Disappearing trades and crafts in Hong Kong and where to find them

This technique is an age-old method of making noodles in which the dough is kneaded with a bamboo pole that's ridden kind of like a see-saw. The long and exhaustive process creates a unique texture in the noodles that can’t be achieved any other way. Unfortunately, there are not many places left that still do it, with Lau Sum Kee in Sham Shui Po being one of the last bastions of bamboo pole noodles.

In face of fast fashion and unaffordable rent, the market has swapped out many tailors who believe in the intrinsic value of bespoke garments. Among the tailor shops left in Hong Kong, Very Good Tailor has lived up to its good name since 1963. 

Sticking with the traditions, Albert Chung, the second generation owner of Very Good Tailor, designs all of the suits himself, before handing them over to local tailors to complete. While the shop is humble in size, concealing the sartorial perfection that goes on inside, the value of the artisanal spirits is never tarnished in the skilled hands of Very Good Tailor.

Owning songbirds was once a staple of Cantonese culture but since the government banned all travel on the MTR and buses for animals, ownership has diminished and we're seeing the last vestiges of the beautiful handmade birdcages in which they were housed. One of the last remaining artisans of the craft is Chan Lok-choi, who still makes the cages the traditional way out of his shop Choi Kee in Prince Edward’s Yuen Po Bird Garden, by soaking bamboo in hot water for hours, then bending and moulding the shaved pieces under kerosene lamps, before finally nailing them together in a process that can often take months to complete.

Mak Kam-sang is one of the last standing minibus sign painters, vying against the bland digitisation of bus signs. Albeit preserving a dying trade, Mak is determined to keep the tradition alive by providing beautifully hand-painted signs. Support his craft and make a visit to his 200sq ft room on Battery Street in Yau Ma Tei, where hand-painted souvenir signs are available on request.

As the golden generation of Shanghainese tailors dies out, the tradition of hand-crafted cheongsams also leaves with them in Hong Kong. Thankfully, it’s not in as critical a state as some of the others on the list – cheongsams are still worn for special occasions and popular during Chinese New Year – and there are still a number of traditional makers to be found in the city, with one of the best being Linva Tailor on Cochrane Street, who famously made the costumes for In the Mood for Love. 

Deemed a sunset industry, handmade photo frames and glassware are hard to come by these days in Hong Kong. Keeping this trade alive is Chan Hon-hin, the third-generation owner of Kang Ming Picture Frame and Glass, which has been a part of the Yau Ma Tei neighbourhood for almost a century. Having fully inherited the craft from his father and grandfather, Chan – who has been in the industry for more than 60 years – specialises in photo frames, frame fittings, calligraphy, and paintings. Visit his shop on 111 Shanghai Street and witness the legacy of this ancestral shop.

Jade carving has been one of the most important crafts in Chinese culture since ancient times in China. And this stretch of land on Shanghai Street, famously known as the 'Jade Street', is a cluster of vendors and family businesses hawking the sparkles of these handcrafted gems.

From jadeites-auctioning to carving, polishing, and selling the finished products, Mei Mei Wonbow masters the entire process of creating a jade piece. Competing against big-name jewellers, local dealers like Mei Mei Won Bow, which still peddle the wares of the self-made gemstones, are increasingly rare. Passing down the knowledge of this trade, the shop holds regular workshops to teach about jade, especially distinguishing high-quality pieces based on factors like luminescence and clarity.

While the game itself is alive and kicking, hand-crafted mahjong tiles are becoming a rarity as cheaper, cost-effective, and mass-produced options have increasingly become the norm. Cheung Shun-king of is one of the last remaining mahjong tile carvers, who still works out of his shop Biu Kee Majong in Jordan.

Practically synonymous with some parts of Hong Kong, these iconic fixtures are sadly going extinct with the onset of LED adoption and government regulations that started restricting the creation of signs. Recently there's been more of a push to try and preserve these charming light fixtures, with groups like the Hong Kong Neon Heritage advocating to have some of the more iconic fixtures preserved. 

After five generations and a move from Guangzhou, Sun Nga Shing in Sham Shui Po is a historic umbrella store that is still going strong since its establishment in 1842. One of the last standing stores in Hong Kong that still repair umbrellas (it only costs around $20 and 45 minutes), you’ll find numerous handcrafted umbrellas that the owner Mr Yau has made over the years. So, the next time you're in Sham Shui Po, be sure to stop by Sun Nga Nga Shing to chat with Yau about the art of making brollies and how to upkeep them.