Hong Kong's Hidden Gems: Lesser known locations for Street Photography
Introduction
Not everyone is looking for the most popular, most photographed locations in Hong Kong to do street photography. In most cases, street photographers are actually looking for unique moments in more hidden locations that can’t be replicated elsewhere. Whilst that often requires a mix of multiple factors - preparation, composition, lighting, sheer luck - you can increase your chances of getting something a bit different by going to lesser explored locations. Not only are you likely to encounter less tourists, you’ll also be in a more local environment conducive to the best elements of street photography - unplanned moments and genuine interactions that tell an interesting story or show an intriguing instance from everyday life.
For those of you that want to get off the beaten track and avoid some of the more touristy destinations, I’ve compiled a list of Hong Kong’s street photography hidden gems. Head to one of these places and you’re more likely to find a greater level of cultural immersion than you will in places advertised on popular tourist websites. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Location 1: Lei Yue Mun
Location on Google Maps:
Known primarily as a fish market, Lei Yue Mun is actually a buzzing hub of activity, with many other attractions for both photographers and non-photographers to visit. As it’s situated slightly out of the way of other areas (see the map), Lei Yue Mun isn’t really a fully fledged tourist destination and remains more of a dining attraction for those that want to try some of HK’s finest seafood restaurants. This means that it’s more hidden away and you’ll be able to get some great images of the local stalls, fruit stands, restaurants and temples, as well as all of the people that rush back and forth navigating the narrow streets of the market. Once you enter Lei Yue Mun village (after the big Hoi Pang Seafood sign), the pathways are a bit restrictive - I’d recommend using a 24-70mm F2.8 lens to give you the variety and option to change focal length should you need to.
Things to look out for:
Fish tanks and sources of light from the tanks
Store owners selling product, including fish and produce
The basketball court with neon signs
People eating in restaurants illuminated by the lights
Cats and dogs in the shops
Local families eating together
Fruit Stalls in Lei Yue Mun
Don’t forget to check out these fruit stalls before you enter the main village.
Location 2: Tai Kok Tsui
Location on Google Maps:
Located to the west of Mong Kok, Tai Kok Tsui is less well known and therefore classified as a hidden gem for Hong Kong photography. You can reach it by exiting from Mongkok station (exit C4) and continuing down Argyle street. You’ll have to cross the road on an overpass but it should only take you 10 minutes to get there. Once you arrive, you’ll be in a more local environment, with some towering apartment buildings, good signage, market stalls and car shops that will offer more than just the regular street scenes you’d get in busier areas like Mong Kok. I’d allow for around an hour here to walk around and get familiar with a more local Hong Kong neighbourhood - be sure to check out some of the stores, but be wary of people not wanting to have their photo taken.
Things to look out for:
The infamous chicken stall (or one of), where you can see chickens being ‘prepared’
Fruit stalls with red lights
Tall, colourful buildings that show the density and compactness of Hong Kong
Location 3: To Kwa Wan
Location on Google Maps:
Best for a weekday, To Kwa Wan is home to a vast number of auto shops and garages that line both sides of the road. You can use a variety of lenses for different effects - wide if you want some context to the shots, zoom if you’d like to get some more detail and compression in your images. I’d recommend just walking back and forth a couple of times, allowing you to potentially capture anything you might miss on the first round. There are also some more places to shoot along the main road if you do need a break from all the car parts. To Kwa Wan is definitely one of my favourite places a secret photography location. The fact that it’s busier during weekdays means that you’ll avoid any weekend rushes (not that there are many tourists in this area) and be able to capture an authentic side of Hong Kong.
Things to look out for:
Car shops and mechanics
Taxi drivers resting or washing their cars
Interesting people repairing things on the roadside
On Closer Inspection
A mechanic takes a look at something in his shop in To Kwa Wan.
Location 4: Tsuen Wan
Location on Google Maps:
This next location is less of a hidden gem and more of a harder to reach one. It’s less touristy because it takes longer to get to, but if you have 30 mins traveling time to spare, Tsuen Wan is an amazing location for night time street photography. There are an abundance of neon lights of different colors, local people and stalls everywhere and a fair few rooftops if you’d like to get some different angles. I’d also recommend Tsuen Wan for rainy nights for this reason - people with umbrellas look particularly good under the glowing neon lights here. When you arrive in Tsuen Wan you can exit out of pretty much any exit as long as you head towards Market Street and Chuen Lung Street - also allow for an evening here to make the best of the area and the remaining neon lights.
Things to look out for:
Neons, neons, neons
Red buses
Old men sitting in the park (with neons!)
Local restaurants and outdoor eating areas
Reflections (when it’s raining)
More neons!
