Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2020complete | Page 91
of five sheep, is a prominent example of the city’s heritage: it is believed that five celestial rams arrived in
Chuting (Guangzhou during the Zhou Dynasty) and blessed the city with good harvests, bringing an end to
an era of sustained famine. Go into the city centre and you would be stunned by the ancient architecture in
Old Xiguan, which was home to elaborate Cantonese mansions owned by the most affluent personalities a
few centuries ago. All sharing the traditional Lingnan characteristics, they are immaculately designed with
timber-masonry structures and have withstood the test of time: the Xiguan houses are currently open for
visits. Combined with deep black bricks and an elaborate architectural style, the district is a hotspot for
tourists and academics alike. A few minutes’ walk would bring you to a row of restaurants with authentic
Cantonese cuisine, each of them selling their specialities which often are passed on for generations. The sight
of woks humming, people salivating and dishes ranging from steamed oysters, fried chicken or char siu is
definitely a delight to the eyes, and will not vanish in the near future when the Area modernizes into one
the world stops to observe. Thus, life for residents in this aspect will not change as dramatically as in other
realms, however with the aid of technology pioneered by companies such as Tencent, one could expect
lengthy waiting times for food delivery to be lost in the past. With the advent of the recent infrastructural
boom, the prospect of ordering bona fide daliang double milk from Guangzhou to a world-class hotel in
Macau could no longer be fiction.
The distinct Cantonese culture forms a direct contrast with Macanese culture, a gambling hub which retains
a few shreds of its Portuguese occupation. The remnants of St Paul’s Church, and historically known as the
‘Vatican of the Far East”, the site is a magnificent culmination of a grandiose staircase leading up to a
seamless granite facade. A 10-minute walk northeast would lead you to the ancient St Lazarus Church, a
pristine white facility surrounded by some of Macau’s most picturesque streets that cannot be found
anywhere in the world. INdeed, as new casinos are constructed and as new resorts are built to meet the
skyrocketing demand, some local bazaars might be forgotten. However, this is not emblematic of Macanese
culture as a whole; regardless of whatever trials and tribulations the city might go through, the revenue
gained from tourism is already enough to ensure they will not become remnants of the past.
All of this breathtaking change will definitely present cities of the Greater Bay Area in a refreshingly new
light, as centerpieces of innovation and prosperity. This is in direct juxtaposition to the perception some may
hold decades ago; with every soaring skyscraper being erected, with every university being constructed, with
every station being established, the image that the region is no more than a rural backwater has already been
deemed obsolete. This image will be even more irrelevant as the GBA progresses and flourishes; time and
trust will only bolster the Area’s international image as an interconnected and highly intellectual hub. And as
Hong Kong remains embroiled in a political conflict full of acrimony, one can only hope for the city that
we call home can find a way past the strife and forge a path back to prosperity. With this golden opportunity
on our doorstep, we have the opportunity to regain what we have lost in the midst of this chaos, but also to
reach new heights with cooperation and innovation.