Latest news with #SojourninginGoldMountain
South China Morning Post
16-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Discover the history of immigrants who journeyed from Hong Kong to San Francisco 170 years ago
Travelling from Hong Kong to the US city of San Francisco in 2025 is a straightforward trip that takes around 12 hours, with four direct flights available daily. In 1848 – 170 years ago – the journey was very different. Back then, it meant taking a long, difficult voyage on a ship across the Pacific Ocean. It could take as long as 60 days. Many Chinese men were drawn to San Francisco during this time, hoping to find fortune. This interest was fuelled by the discovery of gold in California in 1848. 'Let's go gold digging in Gold Mountain' became a phrase that was commonly used in Hong Kong. An exhibition titled 'Sojourning in Gold Mountain – Hong Kong and the Lives of Overseas Chinese in California' at the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui delves deeper into the stories of these Chinese adventurers. It features more than 170 exhibits on loan from California, with 70 per cent being displayed to the public for the first time. The exhibition examines the first significant wave of Chinese immigration to the United States from various perspectives. It also highlights Hong Kong's important role as a gateway between the two cultures. Quiz time 1. How long did it take to travel from Hong Kong to San Francisco in 1848? 2. What historical event attracted many Chinese men to San Francisco 170 years ago? 3. What is the exhibition about Chinese migrants to California called? 4. What percentage of the exhibits are being publicly displayed for the first time? The exhibition highlights Hong Kong's importance as a gateway for Chinese labourers travelling to and from California. Photo: Handout Suggested answers 60 days The discovery of gold in California 'Sojourning in Gold Mountain – Hong Kong and the Lives of Overseas Chinese in California' 70 per cent
South China Morning Post
02-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Stories of Chinese who joined California gold rush told in Hong Kong exhibition
Travelling from Hong Kong to San Francisco in 2025 is a straightforward journey. It takes about 12 hours, with four direct flights every day. Advertisement However, 170 years ago, in 1848, the journey was very different. Travelling from Hong Kong, on the southern edge of China, to the city on America's west coast meant boarding a ship for a gruelling voyage across the Pacific Ocean. The trip could take up to 60 days. Despite the hardship, San Francisco was an attractive destination for Chinese men hoping to make their fortunes abroad. The allure stemmed from the discovery of gold in California in 1848. 'Let's go gold digging in Gold Mountain' became a commonly used phrase in Hong Kong. The entrance to Sojourning in Gold Mountain, an exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of History that delves into what life was like for Chinese migrant workers travelling to the US in the 19th century. In the mid 19th century, the US welcomed immigrants; the gold rush and the construction of America's transcontinental railways created demand for cheap labour, as did the abolition of slavery in 1863. Advertisement
