From the historical Tai Kwun to the Chinese cultural venue Xiqu Centre, here are some of Hong Kong's most Instagram-worthy structures.
On February 2, 2023, the Hong Kong government announced the distribution of 500,000 free airline tickets to Asian travellers. Those in mainland China and Northeast Asia will get their hands on them first starting from March 1. So if you're hoping to be one of those lucky ticket winners, we've put together a list of some of Hong Kong's most aesthetically-pleasing buildings for you to decorate your Instagram feed with. Time to get your cameras ready.
Choi Hung Estate
One of the oldest and most iconic public housing estates in the city, Choi Hung Estate has become a popular destination for photos among local and international tournational tourists – much to the dismay of its residents. As its name (which literally translates to Rainbow Estate) implies, the building's exterior is painted in rainbow colours. Though many of its colours have faded quite a bit now, it's still an Instagram hotspot.
K11 Musea
Taking up 1.2 million square feet of space, K11 Musea blurs the lines between shopping mall, art gallery, and cultural hot spot. It has creative exhibits, conceptual cafes, and even a nature park eight-storeys in the air. With its curved aluminum panels, sparkling chandeliers and rustic wall cladding, this massive, glitzy mall look like a sci-fi arcadia.
Blue House
Perched on Wan Chai's Stone Nullah Lane, the Blue House is one of three Lingnan-style buildings built in the 1920s. The four-storey pre-war shophouse is home to flats, restaurants, a community centre and a gallery dedicated to preserving Hong Kong's rich culture. Historical features such steep timber staircases, patterned floor tiles, and ornamental iron railings were all preserved.
Tai Kwun
With its stunning colonial architecture and abundant dining and drinking options, Tai Kwun has become a popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Its gabled roofs and masonry structures reflect a bygone era in today's skyscraper-filled city. A series of interventions were designed by Herzog & de Meuron across the six-acre (2.4-hectare) site, while Purcell preserved the outdoor corridors, arches and pillars of the old brick structures.
Xiqu Centre
Chinese opera has found a contemporary and inspiring new home at Hong Kong's Xiqu Centre. With its dramatic curvilinear façade and reinterpretation of the customary Chinese Moon Gate motif, Xiqu Centre was conceived as a cultural sanctuary. The stunning seven-storey performance venue celebrates Xiqu (Chinese opera in Mandarin) and its rich heritage.
