Why was the old market transformed into the News-Expo?

Published : 2026-03-23

Author︰Wah Sze Chai

Introduction

Hong Kong is not only a shopping paradise and a culinary capital, but by exploring its communities, one can also uncover many hidden gems of attractions. In response to the SAR Government's "Tourism Everywhere" slogan, this series will take readers on an in-depth tour of Hong Kong, spanning from the bustling city to the countryside, seeking out the authentic scenery hidden in streets, alleys, mountains, and jungles, allowing readers to appreciate the diverse faces of this city from a more multi-faceted and enriched perspective.

In the Mid-Levels area of Central and Sheung Wan, known for its array of attractions, there is an unexpected old market tucked behind the creative landmark PMQ on Bridges Street.

The pure white market building retains the layout of the chicken-slaughtering room and stall partitions from half a century ago. Interestingly, this once lively and bustling marketplace has now been transformed into the Hong Kong News-Expo.

Visitors can trace the turbulent history of Hong Kong’s news industry over the past century, experience the thrill of being a news anchor, and even create their own exclusive newspaper headlines through selfies, try what it feels like to be in the news spotlight.

Bridges Street was once a neighborhood for grassroots communities

Today, the area around Bridges Street in Sheung Wan is a vibrant district filled with artistic and cultural charm, boasting an array of stylish art galleries, antique shops, boutique coffee houses, and eclectic international restaurants.

It is hard to imagine that half a century ago, this area was a settlement for the grassroots and low-income families, where nearby residents mostly worked as manual labourers and hawkers.

The Bridges Street Market, which was completed in 1953, primarily served the needs of the grassroots community.

"Those (rich people) mostly won't come to this market to buy groceries; (they) would go to Central, because some people care about face. This place (Bridges Street Market) is a bit lower class, with things laid out on stalls and sold per portion. Going to the Central market is different; (people) would say something like, 'Madam, you are buying groceries in Central? Congratulations to you.' It's that kind of tone," a market stall vendor told a reporter in an old newsreel.

Hong Kong News-Expo is a white, functionalist building, full of the 20th-century German Bauhaus architectural style.

The main staircase, along with its Shanghai plaster finish and handrails, has been preserved. The picture shows the Bridges Street Market in Sheung Wan before its revitalisation and renovation.

In 1969, part of the first floor of Bridges Street Market was converted into a children’s playground,

The first floor of Bridges Street Market has two footbridges connecting to Wing Lee Street.

Market revitalised into Asia's first news exhibition and education centre

The Bridges Street Market, which had served the neighbourhood for 60 years, was included in Batch III of the government's Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme in 2013.

It was revitalised by Journalism Education Foundation into Asia's first exhibition and education centre with news as its theme, and officially opened on 5 December 2018.

The News-Expo has preserved the former chicken slaughterhouse, including the stoves and the tubs used for plucking chickens, as well as the old stencilled characters painted on the walls.

However, the bustling sounds of the market have long faded, replaced by the echoes of a century of journalistic memories.

Stepping into the Hong Kong News-Expo, the permanent exhibition halls on the ground and first floors are divided into more than 10 zones.

Through precious old newspapers, news footage, and displays of related equipment such as movable type for printing newspapers, photography and recording devices, and microphones, visitors are taken on a journey from Hong Kong's early colonial days to the modern era.

The exhibits showcase the development of local newspapers, radio, television, and new media industries. The venue also features various topical news exhibitions, encouraging the public to analyze world events from multiple perspectives.

Hong Kong News-Expo officially opened on 5 December 2018.

Early newspapers were printed using the letterpress printing technique, commonly known as

At Hong Kong News-Expo, you can see the news-gathering equipment from different Hong Kong media outlets.

Hong Kong News-Expo has preserved the appearance of the former market; the picture shows the stencilled characters painted on the wall.

News-Expo Interactive Game Zone: Be an Anchor

Want to challenge a reporter's eloquence and quick wit? In the interactive game 'Go LIVE', you can experience the thrill of live news broadcasting by reporting on events such as the opening of the Tuen Ma Line or a black rainstorm.

Besides, you can transform into a weather presenter, reading weather scripts with the help of a teleprompter to create your own personalized news segment.

At the "Make Your Front Page" game zone, you can even take a photo and create a one-of-a-kind newspaper front page to take home—a fun and memorable experience!

In addition, the Hong Kong News-Expo also hides a historical Easter egg: it turns out that No. 2 Bridges Street, where the Expo is located, was formerly a temporary preaching house. It was the place where Dr. Sun Yat-sen once lived and was baptized.

The Expo has specifically compiled this piece of history into a short film, allowing visitors to not only learn about media history but also trace the revolutionary footsteps of the founding father of modern China.

The next time you are walking on the stone slab streets of Central and Sheung Wan, why not turn into Bridges Street, enter this museum revitalised from a market, and through segments of news clips, relive this city's truest collective memories.