Old Wanchai Market

The second generation of the old Wan Chai Market was built in 1937 at 262-264 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. It accommodated the stalls of the open-air market, replacing the first generation of the market, which was completed in 1858 across one street from Wan Chai Road. There are also air-raid shelters in the underground of the market. During World War II, many people took refuge here. However, most of them were killed outside the air-raid shelter by the airstrike. Since then, there have been many ghost stories. Later, the old Wan Chai market was demolished and rebuilt. The developers planned to demolish the market, but most of the citizens, including architects, demanded that these "Grade III historic buildings" be preserved. In the end, the developers decided to retain about 45% of the area of the first half and dismantle the other to build a high-rise residential building. Wan Chai Old Market adopted the pre-war German Bauhaus style building which was 2 stories high. There are different small merchants, selling food, daily necessities in order to serve the citizens of Wan Chai district. The new Wan Chai Market, which opened in 2008, is the third generation, replacing the old Wan Chai market and the stalls.