Feed your camera with 7 of the best Instagrammable spots in Hong Kong

Make your holiday in Hong Kong last forever — with memorable snaps! There are plenty of picture-perfect locations to feed your camera and share your experiences and look back when you return home. Harmoniously illustrating the contrast of urban and suburban, these unique spots give travellers a deeper understanding of the city’s local lifestyle and culture. Whether you want to immerse yourself in colonial history from restored relics, marvel at modern and innovative architecture, visit down-to-earth local neighbourhoods, or take in sweeping views of lush tropical greenery, there’s beauty to be found in every corner of Hong Kong.

West Kowloon Cultural District is a chilled-out respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. The combination of vast green spaces and stunning architecture set against a backdrop of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline attracts Instagrammers of all kinds — fitness enthusiasts holding yoga poses, fashion bloggers flaunting their new outfits, cityscape photographers trying to get the perfect drone shot, and even loveable furry friends trotting along the harbourfront with their human counterparts.

This unique historical compound — Tai Kwun — is now the Centre for Heritage and Arts; it’s also one of the city’s most Instagrammable locales. It has a lengthy heritage and photogenic architecture, comprising of three declared monuments: the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy, and Victoria Prison. Snap photos of the exterior and spiral staircase in their new building, JC Contemporary, and find inspiration for your own creativity in the contemporary art centre within.

HKwalls is a non-profit arts organisation that celebrates creativity by hosting an annual street art festival in Hong Kong every March. In recent years, local and international artists set to work spicing up every corner of Wan Chai’s vibrant neighbourhood. Explore the area around Wah Yan College to get the perfect pic with Didier Jaba Mathieu’s mural depicting a funky futuristic Hong Kong, or immortalise local tattoo artist Rich Phipson’s eye-catching dragon graphics at O’Brien Road tram stop. More HKwalls graffiti art can be seen in other districts like Central and Wong Chuk Hang as well. Go on a hunt to find a mural and wow your Instagram followers!

Before the Asia Society Hong Kong Center became a creative hub made up of Asian arts, history and culture, the site was actually a former Victoria Barracks, where explosives used in war were held. Made up of four Grade I and Grade II Historic Buildings with dynamic, modern enhancements and lush jungle surroundings, every corner is a possibility for a dramatic snap. Providing stunning views of Admiralty’s concrete jungle, the roof garden is perfect for those golden hour ‘grams. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to watch the sunset along the double-deck Yasumoto Bridge and get another artistic shot of the shadows cast by your silhouette.

Man Mo Temple is one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong, now recognised as a Declared Monument. Built in the 1800s, the temple pays tribute to Man, the God of Literature, and Mo, the God of War. Take a solemn step back into the past as you enter its traditional and peaceful interior, with dozens of incense spirals hanging above you. With the sunlight streaming through the roof, shadows that dance with the smoke emanating from fragrant incense, and the bold red and gold interior, every element combines seamlessly to provide photographers with a chance to play around with different lighting and perspectives. Man Mo Temple is a place of worship first and foremost, so remember not to use the flash or take any photos in the Commemoration Hall.

Made famous by its appearance in the hit Hong Kong film Love in a Puff, the Wai Yip Pedestrian Bridge is a (relatively) obscure gem of a photo spot. Nicknamed “Chi Ming bridge” — after the male protagonist of the film — this flyover is located just a five-minute walk away from MTR Ngau Tau Kok Station Exit B6. The bridge was built during Hong Kong’s industrial boom and modelled after MTR train carriages; when you’re on the bridge, remember to stay safe and keep your arms and legs inside this quirky train at all times! The pinhole effect created by sunlight streaming through the endless row of windows, as well as the simple colour palette of the bridge, makes for a wide variety of possible photo compositions.

Experience a whole different side to Hong Kong by venturing out to Tai O, an idyllic fishing village where residents built their dwellings on the tidal flats of Lantau Island. 

Apart from the charming stilt houses upon the water, check out Tai O Heritage Hotel, a nine-room boutique hotel housed in a Grade II historic building. Revitalised from its previous life as the Old Tai O Police Station, the meticulously restored building received the UNESCO Award of Merit for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Grab some paradisal snapshots looking out the veranda windows, dance under the sun-lit outdoor hallways that wrap around the hotel, or perhaps even schedule a romantic photoshoot with your sweetheart down by the beach or pier at dusk when the whole village glows under an orange and pink sky.