Hong Kong Through a Lens: 12 Instagram-Worthy Spots Most Tourists Miss

Hong Kong's density creates a vertical world unlike anywhere else—a three-dimensional urban canvas that rewards those who look up. Skip the obvious shots from Victoria Peak and instead head to Quarry Bay, where the now-famous 'Monster Building' (Yik Cheong Building) offers a mesmerizing study in repetition and scale. But venture just two blocks away to Montane Mansion for an equally impressive but far less crowded composition.

My favorite discovery was in the narrow lanes of Sham Shui Po district, where laundry lines create geometric patterns against the sky between tightly packed residential towers. The contrast between intimate domestic life and overwhelming urban scale creates images that speak to Hong Kong's unique character.

For a truly unique vertical perspective, visit Lok Fu Place mall's central atrium around 4pm when light beams cut dramatically through the architecture. Position yourself on the ground floor looking up through the geometric glass ceiling for a shot that plays with symmetry and scale in surprising ways.

I spent an entire afternoon exploring these urban canyons with my wide-angle lens, which proved essential for capturing these tight spaces while maintaining architectural integrity. The fall season's clear skies provided perfect contrast against the buildings' facades.

My fascination with texture and form naturally drew me to Hong Kong's rapidly disappearing neon signs and hand-painted typography. While many photographers capture the famous neon corridors of Nathan Road, I found richer hunting grounds in the back streets of Yau Ma Tei and Jordan.

On Shanghai Street between Jordan and Yau Ma Tei stations, I discovered a treasure trove of vintage shop signs, many featuring hand-painted Chinese characters alongside English text in styles dating back decades. The juxtaposition of these weathered signs against modern developments creates a poignant visual narrative about Hong Kong's changing identity.

For the most atmospheric shots, I visited during the 'blue hour' just after sunset when neon begins to glow but ambient light still reveals architectural details. The fall season's comfortable temperatures meant I could spend hours wandering these streets without the summer humidity that can fog lenses and dampen enthusiasm.

My most successful images came from Mong Kok's back alleys, where I discovered an elderly sign painter touching up a traditional shop front. The warm glow of his work lamp against the deepening blue twilight created a cinematic moment that spoke volumes about craft and continuity in a rapidly changing urban landscape.

I found my prime lens invaluable here—its wide aperture allowing me to shoot handheld in low light while maintaining the atmospheric quality that makes these signs so compelling.

Hong Kong's identity is inextricably linked to water, yet surprisingly few visitors explore its maritime perspectives. Beyond the standard Star Ferry crossing (which admittedly offers wonderful views), I discovered several water-based vantage points that provide fresh angles on this photogenic city.

My first revelation came at Sai Wan Swimming Shed in Kennedy Town—a wooden structure extending into the sea that once served as a changing facility for swimmers. Arriving before sunrise, I found myself alone with a perfect westward view of Stonecutters Bridge silhouetted against the dawn sky, with fishing boats creating foreground interest. The wooden planks leading into the water create natural leading lines for compositions that feel both nostalgic and timeless.

For a completely different water perspective, I took a sampan (small wooden boat) tour of Aberdeen Harbour, weaving between the floating village's remaining traditional houseboats. These intimate waterways offer glimpses into a maritime way of life that's rapidly disappearing, with the contrast between floating homes and towering apartments creating compelling visual stories.

Perhaps my most unexpected discovery was the view from Lei Yue Mun, a fishing village on the eastern edge of Kowloon. From its waterfront promenade, you can capture a perfectly framed shot of Hong Kong Island's skyline through a narrow channel, with traditional fishing boats in the foreground. Visit around 6pm in fall for golden light on the buildings, then stay as the city lights begin to twinkle on.

For these water shoots, I relied heavily on my travel tripod which proved remarkably stable even on rocking boats and weathered docks. Its compact size meant I could carry it easily throughout the day until these golden-hour opportunities arose.

As a sculptor with a deep appreciation for form and material, Hong Kong's repurposed industrial spaces proved irresistible to my lens. While many visitors know about PMQ (the former Police Married Quarters turned creative hub), fewer discover the photographic potential of other transformed spaces.

The most visually rewarding was Tai Nan Street in Sham Shui Po, where former textile factories have been converted into design studios and cafés. The industrial bones remain visible—concrete pillars, exposed pipes, and factory windows—creating a perfect backdrop for compositions that tell stories of urban transformation. The fall light filtering through large factory windows created dramatic shadows and light patterns across textured concrete surfaces.

In Wong Chuk Hang, I spent a fascinating afternoon exploring the industrial buildings that now house galleries and creative spaces. The Ovolo Southside hotel, converted from a warehouse, features an exterior glass elevator that offers ascending views of the neighborhood's industrial-to-artistic evolution. The rooftop bar provides a rarely-seen perspective of Hong Kong's southern district against distant mountains.

Perhaps my most surprising industrial discovery was the former Lai Chi Kok Hospital, now partially open as a heritage site. Its red-brick colonial architecture stands in stark contrast to surrounding high-rises, creating compositions that speak to Hong Kong's layered history. The fall foliage beginning to turn around the grounds added warm color accents to the industrial textures.

For these locations with challenging lighting conditions—from dim interiors to bright windows—I relied on my camera's excellent dynamic range and occasionally used exposure bracketing to capture detail in both shadows and highlights.

While the infamous Kowloon Walled City was demolished decades ago, its legacy lives on in several photogenic locations that most tourists overlook. As someone fascinated by how history shapes physical spaces, I found these sites particularly compelling for photography that tells deeper stories about Hong Kong.

Kowloon Walled City Park now occupies the former settlement's footprint, but keen eyes can spot original foundations, salvaged architectural elements, and informative displays. I discovered that photographing these historical fragments against the manicured Chinese garden creates powerful visual metaphors about Hong Kong's complex relationship with its past. The autumn season brought particularly beautiful light to the park in the late afternoon.

Less known is the Mei Ho House in Shek Kip Mei, one of Hong Kong's earliest public housing blocks, now preserved as a youth hostel and heritage museum. Its distinctive H-shaped structure and external corridors offer compositions reminiscent of the Walled City's famous density but in a more accessible setting. The museum contains remarkable photographs of the area's development that provide context for your own images.

Perhaps the most atmospheric location is the Chi Lin Nunnery and adjacent Nan Lian Garden in Diamond Hill. While not directly connected to the Walled City, this Tang dynasty-style complex sits in the shadow of dense housing estates that echo the Walled City's vertical intensity. The juxtaposition of traditional Chinese architecture against towering apartments creates compositions that speak to Hong Kong's ongoing negotiation between tradition and urban development.

For these historically significant sites, I found myself switching between wide contextual shots and detailed studies of textures and architectural elements. The stories these places tell are both grand and intimate—requiring both perspectives to capture fully.

My passion for heritage transportation led me to several overlooked railway locations that offer unique photographic opportunities away from Hong Kong's more famous transit spots. These places tell visual stories about connectivity and progress that have shaped the territory's development.

The former Tai Po Market Railway Station, now preserved as the Hong Kong Railway Museum, offers free access to vintage rolling stock and colonial-era architecture. I arrived early on a weekday morning to find the place nearly empty, allowing unobstructed compositions of the station's distinctive clock tower against autumn skies. The preserved train carriages with their rich wooden interiors create opportunities for atmospheric detail shots that speak to an earlier era of travel.

More adventurous photographers should seek out the abandoned Ma On Shan mining railway. Several concrete bridge supports and overgrown track beds remain accessible via hiking trails, creating haunting compositions where nature reclaims industrial infrastructure. The dappled light through fall foliage created perfect conditions for these shots, with the red and gold leaves providing color contrast against weathered concrete.

My most unexpected railway discovery came at Fo Tan station, where a little-known elevated walkway provides a perfect vantage point for panning shots of trains with mountains as backdrop. During the golden hour, I captured several long-exposure images of trains arriving and departing, their motion blur contrasting with the solid permanence of the landscape beyond.

For these railway shoots, I found my variable ND filter invaluable for controlling exposure during daytime long exposures. The ability to adjust light reduction on the fly meant I could quickly adapt to changing conditions while maintaining the motion effects I wanted in my train photography.