Chu Wan, Grade III historic residential building in Central and Western District, Hong Kong.
Chu Wan is a large old residence at 4 Austin Road on Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island, near Victoria Gap. Built between 1904 and 1906, it is one of the few surviving pre-war residential buildings on the Peak, as most others were demolished and rebuilt. It is a Grade III historic building.
The building was classified as Grade III by the Antiquities and Monuments Office and gained protection status. This recognition reflects its importance to the city's architectural heritage.
Chu Wan's name is written 岫雲, pronounced like "sleeve" for the first character. The house was built between 1904 and 1906, when the government restricted Chinese residence on the Peak from 1904, so it was likely built and occupied by foreigners. Most pre-war Peak buildings have been demolished, making Chu Wan one of the few surviving residential buildings of its period.
Chu Wan stands at 4 Austin Road on Victoria Peak, near the Peak Tram's upper terminus and the Peak Galleria. The steep, narrow lanes of the Peak are best covered on foot, and the building is a private residence, so it is seen from the road rather than entered. Morning hours often bring clearer views before cloud gathers.
Chu Wan is one of the few surviving pre-war houses on Victoria Peak, since most buildings of its era there were demolished and rebuilt. It was bought in 1987 by Li Hesheng for HK$11 million and has stayed in his hands since. Its name is pronounced like the Cantonese word for "sleeve".
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