Guided Tour
Southern Threads: A Bus Tour of Everyday Life




The Southern District, stretching from Shek O in the east to Pok Fu Lam in the west, and reaching south to Ap Lei Chau, has long witnessed the city’s evolving industries. From the heyday of the fishing and shipbuilding to its transformation into an industrial centre, and through the ebb and flow of the typhoon shelters, the district's diverse characters are deeply etched into the daily lives of its people.
“Our Southerly Days” invites you on a journey through time, memory, and space, as seen through the eyes of artists who have lived, grown up, or worked in the Southern District. Through diverse artistic expressions and mediums, this project reconnects with the everyday life through three thematic lenses: Fishery (漁), Delight (愉), and Corner (隅).
Fishery (漁) — The emblem of Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau, celebrating the boat dwellers' culture that once defined this place.
Delight (愉) — The joyful, often hidden moments of growing up in familiar place that shaped the shared social memory.
Corner (隅) — The ever-changing street corners that reveal unexpected visual and emotional encounters.
We invite you to rediscover this vibrant community through a renewed lens — one that celebrates the aesthetics of everyday life rooted in place. Together, these perspectives unfold a multifaceted narrative of the Southern District.
Artists: Sarah Mui | Deep Food | LeonLollipop
Built in the 1960s, Wah Fu Estate is one of Hong Kong’s oldest existing public housing estates. Planned as a self‑contained “town centre”, it grew into a close‑knit community. Rising in terraces against the hillside, its blocks are connected by a web of alleys and shortcuts — known mostly to locals — that create an unmistakable sense of belonging. From its corridors, sweeping sea views unfold, giving Wah Fu a special place among the city’s housing estates.
Visitors should not miss the nostalgic cafes with authentic 1960s furnishings, where a cup of silky milk tea pairs perfectly with Wah Fu’s cherished sunset vistas.
Here, artist Sarah Mui presents a roving installation: a toy cart carrying playful memories shaped by the hills, sea and streets, inviting the community to relive Wah Fu’s distinctive games and joy.
Exhibition Period of Roving Art Installation:
15 – 24 October 2025
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Aberdeen Square is the beating heart of the district — a generous public space amid the bustle of the streets. Its pavilions, landscaped greenery and water features make it a favourite gathering place for residents to rest, meet and relax, embodying the lively spirit of the Southern District.
Surrounded by shops and eateries, the square meets everyday needs with ease. Whether strolling, pausing for a break, or shopping for essentials, this is the perfect spot to tune into Aberdeen’s local rhythm.
Covering some 15,577 square metres, Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market is the largest in Hong Kong, supplying over 70% of the city’s fresh seafood. Its peach‑orange, three‑storey facade makes it a striking landmark along the shore.
Arrive early from the Aberdeen Promenade to watch fishing boats unload their fresh catch. Inside, stalls brim with every variety of fish and seafood, while onsite restaurants serve them straight to the table — from delicate Cantonese dishes to hearty seafood feasts.
The artist collective “Deep Food” draws inspiration here, using dried seafood as vessels for the stories and memories of the boat‑dwellers.
Open only at dawn along Aberdeen’s harbourfront, the Dawn Market is alive with energy before the sun rises — packed with crowds and filled with the sound of bargaining. Fishermen deliver the catch straight to the stalls, fresher and more affordable than anywhere else in the city. Many of the seafood are still swimming in tanks.
Colourful and authentic, the Dawn Market is one of the best windows into Aberdeen’s fishing culture and daily rhythm. Here, the artist collective “Deep Food” mingled with stallholders and boat families, gathering hidden recipes and community tales — while stocking up, of course, on prized dried seafood.
Located along Aberdeen Promenade, the piers serve routes near and far — from Ap Lei Chau across the channel to Lamma and Po Toi Islands further offshore.
From here, you can take in the scene of sampans, ferries, fishing boats and yachts sharing the same waters — a vivid picture of Aberdeen’s seafaring life.
