There's A Hole In That Building!

When we toured Hong Kong back in 2007, we passed by a very modern building with a huge hole in the middle. The building faces Repulse Bay. It is the HBSC bank headquarters. The architect was asked to leave a whole in the center of the building for the dragon in the hills behind could fly through the building to the bay below.

It's all a part of feng shui which is defined as being a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it. In this instance, it was thought to be a good idea to harmonize with the dragon and it would bring luck to the inhabitants of the building.

There is a great article online that talks more about the architectural elements as well as some of the other things that were considered such as where it is located along the road that winds down from the hills. Renovations have been done and are a challenge to keep the "chi" or life energy from escaping.

Feng shui, chi, dragons. They are all a part of the fascinating culture of China.