Just next to the Cityplaza (D1) Exit to the MTR's Tai Koo Station is the original foundation stone for Taikoo Dockyard, which once occupied a large tract of this district. Its construction in the 1900s literally involved moving a mountain: 1,600,000 cubic yards of granite hillside was levelled and used to reclaim around 20 acres from the harbour, creating a total area of more than 52 acres. When completed in 1907, Taikoo boasted Hong Kong's largest supply of electrical power, half a mile of deep-water berths and a dry dock capable of accommodating the biggest ships in the world. In its 70-year history, Taikoo built around 500 vessels and was one of Hong Kong's leading employers. Today, few traces remain of the district's industrial past; over the last 45 years it has been transformed by Swire Properties into a vibrant residential and commercial neighbourhood. But next time you shop at Cityplaza, spare a thought that the shopping mall's 800-space underground carpark was once Taikoo's vast dry dock.
