One Day in Hong Kong - A Photographer’s Itinerary
Introduction
After restrictions were dropped and free travel resumed, I received a video call from a photographer friend informing me that he would be visiting Hong Kong for the first time. I subsequently proceeded to bombard him with numerous suggestions on how to spend his time here, detailing several potential locations for aerial and street photography, what kind of gear he would need, what kind of weather conditions might result in the Aqua Luna not raising their middle sail, and all manner of information that I thought might be useful for someone embarking on their first visit to the fragrant harbour.
Before I could start on my suggestion for apps to check wind speeds and evening rainfall, he took advantage of my pause for breath to interject with: ‘This sounds amazing, but unfortunately I’m just there for a stopover - I’ll be heading to Australia the next morning.’ I did by best to mask my disappointment, taking advantage of my overt Britishness to mumble my way into a response about how ‘that would still be plenty of time to get some great photos,’ and if he ‘skipped breakfast, most of lunch, and all of dinner’ he might be able to get round most of the cool spots.
Pastel Skies in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an incredible place for many types of photography.
The reality of the situation is that Hong Kong is a visual paradise for photographers. Want street photography? Prepare yourself for some of the most vibrant, energetic street scenes you could ask for. Landscape photography more your thing? HK has you covered. Head to Sai Kung or New Territories for large expanses of stunning natural vistas as far as the eye can see. Architecture? Need I say more about this one? My point is that Hong Kong has so much to offer all types of photography, it can be hard to know where to start or how to fit everything in.
With this problem, and the conversation with my friend, both fresh in my mind, I set about creating a one day solution for the photographer in a rush. (A quick side note that I use the term photographer here to encapsulate anyone who takes photos - if you use your mobile phone to snap photos, you’re a photographer.) If you only had one day in Hong Kong, from morning till midnight, what would be the best spots to hit and how could you fit it all in? This article is your answer. The perfect itinerary for photographers with one day in HK. I’ve included key spots, recommended gear for best results, transit times, and suggested subjects. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Sunrise: Victoria Peak
Location on Google Maps:
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, this means that the best option for sunrise, without a doubt, is Victoria Peak. Depending on the time of year, you’ll be able to capture a spectacular panoramic view of the entire city with iconic landmarks - the IFC, the ICC, the BOC building and more, lit up in the rays of the rising sun. In order to get there in time you’ll have to set an early alarm, take a cab to Lugard Road (you can use the Peak Galleria as a destination) and then walk for about 15 - 20 mins along Lugard Road to get to the lookout point. Once you’re there you’ll be presented with that amazing view of Hong Kong island and Kowloon. To capture the entire scene I’d recommend lenses with a focal length equal to or wider than 24mm - if you don’t have one, the wide angle lens on your phone should do just fine. You might also want to bring a tripod or clamp to stabilize your device for slightly longer exposures.
Moody Sunrise View from the Peak
Hopefully you’ll have better luck with the weather!
Early Morning: Sheung Wan to Central
Location on Google Maps:
Take a cab or bus down from the Peak and you can head to Sheung Wan for early morning. In addition to having a variety of cafes and restaurants for you to load up on breakfast, the morning light is also a good option for street photography, with goods being shuttled back and forth, trams carrying passengers from stop to stop, and some good contrast to create atmospheric images. If you have a bit more time you can walk to Sai Ying Pun and head to the cafes there for a break. I’d recommend a 24-70mm F2.8 lens for the versatility, or a 24mm, 35mm focal length for some classic street shots. Remember that in Hong Kong the size and density of the buildings affect where the light falls, so be sure to walk around to see what you can discover.
Contrasty Light in Sheung Wan
Be sure to wander around the area to see what scenes you can discover.
Midday: Star Ferry and M+
Location on Google Maps:
You can take the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui and walk around for some street images. TST is a buzzing, lively neighborhood with a lot of people, but, as an area known for shopping and hotels, it lacks the more gritty, interesting side of Hong Kong that you find in Sham Shui Po or Mongkok. For midday light, when the sun is highest in the sky and the lighting could be at its harshest, I’d suggest heading to M+ museum for a look at the architecture, some of the shots of the skyline, and some interesting images of West Kowloon activities. You can also spend some time in the museum itself to view the photography on display - there are some fascinating images from Greg Girard that show an older Hong Kong and explore the now demolished area of Kowloon Walled City.
Negative Space at M+
Take a walk around West Kowloon and M+ to see what you can find.
Afternoon: Jordan to Mongkok Walk
Location on Google Maps:
Time to sink your teeth into some proper street photography and, believe me, Hong Kong doesn’t disappoint. You can cab or MTR to Jordan station and exit out of MTR Exit F for the Ladies Market. The walk to Mongkok takes around 40 minutes, but you will definitely take longer as you stop to take your images. Be sure to look out for street markets and stalls, taxis, interesting shops, or whatever takes your fancy. That 24-70mm F2.8 should come in handy, allowing you to zoom without getting too close, but if you’re feeling a bit braver, a 24mm or 35mm will also do. You can easily spend a couple of hours on this walk, but if you have any extra time you can try out some of the more local cuisine and relax.
Sunset: Victoria Dockside
Location on Google Maps:
Here you can switch from ‘street photography mode’ to ‘travel mode’. You can grab a cab or MTR it to Victoria Dockside where you’ll be presented with an incredible view of the Hong Kong skyline. Around this time there will be a ton of people, but the walkway is long enough for you to be able to get a clear view of the skyline from pretty much any point. You’re allowed to use tripods, so if you have one you can set that up for use. The main subjects here are the Aqua Luna and the ferries that sail back and forth in front of the skyline. With the right light and composition you can get a classic shot that shows Hong Kong at its best. Wide angles will give you the full skyline, but zoom lenses like the 24-70mm F2.8 or even the 70-200mm F2.8 will be better for calling out individual subjects.
Victoria Dockside
Head here for some great sunsets and the best view of the Hong Kong skyline.
Evening: Nightly Neons
Location on Google Maps:
By this point you’d be feeling pretty exhausted, but if you’re hardcore enough you can hunt out some of the remaining neons in Hong Kong. I’ve written an article on TimeOut that shows the best locations for capturing neons, but my best recommendation is that you grab a cab straight back to Mongkok to get the corner neons at Chang Sha street. These are some of the best, brightest neons still up, so if you’re going to choose, I’d strongly recommend these ones.
Neons on Chang Sha Street
Head here to get some of the best colours and lighting in the evening.
That should be the end of your single, intense, very tiring but also very productive day in Hong Kong. If you’ve visited all those locations you should definitely have SD cards brimming with beautiful photos that you’ll need to unload and edit. If you’re one of the people that has chosen to follow this itinerary, please let me know how you got on and what results you managed to get.
If you’d like to attend a guided street photography session where I give tips, tutorials and advice on how to shoot Hong Kong, you can click the button below to get in touch.
