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Urban Photography, HK-Style!
Hong Kong
The lively, tightly packed streets of Hong Kong are a feast for any shutterbug’s wandering eyes. Take inspiration from the city’s quirky market stalls, traditional temples, and sleek skyscrapers, where an abundance of sights and scenes are waiting to be captured. Immortalize everyday life in this bustling city as you explore its striking neighborhoods through your viewfinder. Whether you’re already a pro at taking photos or simply looking to up your Instagram game, snap away and let your pictures do the talking!
Updated 3 years ago
Catch shopaholics in action in Causeway Bay, one of Hong Kong’s most popular districts. The area attracts shoppers of all kinds, thanks to the glut of luxury malls, designer boutiques, and street markets located here. Causeway Bay is also an ideal spot for capturing bright lights and moving crowds, with locals and tourists alike navigating the busy streets day and night.
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
They say having an aquarium of goldfish in your home can bring good luck, and there’s no better place to admire them than this charming street market in Mong Kok. Get a glimpse of daily life in the city at Goldfish Market as you take photos of would-be owners and eager locals browsing through bags of goldfish. The fishes on display come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, so your photos will definitely turn out more vibrant!
Tung Choi Street, Prince Edward, Hong Kong, China
九龍旺角通菜街- https://www.goldfish-market.hk/
2Beautiful in all its bustle, Wan Chai gets its character from the presence of old and new buildings as well as people from all walks of life that cross paths here every day. Wan Chai has its share of malls and offices, but the neighborhood is also popular for its thriving nightlife. Lockhart Road offers live music, serves good booze, and guarantees a great time, which makes for an awesome focal point for your lenses.
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Get ready for a ton of photo opportunities the moment you set foot in the cobblestone path of Pottinger Street. Its original Chinese name, 石板街, translates as “Stone Slab Street”; while its English name is coined after Henry Pottinger, Hong Kong’s first Governor. Filled with stalls selling fancy dress costumes, bright wigs, and feather boas, Pottinger Street is the perfect place to take portraits of shoppers trying things on and striking fabulous poses. Shops are open all year round, but it gets even more colorful during Halloween!
Pottinger Street, Central District, Hong Kong
Drop by Temple Street for gritty photographs of its market that comes alive at dusk. Capture fascinating shots while you're here, as dim lighting, Chinese signs, and fortune tellers dot its stretch. Take advantage of the low lighting at the night market where hawkers and customers converge for evocative snaps of Hong Kong!
Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Hollywood Road is the second oldest street in the city, making the area a stellar subject for photography. Running between Sheung Wan and Central, this is where you'll capture a little bit of everything—from impeccable Chinese antiques sold at Cat Street Market, to art galleries that feature Chinese contemporary art, to what used to be the Central Police Station (one of Hong Kong's oldest buildings).
Hollywood Road, Tai Ping Shan, Hong Kong
上環荷李活道
Instagram Pier, officially called the Western District Public Cargo Working Area, has certainly become a hotspot for “double-tap worthy” shots over the years. The area offers a stunning view of the Victoria Harbour, a perfect backdrop for portraits, group shots, and even selfies! As one of Hong Kong’s most photogenic places, it’s also known for winning the “Outstanding Public Space Elections" from Hong Kong Design groups in 2013.
Sai Wan, Hong Kong
#FoodPhotography is the name of the hashtag game in Sham Shui Po—a go-to spot for locals and tourists alike for the myriad of street food stalls that await you and your camera. Busy vendors interacting with hungry customers provide a wealth of prospects for interesting street snaps. Between taking photos of mouthwatering snacks, enjoy glorious bites and slurps of any of Sham Shui Po’s yummy offerings—dumplings, egg waffles, noodles, milk tea, and more!
Sham Shui Po District, Hong Kong
Walk up the hilly streets of Sheung Wan, historically known as one of the first areas in Hong Kong where the British army settled in. Today, it is a commercial area where you’ll find a mix of old-fashioned and up-to-date architecture—great for shutterbugs who want to capture the look and feel of old Hong Kong. Make a stop at the iconic Man Mo Temple for a couple of cultural shots while you pay tribute to Man, the God of Literature, and Mo, the God of War.
Sheung Wan District, Hong Kong
Rows of forsaken apartments greet curious visitors who pass by Caine Terrace. Built for a local banking firm and discarded due to increasing land value, the abandoned location is a popular subject for its eerie vibe. Spot aged furniture from the 1990s peeking out from open rooms, which are worth a thousand words when photographed.
98 Kennedy Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong
灣仔堅尼地道98號
2Dubbed Hong Kong’s biggest annual street art festival, HKwalls is something you’ll want to memorialize! This event is a venue for local and international artists to showcase their awesome work and mad skills. Fans of street art will find HKwalls to be a paradise for capturing images that showcase real passion for art.
59 Square Street, Tai Ping Shan, Hong Kong
- https://hkwalls.org/
Take in the intricate detail and fine architecture of every nook and cranny in Jumbo Floating Restaurant. Patronized by celebrities and royalties, this iconic establishment has often been featured in films for good reason! Bask in its Chinese Imperial-style design and marvel at the majestic sight of red and gold pagodas, swooping dragons, and elegant arches. Visit during dusk to take wonderful photos of the shimmering sunset glistening on the placid ocean waters.
- +852 2553 9111
Shum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
香港仔黃竹坑深灣碼頭徑- https://www.jumbokingdom.com/
As the longest outdoor walkway system in the world, the Central Mid-Levels Escalator is a well-known spot for capturing moments set in the rush of life. This popular path links the Central and Western district, and cuts through more popular ones in the city such as the SoHo area. Elevated above street level, it offers budding photographers an interesting look at the diversity of life in Hong Kong as they go about day-to-day life in the city.
100 Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong
Granville Road is a haven for both fashion and art lovers, offering an array of quirky boutiques and funky street art. Shoot graffiti in the most random places and snap couture-loving residents strutting their stuff down the streets. While here, feel free to check out the nearby Hong Kong Museum of History and Hong Kong Science Museum for more subjects to take photos of!
Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
- https://www.granville-road.hk/
2Modern Hong Kong architecture is perfectly encapsulated in the center of the Yick Fat Building. An upshot angle from the heart of the residential area is easily one of the most recognizable shots of the city. Feel free to satisfy the urge to realign the shot, but you might not want to try and reinvent the wheel for this photo.
Yick Fat Building, 1048-1056 King's Rd, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
What better way to represent Hong Kong than high rise apartments, but with a colorful outlook on life? This estate quickly gained popularity among locals and tourists alike and continues to be swarmed with people clamoring to get the perfect shot of the gradient backdrop.
Choi Hung Estate, Hong Kong
About Hong Kong, China
