Hong Kong – Countless Journeys to the Most Exciting City in the World
Hong Kong – Countless Journeys to the Most Exciting City in the World
A Personal Photography Report
Last week, I was once again in Hong Kong – I have traveled there for more than 30 times in my life. And yet, every time it feels as if I am seeing the city for the very first time. No other metropolis in the world combines so much energy, chaos, and beauty as Hong Kong. Between glittering skyscrapers, traditional markets, neon-lit streets, and quiet temples, an urban spectacle unfolds that never fails to captivate me as a photographer.
During the day I was busy with work, but as soon as the sun went down, my real journey began. Armed with my camera gear, I set out into the night – exploring Wan Chai, Central, West Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui, Choi Hung, and Kai Tak with its new stadium.
Wan Chai – Between Tradition and Neon Light
Wan Chai is one of those neighborhoods where Hong Kong openly displays its contradictions. By day, a bustling district of markets and small shops, it transforms after dark into a realm of neon signs, bars, and street life.
Photographing here means chasing contrasts: glaring billboards towering over old façades; food stalls steaming with noodle soups while above them luxury watch advertisements flash.
Central – The Heart of the City
Central is Hong Kong’s beating heart. Here, skyscrapers soar skyward, and between glass and steel lie endless photographic perspectives. With wide-angle lens and tripod, I roamed the canyons of the city.
Photography in Central is a game of symmetry: reflections in façades, patterns of escalators and sky bridges, streams of people forming lines through the city. Especially at night, when the lights of banks and towers shimmer across Victoria Harbour, the view becomes a subject that never grows old – no matter how many times it has been captured.
West Kowloon – Modernity and Space
West Kowloon is a place where Hong Kong seems to breathe. Here, amid the cultural district, parks, and a broad waterfront, the city reveals a rare sense of openness.
With the camera, it’s not only the futuristic architecture that inspires, but also the sweeping skyline of Hong Kong Island across the water.
Nobody forgets the ICC (International Commerce Center) once you have seen it for the first time. all 484 meters tall, it is the highest building in Hong Kong.
Quarry Bay – The “Monster Building”
In Quarry Bay, photography turns into an almost surreal experience. The so-called “Monster Building” – a densely packed complex of residential blocks officially named the Yick Cheong and Yick Fat Buildings – is one of Hong Kong’s most iconic urban motifs. Standing in the courtyard, surrounded by walls of windows, balconies, and air conditioners stacked in seemingly endless layers, you feel dwarfed by sheer human density.
For photographers, this place is both a challenge and a gift. Wide-angle lenses capture the towering vertical lines, while tighter frames reveal the intimacy of daily life: laundry fluttering from balconies, soft lights glowing behind curtains, and the geometric rhythm of concrete and steel.
At dusk, the Monster Building transforms again. The sky framed by the block’s outline takes on a deeper blue, while the fluorescent lights of the apartments begin to flicker on. It is a moment when architecture, atmosphere, and human presence merge into a single composition – an image that captures not just the building, but the very essence of Hong Kong’s urban intensity.
Choi Hung – A Riot of Color
The Choi Hung housing estate, famous for its rainbow-colored façades, has long been an Instagram hotspot. And yet, despite the flood of images from all over the world, it remains a compelling subject.
The stacked balconies, like a massive mosaic, tell the story of everyday life in Hong Kong. I deliberately searched for unusual perspectives, playing with details, shadows, and reflections. The interplay of color and structure makes Choi Hung a place where the camera never rests.
Kai Tak – A Stadium as a Symbol of Renewal
My final photo stop on this trip was Kai Tak – more precisely, the new stadium built on the site of the city’s legendary former airport. For someone who has visited Hong Kong so many times, this location is filled with memory. I can still recall the images of planes gliding low over the rooftops. Today, a hypermodern stadium rises here, symbolizing the city’s future.
Architecturally, it offers endless motifs: sweeping curves, reflective surfaces that change in the night light. Standing there, I felt strongly how Hong Kong continually reinvents itself – and yet always retains its allure.
Conclusion – Why Hong Kong Never Lets Me Go
After 31 visits, I am convinced: Hong Kong is the most exciting metropolis in the world. Every street, every harbour view, every neon light tells a story I long to capture with my camera.
Even though my days were filled with work, my evenings with the camera were the true highlights. Now, as I look back and review my photos, I already feel the urge to return. Hong Kong is constantly changing – and that, precisely, is the source of its endless magic.
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