Taikoo Shing

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File:Tai Koo Shing Overview 200909.jpg
Taikoo Shing in 2009

Taikoo Shing or Tai Koo Shing (Script error: No such module "IPA".), is a private residential development in Quarry Bay, in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is a part of Swire's property business, along with Taikoo Place, the adjacent Cityplaza retail and office complex, and EAST, a lifestyle business hotel.

Etymology

Taikoo is the Cantonese pronunciation of Swire's Chinese name, while Shing can be literally translated as City. Thus, Taikoo Shing can be loosely translated as Swire City. According to Swire, its Chinese name Taikoo was chosen by Thomas Taylor Meadow, the British Consul in Shanghai when Swire's Shanghai office opened in 1866.[1]

Area

File:Takoo Dock.jpg
Taikoo Shing dock plaque now within the Cityplaza area

The entire Taikoo Shing estate covers 21.5 hectares (53 acres), and consists of 61 residential towers, with a total of 12,690 apartment flats that ranges anywhere between Script error: No such module "convert". to Script error: No such module "convert"..[2]

History

The Taikoo Shing estate was once the site of Taikoo Dockyard, whose foundation stone now lies beside Cityplaza. The dockyard moved to United Dockyards at the west shore of the Tsing Yi Island in the late 1970s, and Taikoo Shing was constructed over the site in stages, with constructions of all main residential buildings complete by the early 1990s.

As part of the business strategy, Swire Properties was established in 1972 immediately after the closing of the dockyard. Taikoo Shing became one of Hong Kong's first major private housing estates. Completing in 1986, Swire immediately became one of the largest property companies doing the construction themselves.[3] The area was designed to maximise middle-class residential capacity.[4]

Development of commercial areas still continues today. After the completion of Cityplaza 3 and 4 as office buildings, the original Cityplaza 1 was demolished in the mid-90s for redevelopment. As of 2007, the food market that was originally constructed was demolished to make room for a hotel.

Population and demographics

In the 2021 census, Taikoo Shing recorded 34,799 residents.[5]

Apartment flats in Taikoo Shing are popular amongst buyers and speculators, and for a significant time in the 1980s and 1990s, Taikoo Shing's housing price is a general indicator of the Hong Kong's housing market health in general. Although in recent years, newer housing developments have eroded a bit of Taikoo Shing's once prominent status.

The estate is also a very sought-after place to live for the Japanese and Korean expatriate communities in Hong Kong, most of which are staffed in multinational corporations based in Hong Kong. As a result of this significant Korean and Japanese settlement, the area has many Korean and Japanese-themed service establishments.

Housing

File:Taikoo shing.svg
Taikoo Shing housing map

The housing in Taikoo Shing was developed in stages, with the Tsui Woo Terrace being the first ones constructed. In all, the estate's housing complexes are broken down into 6 terraces and 2 gardens, each with a special naming scheme.

Tsui Woo Terrace

Tsui Woo Terrace (Template:Zh, literally: "Terrace of the Jade Lake"); all of the mansions on this terrace are named after famous lakes in China. The terrace consists of three mansions.

Ko Shan Terrace

Ko Shan Terrace (Template:Zh, literally: "Terrace of the High Mountain"); all of the mansions on this terrace have the Chinese word for "Mountain" (山) as the second character of the building's name. A couple of the mansion's names also corresponds to famous mountains in China. The terrace consists of 13 mansions.

Kam Din Terrace

Kam Din Terrace (Template:Zh, literally: "Terrace of the Golden Palace"); all of the mansions on this terrace have the Chinese word for "Palace" (宮) as the second character of the building's name. In addition, all of the mansions names' first character corresponds to various political dynasties in Chinese history. The terrace consists of 8 mansions.

  • Tang Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note: The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to the Tang dynasty.
  • Yen Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note: The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to a rebel dynasty the Yen Dynasty in ancient China during the An Lushan rebellion.
  • Yuan Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note: The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to the Yuan dynasty.
  • Ming Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note: The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to the Ming dynasty.
  • Hsia Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note: The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to the Xia dynasty.
  • Han Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note: The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to the Han dynasty.
  • Chai Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note:The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to the Qi dynasty.
  • Tsui Kung Mansion (Template:Zh) Note: The first character of this mansion's name is a reference to the Sui dynasty.

On Shing Terrace

On Shing Terrace (Template:Zh, literally: "Terrace of Peace and Prosperity"); all of the mansions on this terrace have the Chinese word for "Peace" (安) as the second character of the building's name. The terrace consists of 6 mansions.

Harbour View Gardens

File:HK Tai Koo Shing Harbour View Gardens East.jpg
Harbour View Gardens (海景花園)

Harbour View Gardens (Template:Zh); all of the mansions in this area are named after flora. The area consists of 11 mansions.

Kwun Hoi Terrace

Kwun Hoi Terrace (Template:Zh, literally: "Terrace for Ocean Viewing"); all of the mansions on this terrace have the Chinese word for "Ocean" (海) as the second character of the building's name, and a cardinal direction as the first character of the building's name. The terrace consists of 3 mansions.

Sing Fai Terrace

File:HK Tai Koo Shing Shing Fei Terrance.jpg
Sing Fai Terrace (Template:Zh)

Sing Fai Terrace (Template:Zh, literally: "Terrace of the Stars"); all of the mansions on this terrace have the Chinese word for "star" (星) as the second character of the building's name. Some of the building names are similar to Chinese names for planets within the Solar System. The terrace consists of 8 mansions.

Horizon Garden

File:HK Tai Koo Shing Horizon Gardens.jpg
Horizon Gardens (海天花園), the newest complex

Horizon Garden (Template:Zh); all of the mansions on this terrace have the Chinese word for "sky" (天) as the second character of the building's name. The area consists of 9 mansions.

Amenities

Some terraces - Horizon Gardens, Kam Din Terrace, Sing Fai Terrace, and Kao Shan Terrace - have podiums that provide a public space for their residents, often including a children's playground. Elderly residents may practice tai chi in the mornings. There are also shops and learning centres on these podiums such as Kumon.

A Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre was located at the estate when Hong Kong was a British colony, opening between 1984 and 1985 and closing in 1987.

In addition, Harbour View Gardens, Horizon Gardens and Kwun Hoi Terrace all have access to swimming pools. In Kao Shan Terrace, there are badminton courts and tennis courts for residents to use.

Education

There are a few kindergartens in the vicinity of Tai Koo Shing, as well as the international school DSC International School.

Taikoo Shing is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 14.[6] Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and North Point Government Primary School.[7]

Car parks

All terraces have indoor car parks, providing parking spaces on monthly lease.

There are parking spaces available for visitors on hourly rate in the car parks at Cityplaza and Sing Fai Terrace.

Transportation

File:Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport 1971.jpg
The old airport, Kai Tak airport, is opposite Taikoo Shing

The estate is served by MTR Tai Koo station of the Island line, as well as various bus lines, served by Citybus and the Kowloon Motor Bus to Shau Kei Wan, Admiralty, Sheung Wan, Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan.

As it is a private estate, all roads were owned by Swire Properties. However, most roads were returned to the Government except for those near Cityplaza.[8] In practice, public traffic is generally allowed to pass freely, but admission may be denied.

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  3. ↑ Jones, Geoffrey. [2000] (2000). Merchants to Multinationals: British Trading Companies in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Oxford University Press. Template:ISBN
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External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Eastern District, Hong Kong Template:Private housing estates in Hong Kong

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