2022 Hong Kong 2022

[hkskyline]

25 Jul - Hung Hom is known as a gritty and run-down area with undesirable facilities such as funeral homes. However, change is slowly coming with a huge redevelopment project happening across several city blocks.



26 Jul - Tucked behind Wan Chai's sidestreets, Hopewell is building a huge new skyscraper that has taken decades to reach this point. Hugely controversial for its sheer scale set amidst narrow streets, will this new tower paralyze traffic?



27 Jul - These are the first set of highrise residentials to appear along the old airport runway. Eventually, the entire length of the runway will have highrises.



28 Jul - Donuts aren't a popular item on our menus, so I was surprised a suburban mall decided to feature a lot of them on a photography wall.



29 Jul - Summer temperatures have deterred people from exploring this little exhibition in front of City Hall.



31 Jul - Cha Kwo Ling is one of the last urban villages left. It's not so easily accessible with a long walk to the MTR but they have beautiful harbour and skyline views, so it is not surprising the land it sits on would get on the property developer's radar. Inside, there are narrow alleys with shops that have remained stuck in the past.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

1 Aug - The electric bus rollout has been a fiasco. Running a purely green vehicle in Hong Kong's hot and humid climate probably isn't possible, and we have a very long summer. One of the main bus operators had to pull these off the streets and turn them into air-conditioning waiting lounges at a few bus terminus.



2 Aug - Sham Shui Po is a gritty and poor district, although its prime location has meant gentrification is increasingly visible, with new glassy tall towers popping up here and there.



3 Aug - K11 Musea is one of many new mall openings in recent memory. While online shopping is growing in popularity, the traditional shopping mall still has quite a big draw, but this one has a more artistic twist to it. In this exhibition, you have to figure out which parts of this table setting are made of cakes.



6 Aug - In a remote and inaccessible part of Tuen Mun, many new towers of public housing are rising.



7 Aug - The government has cracked down on old neon signs that used to be a common sight above major streets. These are now rare and who knows when a few more will suddenly disappear the next time I pass by?



12 Aug - West Kowloon's cultural district continues to be under construction, although bits and pieces have come online. When will the dust settle and construction cranes removed so we can fully enjoy the entire waterfront?



13 Aug - With border restrictions in place between the HK-China border, this once bustling boundary bus station has gone eeringly quiet, although it will likely stay that way for some more time.



14 Aug - A local tycoon built a huge temple complex in Tai Po, a distant suburb. Getting a free ticket on their online booking engine is not an easy task, although last minute cancellations do pop up every now and then. Tsz Shan Monastery opened in 2015 after 10 years of construction with the architecture inspired by ancient Chinese dynasties.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

15 Aug - While Tsim Sha Tsui has glitzy malls and hotels, there are still a number of old buildings ripe for redevelopment, although it's difficult given the many ownership interests involved and getting them all on board at the right price takes years.



16 Aug - Across the harbour in Central, there are smaller projects and nothing grand and huge on the scale of IFC, which was built 20 years ago.



17 Aug - A hidden spot for a good unique skyline view is at Hung Hom station's multi-storey parking lot.



18 Aug - Back on Kowloon, this multi-storey parking lot is meeting a sadder fate. It is slated to be demolished as a new cross-town highway is built.



20 Aug - Chun Yeung Street is a very unique open-air market as trams pass right through, with stalls selling their fares just shy of the vehicles.



21 Aug - Nostalgia as a theme is garnering more attention these days, and crowds emerged at a shopping mall that showcased a few retired buses over successive weekends.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

22 Aug - Sham Shui Po is one of the city's poorest areas, but its prime location means it's not immune from regentrification as the lower classes are pushed elsewhere.



24 Aug - This utility station got some artwork to shield its otherwise unsightly look right at the waterfront promenade.



26 Aug - Hopewell Centre's extension has been decades in the making, with the developer at odds with the planners over the traffic impact of building an initially much taller structure on Wanchai's narrow backroads.



27 Aug - Hong Kong's railway development strategy is to sell rights above stations to fuel the operator's profits. However, scandal erupted at this suburban development when actual construction didn't meet requirements and a partially-built section had to be torn down for safety reasons. The buyers could choose to opt out and get their deposit back, which would have been a lucky break for them given the market has come down lately.



28 Aug - Wah Fu Estate is slated for redevelopment but it's going to take years. Residents have a unique vantage point of sea views from their homes.



29 Aug - The Hong Kong Museum of Art ran a special exhibition on foreign traders in Canton, the major port before Hong Kong rose to the international stage. Back then, foreigners were confined to a specific part of the city and couldn't easily mingle with the population.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

2 Sept - This part of gritty Kowloon is slowly being redeveloped. Gone are these shorter buildings from the old airport era with its street-level retail. The replacement towers probably would kill the street life and upscale the area beyond recognition.



3 Sept - With Hong Kong Olympians performing well in Tokyo winning 1 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze, this bus was specially rebranded to celebrate the occasion.



4 Sept - This shop keeper has decorated its front with a lot of protest signs. Seems like there is a commercial dispute going on.



