A sweetheart cake or wife cake or marriage pie is a traditional Cantonese pastry with a thin crust of flaky pastry, and made with a filling of winter melon, almond paste, and sesame, and spiced with five spice powder. “Wife cake" is the translation of lou po beng from Cantonese, and although the meaning is "wife", the literal translation is "old lady cake", paralleling the colloquial usage of "old lady" for "wife" in American English.

The traditional variant is from the Guangdong-Hong Kong region, where the filling consists of candied wintermelon.The candied wintermelon mash is then combined with white sesame seeds and glutinous rice flour. Coconut in the form of mash or desiccated shreds and almond paste, as well as vanilla, are also added sometimes. The authentic flavour and flaky texture of the pastry is produced by using pork lard shortening then by glazing with egg wash. Due to its rising popularity in Western countries brought about by immigration, butter is sometimes substituted in place of lard, though this will alter the taste. The level of sweetness is mild, compared to Western sweet pastries. Source: wikipedia

Photo credit: Hang Heung

Where to buy: Hang Heung Cake Shop (579 Nathan Road, Shop 1, Mong Kok, Kowloon), Hang Heung has 3 other branches, please click the link to their website for more info.

Tel: +852 2476 3080

Website: hangheung.com.hk

Hours: Monday to Sunday 08:00am - 08:00pm

The abacus (plural abaci or abacuses), also called a counting frame, is a calculating tool that was in use in the ancient Near East, Europe, China, and Russia, centuries before the adoption of the written Arabic numeral system. The exact origin of the abacus is still unknown. Today, abacuses are often constructed as a bamboo frame with beads sliding on wires, but originally they were beans or stones moved in grooves of sand or on tablets of wood, stone, or metal.

Although today many use calculators and computers instead of abacuses to calculate, abacuses still remain in common use in some countries. Merchants, traders and clerks in some parts of Eastern Europe, Russia, China and Africa use abacuses, and they are still used to teach arithmetic to children. Some people who are unable to use a calculator because of visual impairment may use an abacus. Source: wikipedia

Photo credit: Yue Hwa

Where to buy: Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium (301-309 Nathan Road, Kowloon)

Tel: +852 3511 2222

Website: yuehwa.com

Hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00am - 10:00pm

Jade has been culturally significant to the Chinese for thousands of years. It was a symbol for the worship of heaven and earth. It was seen to embody beauty, righteousness and knowledge. Known as the ‘stone of heaven’, it was considered pure and enduring enough to inspire the highest spiritual aspirations in the wearer. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang brought together the six warring states and unified China in 221B.C., he chose the famous He Shi Bi jade for his Imperial Seal, inscribed with the words: ‘Having received the Mandate from Heaven, may (the Emperor) lead a long and prosperous life.’

For 2,000 years, the stone known as jade was actually nephrite, which was indigenous to China. Jadeite was only introduced to the empire during the Qing dynasty, when traders began exporting it from Burma in 1784. By the 19th century, Burmese jadeite had become the most highly prized gemstone of the Manchu aristocracy. It was the favourite of Empress Dowager Cixi, who loved its bright, vivid colours — it had finally reached pre-eminence as the Imperial Stone, the most precious object in China.

Today, jadeite is still highly coveted by the Chinese as well as collectors around the world. It can be found in a variety of colours, such as lavender, yellow, russet-brown and black, but it is the green stone containing chromium that is the most cherished. The value of jadeite is based upon three important criteria: colour, translucency and texture. Source: christies.com

Photo credit: christies.com

Where to buy: Shun Tak Tong (Shop No. MW2, Mezzanine Floor, The Peninsula Hong Kong, 22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui)

Tel: +852 2368 3066

Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00am - 8:00pm

Hong Kong is well known for its highly efficient, world-class transportation system that connects the whole of Hong Kong. WIth land transport comprises the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) system, taxis, buses, minibusses and tramways as well as ferry services connecting between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, and to the Outlying Islands.

A visit to Hong Kong will not be complete without taking a ride on trams, or Ding Ding, (how the locals call it). It is one of the oldest forms of transportation in Hong Kong, started in 1904 until present. And it is just right to get one of these mini trams or other model of transport you have experienced on your visit as a keepsake! 80M Shop is a one-stop-shop specializing in the design and sale of mini model transportation means. It has a collection of over 1000 models made of metals, plastic, paper, crystal, porcelain, and other materials.

