Top architecture photo spots to visit in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is certainly a photographer’s paradise. Layers upon layers of buildings have sprung up rapidly over the years, so that they clash completely but somehow also work together. The unique architectural styles of this incredibly densely populated city have resulted in a number of well-known photo spots for budding photographers and professionals alike. Some have even featured in Hollywood films. Read on for a few of my top architecture photo spots to visit in Hong Kong.
1) Choi Hung “Rainbow” Estate, Kowloon (1964)
Spending time at the Choi Hung “Rainbow” Estate is bound to put you in a good mood, as it’s spacious and colourful. The most famous spot is the basketball court on top of a car park, surrounded by pastel coloured buildings with a rainbow gradient. Being on top of the car park means that it’s slightly cooler than the rest of the surrounding area too, a nice escape from the humidity. It can get busy here so it’s best to go early in morning and on weekdays. But it is quite fun watching and chatting to the other photographers and tourists too!
2) Lai Tak Tsuen Estate, Hong Kong Island (1975)
It’s hard to believe that this place is actually real until you see it with your own eyes. Lai Tak Tsuen is famous for its cylindrical design – and I definitely got a bit dizzy climbing to the top! This unique location has been used in several films such as Ghost in the Shell. Asides from being visually amazing, what struck me is how liveable the complex is. There’s a large seating area and an outdoor gym on the roof of the building – meaning that the residents can hang out there and escape the humidity down below (there’s a nice breeze up on the roof – a lot of Hong Kong living seems to take place on top of buildings!).
3) Yik Cheong “Monster” Building, Hong Kong Island (1960s)
The Yik Cheong “Monster” Building has risen to fame after being featured in a number of big films like Transformers: Age of Extinction and Ghost in the Shell. This massive jumble of apartment buildings seems to defy all laws of gravity, and it’s amazing to think that 10,000 people live there! The courtyard in the middle is where you’ll get that iconic Hong Kong shot. But the curved exterior is pretty cool too, especially with the trams passing by.
On my list for next time…
Lok Wah South Estate Car Park: This one is a bit out of the way, but the blue walls with circles cut out make beautiful photos. Best to visit at midday to get the striped shadow effect.
Ping Shek Estate: Looking up from the inner courtyard the sky will be in the shape of an absolutely perfect square. It’s very futuristic looking.
Practical Guidance for Hong Kong
Hopefully you have found this guide on Visiting the Yik Cheong “Monster” Building, Hong Kong useful. I have also included some practical guidance below so that you can get the boring stuff sorted and make the most of your trip!
Transport in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a very easy city to get around. I highly recommend using the MTR (metro / subway system) as it’s clean and efficient. Most of the signs are in both Chinese and English. You’re best off buying a Octopus card that you can then top up as much as you need. I purchased mine at the airport subway station before getting the train into the city. It is also possible to buy single journey tickets but this will end up more expensive and time consuming.
Withdrawing Cash in Hong Kong in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD)
To withdraw cash at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Hong Kong Dollars (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then withdraw cash in Hong Kong without hidden fees. Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).
Get your WISE card here.
Travel Insurance
Make sure that you have travel insurance to cover you for your trip. I can highly recommend Heymondo. I use them to cover me for all my trips and their app is very easy to use.
Purchase Heymondo travel insurance with a 5% discount here.
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