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Letterpress Workshop and Footprints of the Chinese in Old Sheung Wan
Letterpress Workshop and Footprints of the Chinese in Old Sheung Wan
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Letterpress Workshop and Footprints of the Chinese in Old Sheung Wan

Get to know Hong Kong in the early 20th century and experience movable type printing

From Historic Streets to Movable Type — Printing Hong Kong’s Stories

This activity combines a guided Sheung Wan tour with a movable type printing workshop, exploring early 20th-century history and Hong Kong’s newspaper industry. Participants learn traditional printing techniques while gaining deeper insight into the city’s intangible cultural heritage.

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Tour overview

Sheung Wan is one of the earliest Chinese settlements in Hong Kong. In the first part of this walking tour, we will visit various historical sites and try to sketch how Chinese people made a living in this storied area over a century ago. In particular, we will probe the following:

  • Was the neighborhood of Tai Ping Shan – literally ‘peaceful hill’ – really that peaceful in the early colonial era?
  • How did a street-corner temple serve as the ‘supreme court’ for the local Chinese population?
  • How did early 20th century Chinese intellectuals use Hong Kong as a base to spread revolutionary ideas in their bid to topple the last dynasty of imperial China?

Today’s news is tomorrow’s history. The second part of our journey will uncover forgotten stories from newspapers that were once printed along Hollywood Road — the culturally fascinating thoroughfare used to host various important newspapers and over 150 printing shops. Besides picking up a few life tips from a veteran horse-racing journalist, you will also learn the forgotten skill of printing with movable types (one of the four great inventions of ancient China) in a special letterpress workshop from a master of the craft. Aided by ‘relics’ like his birth certificate, the friendly master will also tell us stories from his own life and how they connect with the local neighbourhood.

Selected highlights

Some of the points of interest include:

Kau U Fong

Kau U Fong

Named after the Book of Songs and its nine blessings, Kau U Fong pairs poetic charm with the bustle of old shops and city life.

Shing Wong Street and PMQ

Shing Wong Street and PMQ

Discover the history of the printing industry.

Wah Kiu Yat Pao 華僑日報

Wah Kiu Yat Pao 華僑日報

Top three best-selling pro-Kuomintang newspaper.

Man Mo Temple

Man Mo Temple

Not only a religious spot worshipping the God of Literature and God of War, the temple also served as the regional assembly hall for community affairs and settling disputes.

Letterpress Workshop

Letterpress Workshop

Explore the story and operation of the movable types, which was used to print Chinese characters before the advent of computer systems.

History

  • Junior Secondary (Secondary 2)
    • Explain with examples the lifestyle and social characteristics (e.g., trades, religion, and community activities) of Sheung Wan as a Chinese settlement in its early years.
    • Understand the traditional movable type printing process, the operating procedures of a printing house, and its impact on social development.
    • Understand how newspapers served as a channel for disseminating knowledge and reflecting the voices of the public.
  • Senior Secondary (Topic A)
    • Analyze Hong Kong’s role as a key hub connecting South China with the world in the mid-to-late 19th century, including how the newspaper industry and movable type printing influenced the flow of information and modernization.
    • Explain the social role of Sheung Wan as a former Chinese settlement, exemplifying how Chinese elites (such as Wong Shing and Ho Tung) influenced society through journalism and charitable organizations, and explain the process of self-organisation and cultural preservation within the Chinese community under colonial rule.
    • Discuss how Hong Kong became the cradle of modern reform and revolutionary thought in China.

Chinese History

  • Junior Secondary School (Republic of China)
    • Use the example of Sheung Wan to understand the process of Chinese migration, settlement, commerce, and community organization in modern China (and Hong Kong). Briefly describe how Chinese communities maintained their culture and religious customs (e.g., Man Mo Temple, community traditions), and interacted with immigrant groups.
    • Explain the contributions of technology (e.g., movable type printing) and industry to Hong Kong’s Chinese community.
    • Provide examples of local stories or figures (e.g., Sun Yat-sen, Wong Shing, etc.) and their connection to major events in modern Chinese history.
  • Senior High School (Section B)
    • Describe how Hong Kong Chinese participated in the interaction between modern China and the surrounding world through their multiple political, economic, and cultural identities (e.g., merchants, leaders, professionals).
    • Evaluate how knowledge, technology (e.g., movable type printing), and policies (press regulation/social planning) promoted social transformation and modernisation.
    • Understand the connection between the 1911 Revolution and Hong Kong, and analyze how Hong Kong became a key base for revolutionary activities in modern China.

Tour Information

  • We reserve the right to make changes to the information, prices and itineraries of the tours as set out in our website and all printed promotional materials. Provided that such changes have been made prior to the confirmation of a booking, such changes shall be binding on the participants.
  • Any information or advice provided by us on matters including but not limited to walking routes, climate, clothing, travel documents, baggage, special equipment, etc. is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of us.
  • All information provided on our website is correct to the best of our knowledge, but we cannot assure that such information would be free from errors or omission and we shall assume no responsibilities for any such errors of omission.
  • Our website may contain hyperlinks to other websites owned and operated by third parties. We have no control over, or associate with, such sites and we assume no responsibilities for the contents of such sites. The inclusion of such sites on our website does not imply our endorsement of such sites.
  • We do not warrant that our website would be free from computer viruses and we accept no liabilities or responsibilities for any loss or damage that may arise as a result.

Bad Weather Policy

  • If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above, or a Red/Black Rainstorm Warning is issued three hours before the tour starts, the tour will be canceled.
  • If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or a Red/Black Rainstorm Warning is issued during the tour, the tour will be canceled immediately.
  • If the tour needs to be canceled due to other adverse weather conditions, we will contact you by phone at least 2.5 hours before the tour. (If there is no response, we will follow up with an SMS or email.)
  • If the tour is canceled due to adverse weather on the day, we will work with you to reschedule a new date within six months from the original tour date.

Tour Reminder

  • Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes for the walk. Bring an umbrella, a bottle of water and some snacks just in case.
  • Each participant may bring their own 3.5mm plug headphone if they have one for the wireless transmitter/receiver system which will be used on the tour. The guide will provide them a new one otherwise, but for hygienic and environmental reasons participants are strongly suggested to bring their own earphones if possible.
  • There is a possibility that our organization may take photographs or videos during the guided tour, and these captured images or footage may be used for future promotion and publicity. If participants do not agree with this arrangement, please inform the tour guide or organizer during registration and on the day of the event.
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