The roving art installation by “Deep Food”, the artist collective, links Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau across the water, inviting visitors onto a kaito ferry for a multi‑sensory voyage of sight, smell and touch into the maritime aesthetics of harbour life.
At Ap Lei Chau Pier, you can still catch the city’s last remaining public sampan ferry — a vital link between Ap Lei Chau and Aberdeen. Running frequently throughout the day, it not only serves local residents but also offers visitors a memorable glimpse of Hong Kong’s harbour life.
The short crossing takes only a few minutes, yet carries with it generations of seafaring tradition. From the sampan, you’ll catch sight of the harbour’s bustling mix of boats and feel the echoes of life once lived on the water.
Here the roving art installation by “Deep Food”, the artist collective, bridges the two shores, turning the humble ferry ride into a multi‑sensory journey into Aberdeen’s maritime heritage.
The Warehouse Teenage Club was once the Aberdeen Police Station, built in 1891 as one of the first police outposts in the Southern District. Revitalised in 1995, it now serves as a creative hub for young people, encouraging hands‑on learning and projects in arts, culture and heritage.
The two‑storey red‑brick building was declared a Grade II historic building in 2009. Its timber trusses, tiled Chinese roof and airy verandas reveal how colonial architecture adapted to Hong Kong’s climate. Many original features survive — from granite staircases and fireplaces to the former armoury and delicate window tracery — making it a remarkable heritage site.
THE SOUTHSIDE is positioned as a lifestyle and cultural landmark in the Southern District. Seamlessly connected to the railway station and surrounding streets, it is also closely linked to Wong Chuk Hang’s art spaces and those creative communities housed in industrial buildings. It is one of the best ways to start exploring the transformation from an industrial zone into a vibrant cultural community.
The mall frequently hosts markets, performances and cultural events that foster community interaction. Pet-friendly facilities are also available throughout the venue, actively promoting an inclusive environment for both people and their furry companions.
Artist LeonLollipop’s mural and roving art installation will be featured here, themed around Gloomie Cat’s adventure and forming part of the district-wide journey "Gloomie Cat's Southern Journey".
Legend has it that fishermen once discovered a statue of Tai Wong Yeh in a stream (today the Staunton Creek Nullah), leading to the temple’s founding at this very site. Built in 1986 with government support, the temple is constructed in traditional style with whitewashed walls, golden tiles and porcelain murals gifted by devotees.
Beyond worship, the temple embodies community spirit. Each year, it hosts three major festivals: the deity’s birthday in the third lunar month, the Hungry Ghost Festival in the seventh, and the Thanksgiving Ceremony in the tenth. Together they form vibrant gatherings that also showcase the Teochew heritage of the area.
Here, Sarah Mui’s roving art installation will be present, bringing playful memories of hills, sea and streets in the form of a toy cart, adding an element of fun to the temple forecourt.
Exhibition Period of Roving Art Installation:
25 October – 5 November 2025
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Opened in 2023, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s new premises in Wong Chuk Hang houses SHOWCASE, a 4,000‑square‑foot venue for exhibitions, performances, workshops and film screenings.
Together with the Arts Information Centre and ADC Artspace, it offers the public fresh artistic experiences while positioning Wong Chuk Hang as an emerging cultural landmark.
The artworks and workshops of “Our Southerly Days” will meet the public here on 11 and 12 October. SHOWCASE gathers stories under three themes — “Fishery”, “Delight” and “Corner”, leading visitors to explore the ways of living in the district across generations.
Exhibition Period:
11 – 12 October 2025
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Lined with cafes, restaurants and bars, Stanley Main Street is the district’s most iconic seaside promenade. With its relaxed, almost Mediterranean vibe, it is a favourite for both locals and visitors — perfect for soaking up the Southern District’s coastal charm.
At one end, the street leads to Blake Pier, Stanley Plaza and Murray House, while the other opens to Stanley Market.
Here, artist LeonLollipop presents murals and a roving installation, threading together Gloomie Cat’s Southern Journey — a playful adventure that links the stories of the district.
Exhibition Period of Roving Art Installation:
25 October – 5 November 2025
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM