Hong Kong is a city unlike any other – part of the world’s largest nation, yet set apart, shaped by a history and identity all its own.
Once a humble fishing port, then a vital trading post, it has grown into one of the world’s most important economic hubs. It is a place where tradition and modernity collide, a rich tapestry of cultures and contrasts, a dynamic, frenetic, and ever-evolving metropolis that has long been fertile ground for artists from its streets and beyond.
1. Market Promenade, Hong Kong 50-60’s – Fan Ho, Courtesy Blue Lotus Gallery
No photographer has immortalized Hong Kong quite like Fan Ho, whose evocative depictions of everyday life in the 1950s and ’60s capture the spirit of the era and continue to influence and inspire today. Born in Shanghai in 1931, Ho, along with his family, migrated to Hong Kong in his late teens, along with thousands of others from the mainland. Shortly after, he acquired the twin-lens Rolleiflex that would become his signature tool and, with the keen eye of an outsider, began exploring the streets of his new home.
Drawn to the bustling alleyways and markets of the Central District, he documented the city’s daily rhythms with a mastery of light, composition, and tone that rivals his most celebrated Western contemporaries. His remarkable sense of timing and ability to convey atmosphere resulted in truly compelling images, which remain touchstones of a pivotal era as Hong Kong evolved into a modern metropolis.
Discover more of his work here.
2. “Belly of the Beast” 2024 – John Kimwell Laluma
One of the most densely populated areas in the world, Hong Kong is home to 7.5 million people, with only seven percent of its land designated for housing owing to its unique topography as well as other factors
Many of the city’s residents live in small, tightly packed apartments within towering skyscrapers, which are themselves clustered closely together. Their facades, often in pastel hues, create captivating maze-like patterns that have long proved a compelling subject for photographers. One example is the Philippines-based John Kimwell Laluma, who captures this striking image of the Yick Cheong Building – also known as “The Monster”- shooting from below to emphasize the scale and density of the structure, a powerful embodiment of the city’s intense urban landscape.
3. The flag of Hong Kong was officially adopted and hoisted on 1 July 1997, during the handover ceremony marking the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom back to China – World History Archive
This image captures a defining moment of the 1997 handover ceremony: Christopher Francis Patten, Hong Kong’s last Governor, receiving the Union Jack that had flown over the territory for more than 150 years. It marked the culmination of a 13-year transition set in motion by the Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed in December 1984, and signified Hong Kong’s official return to China as a Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), ending 156 years of British rule.
As the Union Jack was lowered, it was replaced by Hong Kong’s new flag—a red standard adorned with the iconic Bauhinia flower. Each petal bears a star-shaped cutout, symbolizing the city’s connection to China and its place within the nation.
4. Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong – Christopher Lim
Like most major cities across the globe, Hong Kong, under the guise of ‘progress,’ is losing its unique character. Yet, traces of its past still endure. Photographer Christopher Lim seeks out these remnants, often exploring neighborhoods like Sham Shui Po, where flea markets overflow with eclectic treasures and forgotten relics of a bygone era.
With a keen eye for color, framing, and timing, Lim captures the energy of these streets, preserving what remains of old Hong Kong. In a city increasingly dominated by towering glass skyscrapers and global chains, these pockets of history stand as the last bastions of a vanishing era. One that may fade entirely in the decades to come.
5. “Umbrella” Protests, 2019 – Lam Yik Fei
The Umbrella Movement began in 2014 as young protesters opposed electoral reforms granting Beijing greater control over Hong Kong, its name derived from the umbrellas used to shield against tear gas. The movement reignited in 2019 against the proposed Extradition Bill, which critics feared would target political dissidents.
Hong Kong-based photojournalist Lam Yik Fei spent twelve weeks covering the protests on the ground, both in 2014 and again in 2019 (his images from the latter were published in his photobook “Woh Yuhng”). It was during this time that he captured this striking image for The New York Times—a powerful, painting-like scene that encapsulates the tumultuous atmosphere of the protests and stands as a striking emblem of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
6. Still from “In the Mood for Love” – Wing Shya
Few, if any, have captured the spirit of Hong Kong as powerfully as Wong Kar Wai. The Shanghai-born director relocated to Hong Kong as a child, and nearly all of his acclaimed films are set and filmed in the city, cementing it streets into silver screen folklore.
