Tucked away to the southeast of Causeway Bay is the neighbourhood of Tai Hang. The area was originally a slum – its name translates as “big water channel” – but it was redeveloped in the 1990s and in more recent times has developed a reputation as a haven for hipsters, with gentrification bringing in bars and restaurants. Locals will tell you that Tai Hang still retains a feel of old Hong Kong, and it’s the location for the annual Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls this year between 23 and 25 September. Here, Aussie expat David shares some insights into what life is like living in Tai Hang.
The Specifics
Where do you live? Tai Hang.
What transport do you use to get to and from your house? I walk!
How long have you lived here? Seven years.
Why here? It’s close to work and close to the MTR.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, what’s the first thing you see? The Lin Fa Temple stall.
The closest store to your front door is? ParkNShop.
The unofficial uniform of your area is? Anything cool as it can get very hot due to being built up.
If a celebrity moves in next door, it will most likely be: A Cantonese catalogue model!
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you: Go for a wander a round my neighbourhood.
If you’re missing home, you: Call my parents.
A mandatory stop for taking out-of-town guests is: Any rooftop bar. It’s a great thing to do with visitors; you get good views all over the city, but a regular for me is The Excelsior hotel rooftop bar.
You’d swap houses in a second with: Li Ka-shing.
A common myth about your neighbourhood is: It’s a hipster hangout.
If you’re ever woken up at night, it’s almost always due to: Traffic.
A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to involve: The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance – it only happens once a year but Tai Hang is transformed during this time.
The Superlatives
Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joint is: Second Draft.
You won’t find better local food than at: Bing Kee dai pa dong.
The best bargains in your neighbourhood are: The Minimal has some cool retro stuff.
We love a good bargain. The best deals in your neighbourhood are: The Bing Kee soup dumplings.
The strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street is: A photoshoot involving a male model pretending to be asleep on a pillow in a phone box.
The guiltiest pleasure in your area is: Shanghai dumplings!
One thing you’d never change is: The atmosphere.
But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is: The cars that turn the street into a parking lot.
The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street: Come up with better parking and also add some more greenery
Do you love your neighbourhood?
Share it with others – just email us at info@expatliving.hk with “Street Talk” in the subject line. Include your name and street, and we’ll be in touch.
See more in our Living in Hong Kong section:
The expat’s guide to where to live in Hong Kong
Are you looking for a job in Hong Kong?
This article first appeared in the August/September 2018 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
