Hello Time Travellers! The Story of Hong Kong
Welcome, explorers! Are you ready to go on an amazing journey through time? We are going to discover the story of our home, Hong Kong. We'll see how it grew from a collection of quiet little villages into the super busy, exciting city we live in today. Learning about our past helps us understand our present and future. Let's dive in!
Section 1: Hong Kong in the Super Olden Days
Way Back in the Song and Yuan Dynasties
A long, long, long time ago, even before your grandparents' grandparents were born, Hong Kong was already a part of our country, China. During a time called the Song Dynasty, people lived here in special villages with big walls around them to keep safe. These are called walled villages, and you can still visit some today!
There are also famous places like the Sung Wong Toi rock in Kowloon City that tell stories from this time. After the Song Dynasty came the Yuan Dynasty, started by the Mongols. All these clues show that Hong Kong has had a deep and inseparable relationship with our country for a very, very long time.
What's in a Name? The Origin of "Hong Kong"
Have you ever wondered what "Hong Kong" means? In Chinese (香港), it means "Fragrant Harbour". The story goes that a long time ago, sweet-smelling incense and wood were traded and shipped from here. The wonderful smell filled the harbour, and so people started calling it the Fragrant Harbour!
Life for the First Residents
Life for the early people in Hong Kong was very different from our life today. There were no skyscrapers or MTR! Most people lived by using what nature gave them. Their main jobs were:
• Salt Production: They would collect sea water and let the water dry up under the sun to get salt. It was a very important job!
• Pearl Fishing: Brave fishermen would dive deep into the sea to find oysters that had beautiful pearls inside.
• Farming: They grew rice and vegetables in the fields.
• Fishing: They went out on boats to catch fish to eat and to sell.
Watch Out for Pirates!
During the Qing Dynasty, the seas around Hong Kong could be a dangerous place. Why? Because of pirates! These pirates would attack fishing boats and villages to steal things. To protect the people, the government built strong stone forts. You can still see some of these old historical forts today, which remind us of the time when people had to be brave against pirates.
Key Takeaway for this Section
In the ancient days, Hong Kong was a quiet part of China, known for farming, fishing, and making salt. It has been connected to our country for a very long time, and people had to build forts to stay safe from pirates.
Section 2: Hong Kong Becomes a City
A New Chapter: Becoming a Busy Port
Later on, a huge change happened! Hong Kong became a free port.
Don't worry, that's just a fancy term! Imagine a giant international market where ships from all over the world can come to trade goods without paying extra fees (called taxes). This made lots of people want to trade here!
Because of this, Hong Kong also became an important entrepot (another big word!). An entrepot is like a giant delivery station. Goods from one country would arrive in Hong Kong, and then be sent out to another country. Hong Kong became the super busy middle-man for the world!
Why did this happen? One big reason is Hong Kong's amazing geographical location. It has a deep, natural harbour that protects ships from big waves and storms, making it a perfect place for ships to stop.
Quick Review Box
Free Port: A place where ships can trade goods easily with few rules and low taxes.
Entrepot: A busy trading hub where goods are brought in and then sent out to other places.
Key Takeaway for this Section
Hong Kong's great location helped it become a free port and an entrepot, turning it from a quiet area into a busy centre for world trade.
Section 3: Life in Modern Times
Challenges and Daily Life (1950s - 1970s)
After World War II, many people moved to Hong Kong. Life was not easy. People faced many challenges, like not having enough houses to live in or jobs to do. But Hong Kong people are hardworking!
• Making a Living: Many people worked in factories, making things like clothes, plastic flowers, and toys that were sold all over the world.
• Children's Life: Children's lives were simpler. They didn't have smartphones or video games. For leisure, they played games on the street like kicking a shuttlecock or playing with marbles. School life was also very important to them.
• Government Measures: The government started to build big public housing estates to provide safer homes for families and opened more schools for children.
Big Changes After the 1970s
Hong Kong started changing very fast!
• New Town Development: The city was getting crowded. So, the government began to build New Towns in areas like Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, and Tuen Mun. These were like brand-new, self-contained cities with homes, schools, parks, and shopping centres, giving people a better living environment.
• New Leisure Activities: More public parks, swimming pools, and libraries were built for everyone to enjoy.
• Changes in Primary Education: The government made sure that every child could go to primary school for free, which was a very important step!
Key Takeaway for this Section
From the 1950s to today, Hong Kong has worked hard to overcome challenges. It grew from a place with factories to a city with modern new towns, better schools, and more fun places for everyone.
Section 4: Hong Kong Today
Important Projects: Building a Better Home
Hong Kong is always growing and improving. Many amazing infrastructure and development projects were built to make our lives better, both before and after the return to the Motherland in 1997.
Think about these amazing places:
• The Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, one of the busiest airports in the world!
• The Tsing Ma Bridge, a huge and beautiful bridge that connects different parts of Hong Kong.
• Our amazing MTR system that helps us travel all over the city quickly and easily.
These big projects connect our community, help businesses, and show the world what an incredible and modern city Hong Kong is.
Key Takeaway for this Section
Hong Kong continues to build amazing things like airports, bridges, and railways to make life better and to stay connected with our country and the world.
Our Journey's End!
Wow, what a trip! We've seen Hong Kong transform from a quiet, fragrant harbour into a world-famous city. By understanding our history—from the Song Dynasty villages to the modern New Towns—we can be proud of our home and help make its future even brighter. Great job, time travellers!