Photo credit: 80M Shop

Where to buy: 80M Bus Model Shop (G/F, KP-4, Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon)

Tel: +852 2851 3635

Website: 80mbusmodel.com

Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00am - 8:00pm

Shanghai Tang is a Hong Kong luxury fashion house founded in 1994 by Hong Kong businessman David Tang. The brand is known for its luxury clothing, combining traditional Shanghainese tailoring with contemporary design and fabrics, Shanghai Tang is the ultimate interpretation of modern Chinese couture.

David Tang stated that Shanghai Tang is a Chinese label that set out to rejuvenate Chinese fashion of the 1920s and 1930s. The fundamental design concept is inspired by the 1920s Cheongsam combined with the modernity of the 21st century. Shanghai Tang is noted for its use of Chinese culture and heritage in its product styling, branding, and marketing, making it a perfect gift to buy while you’re in Hong Kong!

Photo credit: Shanghai Tang

Where to buy: Shanghai Tang Mansion (1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong)

Tel: +852 25257333

Website: shanghaitang.com

Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00am - 8:00pm

Director: Kirk Wong, Jackie Chan (uncredited)

Year: 1993

IMDB Score: 6.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Photo credit: imdb.com

An honest Hong Kong cop, guilt-ridden over his participation in a recent shoot-out, attempts to save a real estate developer kidnapped under his care.

Director: Ann Hui

Year: 2011

IMDB Score: 7.5/10 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Photo credit: imdb.com

A film producer (Andy Lau) helps care for his family's lifelong servant (Deanie Ip) after she suffers a stroke and must move into a nursing home.

Heading Raja Fashions is the effervescent Raja Daswani whose grandfather emigrated from the abounding northern India to Hong Kong where he set up a custom tailoring business. His father, uncles and aunts followed in their father’s footsteps. It was natural that Raja too would enter the trade.

With his love of the business and expertise in custom made fine clothing along with hard work and enthusiasm, Raja Daswani, the heir to a dignified family of high-end tailoring, decided to carry on the family business and open what’s today a global enterprise. Since 1957 the business has set itself a reputation that stretches seamlessly across the globe including the House of Lords, Downing Street and covering all the major cities around the world. Source: tailor-m.com

Photo credit: raja-fashions.com

Where to buy: Raja Fashion Shop (34-C Cameron Road, G/F,Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon, Hong Kong)

Tel: +852 25439988

Website: raja-fashions.com

Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00am - 8:00pm

A tea set or tea service is a collection of matching teaware and related utensils used in the preparation and serving of tea. The traditional components of a tea set may vary between societies and cultures. The accepted history of the tea set begins in China during the Han Dynasty (206–220 BC). At this time, tea ware was made of porcelain and consisted of two styles: a northern white porcelain and a southern light blue porcelain. 

Tea drinking custom holds a big part of Chinese culture, there are several special circumstances in which tea is prepared and consumed; A sign of respect, To apologize and To show gratitude and celebrate weddings.. Increased enthusiasm for tea drinking led to the greater production of teaware, which significantly popularized Chinese porcelain culture.

Photo credit: kaifattea.com

Where to buy: Kai Fat Tea (G / F, 132 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)

Tel: +852 25439988

Website: kaifattea.com

Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00am - 6:30pm

The practice of drinking tea is originated in China and it has had a long history. Although tea originated in China, during the Tang Dynasty, Chinese tea generally represents tea leaves which have been processed using methods inherited from ancient China. Tea is deeply woven into the history and culture of China. The beverage is considered one of the seven necessities of Chinese life, along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar.

Chinese tea can be classified into six distinctive categories: white, green, yellow, oolong, black and post-fermented. All of these come from varieties of the Camellia sinensis plant. Tea leaves are processed using traditional Chinese methods. Chinese tea is consumed throughout the day, including during meals, as a substitute for plain water or for simple pleasure.

Photo credit: kaifattea.com

Where to buy: Kai Fat Tea (G / F, 132 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)

Tel: +852 25439988

Website: kaifattea.com

Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00am - 6:30pm