HISTORY – Exclusive: The Peak Tram in 1908 & More Unseen Vintage Photos


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The Royal Geographic Society (which holds regular events in HK) is currently promoting its ‘Hidden Journeys’ project – expect to see their interactive guides at your aeroplane seat soon… Their visual walk-throughs follow the flight paths of your journey and include information and photographs from online sources and their own archives.

The RGS have kindly shared some rare, old images of colonial Hong Kong with us – all of which date back to the turn of the 20th century. Click to enlarge…

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1908 – A certain Peak Tram devoid of encroaching skyscrapers. Copyright RGS-IBG / A. S. Waley

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1897 – A pavilion in traditional Chinese style. Copyright: RGS-IBG & R. C. Hurley. Click to enlarge

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1908 – Government House, the seat of British rule. Copyright RGS-IBG & A. S. Waley. Click to enlarge.

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1890 – A view of Victoria Harbour when it was still relatively undeveloped. Copyright RGS-IBG / Miss L. S. Selby.

(Click here to see how the HK skyline developed)

1897 – Queen’s Road Central. Copyright: RGS-IBG & R. C. Hurley. Click to enlarge.

See Hong Kong from the air with the Royal Geographical Society’s Hidden Journeys Project

Hong Kong was specially chosen by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) to feature on the latest flight guide for their Hidden Journeys Project because of its vibrancy as one of the world’s financial centres and its rich history and culture. The Hidden Journeys Project aims to enliven the flying experience by providing interactive guides to air travellers about the parts of the world they fly over from departure to arrival.

The latest guide to be released covers the flight path from Delhi to Hong Kong, offering a glimpse at some of the most diverse and spectacular landscapes in the East, from Earth’s highest peaks to Asia’s great river basins. From the highest mountains in the world to some of the world’s largest rivers, the flight path between Delhi and Hong Kong provides a glimpse into the sheer size and physical diversity of Asia.

However, people can be found at all extremes of the landscape, from the heavily populated fertile floodplains to the few climbers who have reached the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. This flight also connects two of Asia’s most influential cities while crossing some of the most productive regions in Asia, including China’s industrial manufacturing hubs, the agricultural zones of India and Nepal and the busy Brahmaputra River and Pearl River Basin.

Hidden Journeys is currently working towards incorporating its geo-entertainment content onto moving maps as part of aircraft in-flight entertainment: in the future, thousands of people could learn about the fascinating parts of the Earth that they fly over in real time! 

Click to visit the website…

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Click to visit the project

For more historical entries on Hong Wrong, click here. Photographic favourites include…