What I've Learned in Hong Kong: My Experiences

The New Experience

I first visited Hong Kong at 17 to see relatives. I had never seen so many people in one place before and loved the feeling of blending into the crowd. It was a new experience for me, having grown up in Hanover, in a predominantly white society. I also vividly remember inhaling the city’s scent for the first time: an unmistakable mix of humid, salty sea air blended with the aromas of jasmine and tea.

The City’s Pulse

Hong Kong is incredibly fast-paced and operates on a completely different rhythm compared to German cities, even Berlin. People rush through the streets with a sharp sense of urgency. Every time I’m there, I find myself swept up in the city’s speed. Another defining aspect of Hong Kong is that life happens outdoors. With living spaces so small, people spend as much time as possible outside, creating a unique urban energy.

The Inspiration

I love wandering through old Hong Kong, with its temples and narrow alleys. Cat Street, with its over 100-year-old antique shops, still buzzes with life. Surrounded by skyscrapers, it remains one of the last streets with relatively low-rise buildings. I enjoy picking up old vases, small figurines, or rosewood brushes there – I’m drawn to anything old school. At the same time, I adore modern Hong Kong, like shopping at the newly opened, futuristic K11 Musea in Kowloon.

The People

I appreciate the unpretentious and direct nature of Hong Kong’s people, even if it sometimes comes off as a bit blunt. Their disarming honesty makes them feel refreshingly unaffected. They are incredibly self-assured and always follow their own path.

For Friends

One of my favorite things to do is take the historic 1888 Peak Tram up the 552 meters of Victoria Peak to admire the cityscape. Another highlight is the ferry ride from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon, and it costs less than a Euro and offers a great sense of the city’s scale. I highly recommend exploring Hong Kong on foot, as it allows you to experience so much more. I particularly enjoy walking from Mong Kok to the shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui. Along the way, you pass through the bustling Ladies’ Market, flower, jade, and antique markets, and even a street where fortune tellers read palms and predict the future. For a meal, I love the delightfully old-fashioned dim sum restaurant Luk Yu Tea House.

About

Fashion designer William Fan, the son of Chinese parents from Hong Kong, was born in Hanover. After studying fashion and interning at Alexander McQueen in London, he launched his eponymous label in Berlin in 2015. His designs fuse the cultures of his two homelands – like his fortune cookie bag. He travels to Hong Kong two to three times a year to visit his brother and his production sites.