Hong Kong's Top 50 Icons

1. Peaceful protests
Long a part of HK's political life, demonstrations have risen to new heights after the handover when 500,000 people took to the streets in 2003. The icons in our list all represent HK but nothing could represent the past decade better than this. We'll see you again this year at the July 1st rally for democracy, 3pm in Victoria Park.

2. Cha chan tengs and dai pai dongs
Now that dai pai dongs are swiftly disappearing, the cha chan teng has become the iconic HK cafe for our favorite drink, yin yeung.

3. Street barbers
Wu, 74, has been a street barber on Cannon Street for 46 years now. Pay him $56 and he'll clean you up real nice.

4. The T-shirt flip*
Insanely popular trend during the summer, expect to see a lot of elderly men which their singlets or T-shirts flipped up to their chest.

5. Tiny temples
There is an old Chinese saying that Chinese society is full of gods and saints, which is definitely true when you consider that there's a temple or shrine on almost every street corner.

6. Queues*
Crazy queues everywhere. Enough said.

7. The mass MTR crossing
It's 6.18pm, Admiralty between the Central and Tsuen Wan lines, and you're about 5cm away from the MTR doors. Your nose is in the oily tresses of an OL, the station attendant is going nuts and that fat guy next to you really seems to be copping a feel. Thank God there's another train in 90 seconds, SO THE JERKS BEHIND YOU CAN GET ON IT.

8. Rice boxes*
Most people would agree that with the fast-pace lifestyle in HK, take-outs is almost phenomenal with restaurants. Rice boxes are mostly packed nicely in a carry bag and comes with all cutleries you need. You can start having your food anywhere on the street.

9. Graham and Peel Street Market
The oldest wet market in the city has been with us for 140 years, but it is under threat as the Urban Renewal Authority wants to tear it down for redevelopment. They should understand that this market, more than anything, is a colorful symbol of HK's cultural heritage.

10. Dood!*
This is one sound you can expect to hear at every places that accepts Octopus. It's a cash card which is so convenient that no one can leave home without it.

11. Skycrapers
According to emporis.com, HK has the most number of high rise buildings (any building at least 35 feet high) in the world with 7,660. With more coming: in 2010, the 118-storey ICC (International Commerce Centre) in West Kowloon will beat the IFC 2 as HK's top tower.

12. Red, white and blue*
This are the colors of the plastic traveling luggage bag made popular by China people. It is so convenient that it's popularity is even higher than LV bags.

13. Bongo minivans and tattooed drivers
It's mid-afternoon on Argyle Street. Your ear catches the thump of hard trance. But what's this? Kelly Chan remix? You don't need to be a Temple Street seer to tell that the next thing careening down the road will be a bongo minivan, steered by a tattooed young lad smoking and flicking his gorgeous Mongkok-blond locks out of his eyes.

14. White knitted builders gloves*
Forget about vinyl industrial gloves, these white knitted gloves are the builder's favorite.

15. Bamboo scaffolding
How to tie a death-proof know, according to a construction worker in Sheung Wan: "It is exceptionally simple - just tie ten knots in the same direction at the intersection of the two bamboo sticks, then insert the end of the string into the hole in the middle to tighten the knot."

16. Tenacious plants
We always complain about not having enough green in the city, but try looking up. In the true spirit of HK, nothing will stop these plants from enduring in the most unlikely of places.

17. Stupid government announcements
Some of the worst: "Love your family"; "Take your grandmother to the dentist"; "Eat fruit"; "Respect women, no prostitution."

18. Visible panty lines
Tower-block washing poles. Rows and rows of them.

19. Wall trees*
See trees grow amidst the small gaps with floor tiles or retaining walls. Thus the name.

20. Lap sap ladies
Like ants, these tiny specimens of sheer muscle can lift roughly three times their own weight.

21. Sitting-out areas
Everyone knows old people need a place to play chess.

22. Sanitized lift buttons*
The sequel to the outbreak of the SARS, all lift buttons are sanitized every few hours.

23. Shopping streets
There are streets for fabrics, bicycles, goldfish, plastic jewelry, car mechanics, sneakers, cameras, and yes, even kitchen sinks. Too bad they're all swiftly vanishing due to mega-mall complexes, like the new Megabox, which is selling the same items you would once find on these littles streets around town.