Multicoloured Streets in Tsuen Wan
A rainy night reflects the light from the surrounding neon signs in Tsuen Wan.
Location 5: Tai O
Location on Google Maps:
Even more out the way than Tsuen Wan, Tai O is a small fishing village about 50 minutes away from the centre of Hong Kong. It can get quite crowded on weekends but still remains a less well known area for street photography. If you head there in the morning you can spend the entire day there, walking through the narrow streets and capturing some incredible photos of the houses on stilts and their inhabitants. Be careful that the bus on the way back can get quite busy and you may need to queue or book a cab which can be quite an expensive alternative.
Things to look out for:
Good compositions with the narrow streets
Local shops selling produce
Signs hanging over the main road
Houses on stilts
The Narrow Streets of Tai O
The old fishing village of Tai O has many great subjects for street photography. The tight streets lined with stalls funnel people into a stream, meaning that you can capture interesting subjects easily with a wide angle lens.
Location 6: Wah Fu Estate, Pok Fu Lam
Location on Google Maps:
One of my favourite hidden places for street photography, Wah Fu estate is a cluster of building blocks near Waterfall Bay, Pok Fu Lam. According to recent construction reports, this entire area will be demolished in 2025 with the majority of old style buildings being replaced with more modern public housing. For photographers, that means that we have a couple of years to capture the iconic moments and ways of life that happen here before it’s too late. I’d recommend heading here during the day to snap some shots under more contrasty light - you can spend a couple of hours walking around, dipping into the buildings, and walking the stairs around the estate to see what takes your fancy. I’ll be submitting some more of my photos from this place on my Instagram - be sure to follow me for updates.
Things to look out for:
Contrasty shots with the light and shadow in between the gaps of the buildings
Everyday objects that showcase daily life - e.g. mops, buckets, umbrellas, sheets
The overpass with the big hole - usually where a lot of laundry is hung
People sitting outside and chatting/playing
The Overpass at Wah Fu Estate
An interesting source of light play - get there while you still can
Location 7: Wong Tai Sin
Location on Google Maps:
Wong Tai Sin is situated near the base of Lion Rock, meaning that you can head there to get a famous shot of Lion Rock through the gaps in the buildings. Additionally, the Chuk Yuen South Estate (and the other estates round the area) is one of the most hidden gems that Hong Kong has to offer. Head here to get people playing chess in the courtyards, old ladies sitting and having a chat, and some great shots of the traditional urban density that you can find in Hong Kong. I’d recommend pairing it with another stop on the map, as if you were to spend an entire day here, you might find it gets a little tedious.
Things to look out for:
Lion Rock (and a gap in the buildings)
People playing Mah Jiong or chess in the public areas
Outside conversations
Urban density
Location 8: North Point
Location on Google Maps:
North Point is home to one of the most iconic street photography locations - Chun Yeung Street Market. It’s famous because of the tram that shuttles directly through the market, providing an ideal scene of the hubbub of activity in one of Hong Kong’s busiest locations. However, if you venture off the beaten path, North Point is a perfect slice of life for the keen eyed street photographer. I’d recommend starting at the main market, but allowing time to walk through the back streets to capture some of the more local scenes. Don’t be afraid to walk down some of the alleys to find some more unique angles and shots.
Things to look out for:
Cheung Yeung Street Market - a famous market where the tram runs through the middle of the road
Shopkeepers and their pets
Trams and more trams
Some neons left over still exist here
A shopkeeper pets her cat at a store in North Point.
Location 9: Jordan
I’m often amazed at just how overlooked Jordan is as a street photography location in Hong Kong. Whilst Temple Street market is relatively well known, the grid of streets that surround it are also prime locations for fantastic street photography images. I’d recommend heading there either earlyish in the morning for some morning light, or early afternoon for a more diffused kind of lighting before sunset. If you do go in the morning, Temple street is actually better (in my opinion) without all the stalls fully set up. Firstly, you can get a wide view of the actual gates that mark the entrance and exit to Temple Street, secondly, there are less people jostling you around in the crowd, and finally, the people setting up the stalls make for interesting subjects themselves.
Things to look out for:
Stalls being set up with silhouttes
Overhead lanterns
Temple Street gates
Hairdressers and the key cutters
Temple Street Silhouettes
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Hopefully you found this article useful. I’ll continue to update with more Hong Kong hidden gems as and when I discover them. Finding the best photography locations can mean either straying off beaten paths to find something less explored, or visiting more explored locations but still finding something new. If you have any recommendations for hidden photography spots in Hong Kong, please let me know and I’ll be sure to check them out.
Thanks for reading.
