Nos. 600-626 Shanghai Street

Nos. 600-626 Shanghai Street comprises ten connected shophouses featuring retail shops on the ground level and residential units above. The structures retain their original layout, with ground-floor spaces now selling various merchandise and traditional local goods.

These buildings were constructed during the 1920s and 1930s as examples of tong lau architecture, blending Chinese and Western design. Their development coincided with Hong Kong's rapid growth, making this building type the standard housing for many families during that era.

The buildings show how families once ran their shops downstairs while living above, blending work and home life into one space. This arrangement shaped how the neighborhood worked, with commerce and daily routines happening side by side.

The shophouses are easily accessible along Shanghai Street and can be viewed from the outside. Ground-floor spaces remain open during regular business hours, allowing visitors to observe the traditional shops and the original layout.

The buildings feature verandahs creating pedestrian arcades, a design element banned under Hong Kong building codes since the 1960s. This architectural feature makes them rare examples of a construction method that would no longer be permitted today.