The Live in Tong Lau -Woo Cheong Pawn Shop
唐樓裏的生活 - 和昌大押
Woo Cheong pawn shop -
Connecting the Past and Future of Wan Chai
As one of Hong Kong's Grade II historic buildings and pre-war buildings with over 135 years of history, the Woo Cheong pawn shop is located at 60-66 Johnston Road in Wan Chai. It not only witnessed the development of Wan Chai from pre-war to nowadays, but also played a significant role in the conservation development of Wan Chai. From its previous four side-by-side Tong Lau (Living area) architecture, it has been transformed into a unique restaurant after restoration and revitalization by the Urban Renewal Authority, continuing to grow with Wan Chai district in a new light.
和昌大押－連接灣仔的過去及未來
貴為香港二級歷史建築之一的和昌大押，坐落於香港灣仔莊士敦道60至66號，約建於1888年，為戰前建築，至今已超過135年的歷史。和昌大押不但見證灣仔區戰前至今的發展過程，更在灣仔保育發展佔據重要一席。由昔日的四連式唐樓建築，經市建局修復及活化後，搖身一變成為特色的食肆，以全新的面貌繼續與灣仔區同行發展。
Woo Cheong Paw Shop -before restoration
復修前的和昌大押
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The Living Environment of Old Residents in Wan Chai
The four side-by-side tenement buildings in a row, in terms of shape, specification, and space, represents the reality of the living conditions of old Wan Chai residents.
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Four rare side-by-side buildings with a long veranda corridor (incorporating Western-style veranda design)
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The first building on the left side was a large pawn shop, formerly owned by the "Pawn King" Luo Tang
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The three buildings on the right side were "Shophouse" style Tong Lau buildings, with family business like selling daily supplies on the ground floor and residences living above
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A veranda covers the sidewalk (Ground floor)
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Before the renovation, the buildings had no toilets or washrooms. Moreover, the excrement was collected by designated personnel
灣仔舊居民的居住環境
這一連四幢的唐樓，不論是外形丶規格丶空間，印證了以前灣仔居民真實的居住情況。
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罕見的四幢相連陽台長廊式樓宇（混合了西式陽台設計）
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左邊第一幢是大型當鋪，前身為當鋪大王羅𦘦唐所擁有
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右邊三幢為「下鋪上居」式唐樓，地下是家庭式商鋪，樓上為住宅
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底部的行人路為騎樓覆蓋
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改建前，樓宇沒有廁所設備，會由專人收集排泄物
"Pawn shops" Witnessed Every Problematic Moment of the Old Residents' Lives
It is one of the largest pawn shops in Hong Kong. In the past, it mainly conducted a "Neighborhood business", helping countless Wan Chai residents with financial difficulties to get through the tough times. Some of them might need to pawn items with memory value that they did not want to sell directly due to short-term financial needs; Some of them would store unused items like quilts in the pawn shop during seasonal changes: and some of them were gamblers who needed money to gamble, so they pawned their belongings. The pawn shop reflects the traces of living of the old Wan Chai residents.
「當鋪」見證舊居民每個艱苦的瞬間
和昌大押是香港最大型的當鋪之一。在過去，通常做「街坊生意」為主，幫助無數有經濟困難的灣仔居民渡過難關。有的是因為周轉不靈，需要把有記念價值卻又不想直接賣掉的東西典當；有的是換季而將不用的物品如棉被放到當鋪存放；有的是賭徒，需要資金賭錢發財，就把東西典當。當鋪裏充斥著舊灣仔居民的生活痕跡。
What is "Bat Holding A Coin"?
One of the most iconic signboards at the Pawn is "Bat Holding A Coin", a bat holding a coin in its mouth, which means bring wealth and treasure. In Chinese culture, bats are associated with good luck, and when combined with the symbol of money and applied it on the signboard, it means “a place filled with blessings and wealth".
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甚麼是「蝠鼠吊金錢」？
Woo Cheong Paw Shop’s signboard
和昌大押的招牌
和昌大押其中最具代表性的招牌之一「蝠鼠吊金錢」，蝙蝠口中含着錢幣，意思是「福到眼前」或者是「招財進寶」。在中國福壽文化中，蝙蝠有昔「福」的意思，再加上金錢的符號，整個招牌意味著「福錢滿堂」。
In addition to preserving the famous "Woo Cheong pawn shop" signage, the granite columns, and the veranda, the exterior walls have been repainted in a light yellow color. The original "Bat Holding A Coin" signboard has been dismantled, leaving only its imprint on the outer wall. The building is no longer used for residential purposes. However, it has been converted into a Western-style restaurant with designated dining and drinking areas, allowing visitors to experience the nostalgia of the Wan Chai district.
活化後的和昌大押
除了著名的「和昌大押」四字丶麻石大柱丶騎樓露台等被保留之外，外牆改成了淡黃色，昔日當鋪的招牌「蝠鼠吊金錢」都被拆卸，只在外牆留下印記。建築用途不再供市民居住，改為西式餐廳並劃分用餐和喝酒區。
