonial architecture and postmodern skyscrapers. Hong kong s first gin tastes like ginseng and cinnamon.
Hong kong literature reflects the areas unique history during the 20th century as a fusion of british colonial, cantonese, and seatrading culture. Top 10 books set in hong kong hong kong s intoxicating mix has been colourfully captured by authors from paul theroux to jan morris. Lee initially wrote the piano teacher as a short story before deciding to expand it into a novel. Culture of hong kong history, people, clothing, women. Oct 21, 2014 the bookworms guide to hong kong the art worlds eyes are on the citystate for art basel hong kong but how is the former colony portrayed in literature. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Hong kong had long functioned as the capitalist and democratic stepping stone to china for much of the world. The idea is to promote reading and to make books a cool. A stinging critique of hong kong and its british elite in the dying days of colonial rule, kowloon tong is a typically gripping theroux novel stringing together inept british families, corrupt mainland businessmen and the shadowy streets of the hong kong crime world. Minimal hotel culture budget hotel in hong kong book.
Some chapters were more like lists and not very engaging. As well as a source of inspiration for many films, hong kong has inspired many books. Hong kong culture and society in the new millennium. The major theoretical thrust of the book is to address the reconfiguration of hong kongs culture and society in an age of global modernity from the standpoints of different disciplines, exploring the possibilities of approaching hong kong as a method. Mainlanders would purchase books there that were censored in the rest of china, then smuggle them back home. Joint publishing hong kong is one of major book store chains in hong kong and currently a subsidiary company of sino united publishing holdings limited. While it doesnt delve much into the history of hong kong, it focuses on the political movement that started in the 1960s and during 1997 when hong kong was handed over to china by britain. Book hong kong hotels book hong kong holiday packages. After all, theres nothing more nostalgic than the smell of old books. The piano teacher is a book composed of two parallel love stories set during the 1940s and 1950s in hong kong. Visitors marvel at hong kongs breathtaking location, its amazing architecture, its exciting shopping. The best secondhand bookshops in hong kong culture trip.
Art books culture 0 comments 373 views 0 9 min read. Extremely well researched work with facts that were documented, containing none of the disinformation and. These five books about hong kong offer insight into the situation. In the video above, linda kennedy takes a look at how the hong kong book.
Hong kong has a thriving industry of independent publishers. Vibrant, fastpaced, and full of stories, hong kong is a place where east and west have long intermingled. The city has been a cultural faultline for centuries a translation space where chineseness is interpreted for westerners and westernness is translated for chinese. This book discusses the notion of hong kong as method as it relates to the rise of china in the context of asianization. It not only kept many chinese traditions, but also experienced a baptism of western culture. Whether youre visiting for a few days or a few weeks, dont let a day go to waste by making time for any of these 20 mustvisit attractions. Hong kong was a british possession for decades until it rejoined china in 1997. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The year 2009 saw the publication by hong kong university press of incense tree. Hong kong has always been something of an anomaly, and an outpost of empire, whether british or chinese.
Hong kong introduces the reader to this vibrant, multifaceted society. This book is the first indepth, authoritative look at the flying saucer phenomenon and is considered to this day to be one of the best books on the subject ever written. It is a vibrant cultural and financial center of chinese society. Culture and the politics of disappearance public worlds by ackbar abbas mar 1, 1997. Hong kong has no tariffs on imported goods, and it levies excise duties on only four commodities, whether imported or produced locally. Peoples cultural heritage and festivals, quick facts on hong kong. Sep 16, 2012 great book to get to know the quirks of hong kong culture, but found it weird that some topics were omitted entirely e. Ideally set in the sham shui po district district of hong kong, minimal hotel culture is located a 19minute walk from ladies market, 2.
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