Sheung Wan Loop – A Shop Sign Walking Map

This is the first walking route by Open House Hong Kong that is especially designed without a guided tour. Curated by the @streetsignhk team—a platform dedicated to preserving Hong Kong’s signboard culture—this circular Sheung Wan shop sign walking route has no fixed starting or ending point. Unlike traditional guided tours, you can complete the full circuit at your own pace or casually drop by one or two shops along the way. In fact, shop spaces differ significantly from other architectural spaces in terms of typology and scale and are much more accessible. By strolling through this series of shop signs, one can form a distinct impression of this neighbourhood.

Among the sea of sign calligraphy in Sheung Wan, Bei Wei script by renowned Hong Kong calligraphy Master Au Kin Kung is the most favoured by merchants. However, the calligraphy he inscribed for each shop is unique in a subtle way. @ink.brush.city, dedicated to in-depth research on Hong Kong signboard calligraphy, has showcased the 28 different styles in Master Au’s catalogue, with 9 variations of Bei Wei script alone. Master Au once established Hong Kong’s first dedicated calligraphy school in Sheung Wan. The fact that nearby merchants eagerly commissioned him to inscribe their signs reveals a delicate interplay between sign aesthetics, personal networks, and community bonds. Beyond Master Au’s works, this map also carefully selects signboards in other styles, aiming to showcase the rich and diverse sign atmosphere of Sheung Wan.

Aligning with OHHK's theme this year, ‘What Makes A Good City’, the @streetsignhk team hopes to invite broader participation—allowing everyone to explore at their own pace in person, or even joining online or from abroad. Anyone can follow the methods of appreciating signs cultivated by the team over eight years, and through signs and calligraphy, rediscover the diversity, substance and hidden gems of Sheung Wan.

Map curated by: Kevin Mak (Open House Hong Kong Organising Committee Member) & Ken Fung

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