His longtime collaborator, Wing Shya, returned to Hong Kong in 1991 after studying in Canada and became captivated by its neon-lit streets. His photography caught Wong’s attention, leading to a role as a stills photographer on Happy Together (1997).
Initially a backup, Wing’s big break came when his inexperience led to an unexpected turn of events. Without a soundproof box, he could only shoot between takes, resulting in a more relaxed, natural chemistry between the lead actors. His instinctive, haphazard approach led to ‘happy accidents’ that perfectly mirrored the romantic moodiness Wong Kar Wai evokes in his films, as seen in this still from his 2000 masterpiece, “In the Mood for Love”.
Interestingly, Wong shot a significant portion of the film in Bangkok, as its architecture better resembled 1960s Hong Kong than the modernized city itself. So, while this image is one of the most iconic representations of Hong Kong in popular culture, it may have actually been captured in the Thai capital.
Discover more of Wing’s work here.
7. “Transformation” – Wai Yin Poon
Visiting Hong Kong today, it’s hard to imagine that this global financial powerhouse began as a humble fishing village, yet traces of its past remain.
Much like their ancestors, the Tanka, or “boat people,” have lived on junks for generations. While once a common sight in outlying waters, some still remain in Hong Kong’s main harbors, as seen in this striking image, where their weathered boats stand in stark contrast to the gleaming towers behind them. However, with urbanization accelerating and fishing in decline, many Tanka have moved ashore, and their floating way of life—once emblematic of Hong Kong’s origins—is rapidly fading and, may one day disappear entirely.
8. “HK Scaffolding” – Tom Leighton
Part of his series exploring the intense, mosaic-like architecture of Hong Kong, Tom Leighton’s striking depiction of a building cloaked in traditional bamboo scaffolding was selected as a finalist in our 2020 Color Award. Hong Kong is a city that has undergone dramatic change over the last century, yet there are elements that remain unchanged—the bamboo scaffolding is one of them. It’s one of the few places in the world that still uses it for high-rise buildings, and it has become somewhat of a symbol of the city, reflecting the small elements of tradition that endure amidst Hong Kong’s modernity. Sometimes, the old ways are the best.
9. Tsimshatsui, 1987 – Greg Girard
Canadian photographer Greg Girard is renowned for capturing the shifting face of some of Asia’s major cities in the late 20th century, his neon-lit images documenting a world in flux. He first visited Hong Kong in 1974 and moved there in 1982, staying for over a decade after spending four years in Tokyo. He arrived at a pivotal moment—Hong Kong’s so-called Golden Age—as it solidified its status as a global financial hub. The Stock Exchange was incorporated in 1980, wealth surged, and a new culture of cosmopolitan chic emerged.
Girard photographed his new home day and night, capturing the city’s glitz and energy, as well as grittier locations, such as the infamous Kowloon Walled City, home to tens of thousands of Hong Kong’s poorer residents. Many of the glamorous nightclubs featured in his images have long since vanished, and Kowloon Walled City was demolished between 1993 and 1994. As a result, his photographs now serve as a poignant window into a lost era of Hong Kong.
Discover more of Greg’s work here.
10. Untitled, Hong Kong, 2019 – Pia Riverola
The bauhinia flower, a long-standing symbol of Hong Kong seen on the city flag, is a familiar sight across the city, adorning parks, gardens, and shop windows. In this captivating image by renowned travel photographer Pia Riverola, the bauhinia’s soft pink and orange hues—muted by condensation-covered glass—contrast starkly against the night outside, creating a nostalgic, almost cinematic atmosphere, characteristic of Riverola’s work and evocative of Hong Kong’s golden age.
Discover more of Pia’s work here.
All images © their respective owners