24. Central-Mid-Levels Escalator*
This escalator is equivalent to 4-8 steps, tops. I wondered why these are being installed at the first place? Constructing stairs are too "expensive" perhaps.

25. Ocean Park cable cars
The one that works.

26. Half-mast black wellies
Essential footwear for street market hawkers. By the time the government successfully closes down all the street markets, very likely we will also bid farewell to the wellies.

27. 24-hour McDonalds
Ever since it introduced 24-hour service in 55 of its 210 outlets, McDonalds has seen a new crowd: teens who would prefer to be anywhere but home and night shift workers who would prefer to nap somewhere air conditioned before catching the morning bus home.

28. The harborfront*
The infamous view of tall skyscrapers at the harbor. This view has been featured many times in various publishings.

29. Second floor cafes and invisible retail
Escalating rents have forced shops, restaurants and bars away from street levels and into the higher floors of commercial buildings.

30. Speeding late-night minibuses*
These drivers must've been influenced a lot by Tokyo Drift.

31. Customization
Buildings are built uniformly and soullessly in HK, but somehow we all end up with individual stamps on our small flats. One building can have a rich mosaic of different balconies and windows.

32. The Star Ferry*
The unique ferry that has been in operation for as long as we can remember.

33. Central Market
The critically underutilized building that defines old Central sits surrounded by busy, modern skyscrapers. Perhaps not for long. The government has been talking about tearing it down for over a year.

34. Rooftop antenna gardens*
Due to the lack of space, antennas are often clogged together on rooftop.

35. Temple Street
The government hopes to tear down Temple Street, making way for a giant highway and tunnel "to ease traffic" in Central Kowloon. We don't know how well it's going to help with the congestion, but we do know if the project goes ahead, we'll lose one very important vernacular treasure - where else can you find street side dildo stalls, fortune tellers, street singers, dai pai dongs and brothels side by side?

36. "I've got pressure."*
The instantly famous bus uncle with his popular speech line.

37. Nanny-state safety regulations
Does the government treat us like babies? A two-foot hole on a sidewalk maybe under construction, but is it really necessary to canvas the whole area with massive yellow barriers, blinking lights and multilingual warning signs? Truthfully, the government couldn't care less about your safety. It all started in a landmark case in the 1970s, when an old lady slipped in a public washroom and the government shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation.

38. Flyer ladies
They are a relentless, persistent bunch of people. Even you pretend you can't hear (Ipod on), you can't see (shades) and you don't have a free hand (digging in the pockets), they'll still nail you right in the chest with some useless flyer.

39. Air-con drips*
These drips made you scrammed to the nearest shelter, only to find out that it's not raining.

40. E-channels
The worst possible name for an extremely awesome gadget. Since 2004, the 246 e-channels at immigration checkpoints allow us to exit/enter HK by simply inserting our smart ID card into the machine and having our fingerprint scanned.

41. Stinky tofu*
This aroma is certainly not a stranger to the locals, but certainly not to be missed by tourists. This tofu is famous for it's extremely pungent smell but delicious when it slides down your throat. Either love it or hate it.

42. Falun Gong demonstrators
Yeah it's pretty eerie to stage a surgery on the street, but at least they have the freedom to do it, here in HK.

43. Sex posters*
See them being posted everywhere, oblivious of it's visibility to young children.

44. Bastard trolleys
Open-backed folding iron trolleys: the main means of transport for goods across pavements.

45. Errant animals
The lost animals that have come to call HK home.

46. Betting tickets scattered on the floor*
Enough said.

47. Lil' Manila
Noise of helpers in Statue Square on Sunday - Central's weekly transformation into Little Manila.

48. Mainland tourists*
Few years ago, who would've though that mainland people would suddenly become richer and their nation's economy booming at lightning speed. Now, stop ridiculing mainland people as they may be the one paying your salary.

49. Central Police station*
This station has been around since the British colonization and is one of the popular spots among tourists.

50. Free newspaper*
Get your free copies everywhere you go. Don't be afraid of getting bored in commuters anymore.

*Description by blog owner, else credits given to HK Magazine issue no. 685 (courtesy of Fitness First in Harbour City)