5 Sept - With space being a luxury, parks are sometimes placed in less obvious places, such as on top of this hill requiring a staircase ascent and short walk around the corner.



9 Sept - Lanterns form a major part of Mid-Autumn festivities. There was a park on the Island side that had a sizeable lantern display, and these are not the traditional ones.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

10 Sept - The Peninsula has an interesting lobby restaurant that is bustling with noise and activity, and seemingly a good choice for afternoon tea. I preferred a proper restaurant where I could properly socialize without talking over anyone.



11 Sept - The variety of art exhibitions has improved over the years following the Museum of Art's renovation and M+ opening nearby.



12 Sept - As the fishing industry dies off, luxury yachts have taken over typhoon shelters around the city.



13 Sept - Wandering around a public housing estate in Kowloon, I was surprised to find a North Korea-style notice board, although there wasn't much local news to post.



14 Sept - Megabox used to have a public gallery on one of its high floors which overlooks the Kai Tak construction site and even the harbour skyline in the distance. It seems that has closed for good but the parking lots on nearby floors also provide the same view and without glass in the way.



15 Sept - The British Consulate was a busy place following the Queen's passing. A huge memorial sprung up outside its doors with flowers and images as locals remembered her visits to the city.



17 Sept - Old public housing blocks are ripe for interesting finds. Tucked away in the hillsides of Tsuen Wan are a few old-style shops including this one selling traditional snacks such as marinated plums, ginger, and lemon.



18 Sept - University Hall is a student residence built in a very English style. It's not open to visitors and tucked away behind a busy street so many are not even aware of this beauty.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

21 Sept - The much-anticipated Palace Museum opened to a lot of fanfare. With my free ticket, I explored around and quite liked the first few galleries featuring historic items including what the royalty class wore, ate with, and used.



22 Sept - Kowloon's back streets can be full of surprises. Here in Yau Ma Tei, you can find the right deity statue to grace your home.



24 Sept - Old signs like this one near Kwai Hing station are getting rarer these days. As these old factories and warehouses get redeveloped, they disappear as well.



25 Sept - Hong Kong has plenty of remote outlying islands worthwhile for a day trip. The Chinese coastline is clearly visible from Tung Ping Chau, quite a faraway day adventure from the city but with plenty of geological wonders.



26 Sept - Various attempts to move the old fruit market away from the city and these dilapidated buildings have failed, although it really comes into life at night when the various vendors deliver, assemble, and sell fruits coming in from around the world.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

1 Oct - Although a bit more inconvenient to reach, the hillside public housing estates near Kwai Fong station are quite serene, and this one has a hole in the middle to make way for a road to pass.



2 Oct - Po Kwu Wan has a crumbling concrete barrier that is still passable with a few makeshift bridges. Sai Kung's countryside wraps all around you.



3 Oct - A stumble discovery revealed an old reservoir with Roman-like columns. The government was forced to halt demolition works after a public outcry. I was luckily able to join one of the sought-after tours to see this underground wonderland. Spots are very limited with only a low single digit number of tours per day.



7 Oct - The fruit market in Yau Ma Tei comes to life at night when traffic lanes are blocked by goods and vehicles unloading the freshly-imported goods of the day. The controlled chaos is quite a sight and vastly different than the retail market during the day when locals look for premium items that their local supermarket may not have.



9 Oct - The waterfront at Yau Tong is slowly being transitoned from a undesirable industrial zone into a higher-end residential area with harbour views. Would you want to walk through this type of neighbourhood to get home for a sip of coffee looking at the skyline?



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

10 Oct - Contrast the night-time photo of the fruit market to see how it is deserted during daylight hours.



11 Oct - Kai Tak's new business district is taking shape around where the old airport terminal used to sit. There is a decent amount of parkland and greenery around it before the towers turn residential.



12 Oct - Hung Hom district is another one of those older and gritty parts of town that is seeing a lot of redevelopment. A few blocks of lowrise tenement buildings have been torn down and new shiny residential skyscrapers will take their place.



13 Oct - Central district is being hit by a double whammy of office workers staying home and large multinational banks moving out due to expensive rents. Nevertheless, there is still Grade A office construction happening with 2 larger towers coming up next to each other.



14 Oct - Horizonal overhead signs are disappearing fast as the government cracks down. Sham Shui Po district still has a good selection of these but catch them fast before they get taken down.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

15 Oct - While most of us live in highrises, a select few get to live in lowrise and walled-in communities. Steps away from a prison which is equally walled around, these accommodations are comparatively more luxurious and serene.



17 Oct - Making good use of little available space can yield some interesting surprises. Located on top of a new government services building, the rooftop has turned green into a public resting space.



18 Oct - Hong Kongers are well aware of Sanrio's family of cartoon characters.



22 Oct - Yau Tong's waterfront views are quite decent and you can get a good skyline shot here. Even the old typhoon shelter is turning more upscale with a few more luxury yachts these days.



