25/04/2016
New Photo Series 2016 - Hong Kong Goldfish Market
The interest in keeping goldfish dates back to ancient Chinese traditions. In 1162, the Empress of the Song Dynasty gave order to build a pond to household the finest goldfish they could find. Those not of royal blood were forbidden to keep these (at that time yellow) goldfish as it was the color of the imperial family. In the Chinese culture, the goldfish often symbolizes surplus, luck and wealth and keeping goldfish is said to bring good fortune.
Due to the lack of space in most of the houses in Hong Kong, the goldfish is the perfect pet for most people. The Hong Kong Goldfish Market is located in Mongkok in the North of Hong Kong. It exists of a large number of pet shops selling aquarium fish, many of them hanging on a fence in small plastic little bags, waiting to be sold. The bags are filled with pure oxygen so the fish can stay alive for more than 3 days. The shops open early in the morning and close late at night, on a good day they sell 100 to 500 fish. The wide range of prices allow people from all social classes to have the ability to buy a bit of luck.
