Hollywood Rd in Hong Kong is full of amazing antique shops and is home to one of my favourite temples, Man Mo. I braved the oppressive heat to revisit the temple and the nearby market.
Unfortunately the temple is being renovated inside and out and is covered in scaffolding. I went in anyway.
The figures receiving the offerings don’t look all that happy with their gifts.
Usually the ceiling is hung with spirals of burning incense, but because of the scaffolding it didn’t look as interesting as usual. There was a man busy lighting the coils and looking for an available space for them.
It is also possible to buy sticks of incense to offer to the relevant deity.
Perhaps this fellow would like some.
Or this one.
The markets were still setting up for the day, but some of the treasures were set out and waiting patiently for a buyer.
I thought these calligraphy brushes were beautiful.
The fans were also lovely, but I really love the collections of Chinese figurines.
At the end of the street we came upon the first gas lights installed in Hong Kong.
The Duddell St gas lamps date from about 1860. I’m sure they were very impressive at the time.
Don’t miss Hollywood Rd if you are in Hong Kong, but go soon, a lot of the antique shops and galleries are disappearing to make way for restaurants and coffee shops. I hope some of the old shops stick around.