26 Oct - From Tsim Sha Tsui, you can see Yau Tong in the distance towards the right, with the yellow scaffolding U/C buildings as a reference point.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

29 Oct - Sharp Island is a short ferry ride from Sai Kung's main town. It features 2 large beaches and an interesting walkway that is only exposed during low tide.



30 Oct - MTR runs a light rail network across the northwestern suburbs, with these older rolling stock being phased out. They're quite easy to identify as they bear different colours than newer trains that are white.



31 Oct - The Cross-Harbour Tunnel is the first harbour crossing and remains the most popular thanks to its low toll. The government plans to re-jig tolls across the 3 main tunnels in 2023, which all charge differently and hence usage is not well spread out.



9 Nov - The old Intercontinental Hotel enjoys a prime harbourfront location and is being renovated and rebranded into the Regent, the hotel's former name. The developer has changed the facade's colour into silver, although it looks a bit disappointing.



10 Nov - The high-speed rail station remains quiet as the border remains shut due to COVID, although there is a lot of public space available on the grounds, including the station's rooftop, for nearby residents on top of Kowloon station to enjoy.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

12 Nov - Quarry Bay was once a residential suburb. Reknowned local developer Swire came to experiment with an alternative CBD with fancy new officer towers. They also added nice landscaping to make the area inviting, and in turn improving the local residents' public spaces.



13 Nov - Meanwhile, I don't see that type of smart urban planning materialize yet across the harbour at Kai Tak, the former airport that remains a massive construction zone over 20 years after it closed.



14 Nov - Although there are less shovels in the ground over in Central, the traditional CBD, what's going up there is nevertheless quite interesting. Zaha Hadid's architecture firm designed this tower with an interesting bubble-like facade.



16 Nov - There are nice rooftop decks that are accessible to the public at Ocean Terminal and China Hong Kong City, offering an interesting vantage point of the skyline as well as the West Kowloon Cultural District under construction.



17 Nov - With a housing affordability crisis, we see bits and pieces of redevelopment within the old urban core. These are small projects so you won't get the grand clubhouse or huge shopping mall base that we expect in new developments, but you are in the middle of the busy city so getting food or entertainment is never far away.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

18 Nov - Horizontal neon signs are getting rarer above our streets now. A generation ago, they were commonplace along Nathan Road and it is a neon wonderland at night.



19 Nov - Tap Mun is one of the island fishing villages that have been frozen in time, making it a lovely day trip out of the city. This is a popular place for campers, although I was surprised wild boars made it here too. I suppose they can swim from the mainland.



20 Nov - The YMCA on Bridges Street is a historic building with Chicago School and Chinese architectural styles. Built in 1918, it contained a cycling track and an indoor swimming pool, quite innovative facilities at the time.



24 Nov - Gingerbread houses may not be easy to find in a supermarket leading up to Christmas, but this shopping mall decoration version looks quite authentic.



25 Nov - In addition to buses and trains, minibuses also run routes around the city. Green ones run on set routes while red ones tend to be point-to-point and can go on any route. Hence, it's not the easiest navigation method for tourists.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

26 Nov - Shopping malls typically go all out with their Christmas decorations to encourage foot traffic. This one in a prime shopping district got a big brand to come up with something interesting.



27 Nov - Every now and then, I see vintage car enthusiasts out in action hosting an open house of sorts. This one also included a few vintage and electric buses as well.



28 Nov - West Kowloon continues to be under constant construction. A few years ago, the shovels were in the ground for the high-speed rail link. Now there's a new highway coming up.



29 Nov - Central Plaza is one of few large skyscrapers with a public skylobby. This one has lovely views of the skyline and the harbour, although the glass is tinted.



30 Nov - A few years ago, the tourism boom highlighted the hotel shortage. Now with COVID, would this new hotel open at the wrong end of the cycle? Staycations at 5 star hotels continue to be quite affordable with international travel at a fraction of regular levels.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

2 Dec - The first developments along the Kai Tak runway area are slowly coming online. However, transport to the rest of the city remains quite spotty, with the government rejecting a monorail proposal and residents now need to rely on sparsely-scheduled buses. When you pay an arm and a leg price for a potential sea view, this inconvenience should not be part of the package.



3 Dec - Hong Kong Island has a lot of steep gradients and engineers have designed ways to build despite these geographical challenges. There are many long staircases, such as this one that has a nice painting attached to it to encourage your way up.



4 Dec - While the city is getting increasingly pet-friendly, owners need to be considerate not to let their beloved pets leave a mess and ruin the party for everyone.



5 Dec - Another horizontal old neon sign that may be on the chopping block soon ...



6 Dec - The island of Tsing Yi was once only accessible by rowboat but the government had an eye to build a suburb here. We can't find traces of agriculture and fishing that were once popular anymore.



More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm

[hkskyline]

8 Dec - Central's reclaimed lands have sat empty for decades, but finally some activity is coming. Although parts of it has become an occasional concert venue, I'm still waiting for the grand park to materialize.



10 Dec - Out at the old airport lands, Airside is the tallest commercial skyscraper in the area. While construction is not yet complete, the mall beneath it opened for a special Christmas market only, with decor paying homage to the area's history.







More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong.htm