The term started with a bang as the students were asked to weave together commonalities between different topics, with landscape at the center. After excellent lectures about the constructed aspect of “natural” landscapes (Matthew Pryor) and Public space in Hong Kong (Gavin Coates), we headed out to explore a transect of Wanchai.

We snaked through the hills behind Hong Kong Park and the Asia Society to find Monmouth Path, that provides vertiginous views through dense vegetation. A perfect contrast to the din of the city just below.

As we moved down the hill crossing the major east-west boulevards, we experienced the crush of humanity on the sidewalks and over street walkways.  Looking from O’Brian Bridge, we were able to contrast the different eras of development from the original Queens Road East shoreline to the current reclamation. Gavin pointed out that the streets below were sometimes under-utilized.  His morning lecture had shown how the city was transformed when cars were displaced by pedestrians during the Occupy Central movement.

The Walk provided an opportunity to see buildings of different eras.  After the intensity of Wanchai, we enjoyed walking to the latest Central Reclamation Park that sits above the major underground highway.