The area is home to many bars catering to expats.
Lan Kwai Fong
Traditional Chinese蘭桂坊
Lan Kwai Fong in 2011
Lan Kwai Fong in 2015

Lan Kwai Fong (often abbreviated as LKF) is a small square of streets in Central, Hong Kong. The area was dedicated to hawkers before the Second World War, but underwent a renaissance in the mid-1980s. It is now a popular expatriate haunt in Hong Kong for drinking, clubbing and dining. The street Lan Kwai Fong is L-shaped with two ends joining with D'Aguilar Street.[1]

Location

Lan Kwai Fong as an area is defined by D'Aguilar Street and the smaller lane, Lan Kwai Fong, an L-shaped, cobble-stoned lane. Both streets turn 90 degrees to form a rectangle. It is near the Mid-Levels. Its eating and drinking establishments are considered upmarket in price and the area is also considered a tourist spot. From the west side of the rectangle, Wo On Lane and Wing Wah Lane extend to host several more spots for drinks and food. The area arguably extends to Wellington Street and Wyndham Street, through to the Hong Kong Fringe Club. It is also home to a small number of art galleries.

History

Before the Second World War, Lan Kwai Fong was dedicated to hawkers.

In early days, the square housed many mui yan (媒人), female marriage arrangers who were intermediaries between two families in traditional times. It was consequently known as Mui Yan Hong or Hung Leung Hong.

After the opening of the disco club "Disco Disco" by Gordon Huthart on 23 December 1978 in the basement of 40 D'Aguilar Street, the development of the Lan Kwai Fong area accelerated, and it became known worldwide. The disco club was popular among celebrities and expats until it closed in 1986.[2][3]

Inspired by Montreal's Crescent Street, the Montreal-raised businessman Allan Zeman opened a restaurant called "California" on Lan Kwai Fong in 1983, as a place for expats,[4] earning him the nickname "the Father of Lan Kwai Fong" (蘭桂坊之父).

Between 2011 and 2015, a massive change was underway, following Zeman's decision to replace his block in Lan Kwai Fong, which led to a substantial area of Lan Kwai Fong becoming a construction site.

Special occasions

The crowds during special occasions such as Halloween or New Year's Eve put the place at a literal standstill with the large numbers. Police control is employed at such times, to manage the crowds.[5]

Street culture

In recent years, street performing has become a new scene in Hong Kong's street culture. Some of the performers decide to set their stages at Lan Kwai Fong, usually with the medium of singing and playing guitar in an acoustic setting.

New Years Eve tragedy

Location of the tragedy

On 1 January 1993, 21 people were killed and 62 injured in a large-scale human crush incident whilst celebrating the New Year's Day in Lan Kwai Fong.[5][6]

More than 15,000 people were crammed into the area for the New Year countdown at the time. As midnight approached there was a crowd collapse. The Hong Kong government appointed Court of First Instance judge Kemal Bokhary to conduct an inquest into the disaster.[7] The stringent crowd control measures now in force at major holidays and events are a direct consequence of the inquest's recommendations.

Transport

There are several ways to access Lan Kwai Fong other than taxi, which include:

Public transport

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong: Famous Bar Street, Budget". www.travelchinaguide.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  2. ↑ 馮敏兒 (7 November 2015). "今晚落老蘭？蘭桂坊的前世今生". 端傳媒. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. ↑ "【TBT】WHY THE 70S CLUBS CHANGED HONG KONG'S NIGHTLIFE EVER SINCE". MILKX. 23 February 2018. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "'The future is China': Billionaire from Montreal becomes vocal Beijing booster in embattled Hong Kong". nationalpost. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 蘭桂坊：廿四味與啤酒共存 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Yiu, Enoch (27 March 2006). "King of the hill looks to Hollywood's heights". South China Morning Post.
  7. ↑ "包致金女兒曾涉高買", Oriental Daily News, 28 January 2010, retrieved 30 January 2010

Further reading

  • Cheng, Sea-ling (2001). "Consuming Places in Hong Kong: Experiencing Lan Kwai Fong". In Mathews, Gordon; Lui, Tai-lok (eds.). Consuming Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 237–262. ISBN 9789622095465.
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