Red Brick Building’s mural art piece is a sky-high stunner.
AMIDST the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong city lies a neighbourhood filled with hidden gems. From traditional craftsmanship and historic buildings to scrumptious dining and therapeutic shopping experiences, West Kowloon will give every traveller plenty of experiences to rediscover Hong Kong from a whole new perspective.
Spanning across Yau Ma Tei, Jordan and West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), the emerging neighbourhood of West Kowloon is today known as a vibrant art and cultural district. For travellers looking for an Insta-worthy day out, a walking tour in this quaint neighbourhood will definitely check several items off your Instagram to-do list!
Street art
With murals splattered over shop shutters, stairwells and concrete walls of heritage buildings along with boutique hotels bursting with creative energy, walking the streets of West Kowloon is best captured with your cameras.
One popular mural found in this neighbourhood is situated next to the Red Brick Building on Shanghai Street. On the right cheek of one of Hong Kong’s old tenement buildings known as tong lau, you will find a surrealist mural piece created by Italian artist Pixel Pancho in 2017. A robot-esque character stands proudly on top of a flowered bush and bicycle, greeting passersby in his Mandarin vest adorned with windows and air conditioners – mimicking the typical building facades of Hong Kong’s cityscape.
A little further down Temple Street, look out for the building marked No.44. Here you will find one of the few remaining pieces of art – by renowned French street artist Invader – which still can be seen in the city
A character kicking a space invader in this artwork is depicted in the style of old eight-bit arcade games such as Space Invaders. Known for his ceramic tile mosaics, it is believed that Invader painted this piece as a tribute to martial arts legend Bruce Lee.
Arcade-style piece by French street artist Invader depicting a character believed to be a tribute to Bruce Lee.
From here, make your way to Public Square Street for the famous 2D flower garden, painted on a particular collection of steps. Look for a divot-like enclave off the main street, and this will lead to a flight of stairs connecting Nathan Road with Public Square Street.
Instagram-worthy shots of the electic stair mural.
Before you make your way up the stairs, get your cameras ready! A hot spot for locals and photography enthusiasts, local art group Omni-Art has imprinted their spin on different sections of the stairwell. Best viewed from street level at a 45 degree angle, choose to pose between purple tulips, yellow sunflowers or red roses against the concrete for a unique Instagram-worthy post.
Click here to discover more street art locations in West Kowloon.
Skylines and cityscapes
Once you’ve gotten a taste of the street art in West Kowloon, be sure to visit the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD). The WKCD is Hong Kong’s newest and hottest cultural hub which boasts state-of-the-art museum facilities and award-winning architecture – which will all add to your Insta-worthy checklist!
Be sure to check out any arts and cultural events happening at the Art Park or rent a SmartBike to enjoy the waterfront promenade that runs along Victoria Harbour flanked by greenery, which also makes it perfect for picnicking.
The West Kowloon Promenade – perfect for a relaxing stop and harbour photography.
Besides that, with its unobstructed views of one of the best skylines and cityscapes in the world, you only need minimal effort to take stunning shots along the promenade.
Gear up for a world-class cultural destination that is M+Museum.
Finally, along the harbour is a world-class cultural destination that is slated to open at the end of 2021 – The M+Museum. The much-awaited museum is also dubbed the cornerstone of the West Kowloon Cultural District, where you will be able to enjoy 20th- and 21st-century visual arts, design and architecture.
Touted as Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, you will be able to view exhibits at the museum, all while enjoying the stunning scenery of Victoria Harbour.
To find out more about West Kowloon’s secret gems and neighbourhood stories, visit www.discoverhongkong.com/seasia/explore/neighbourhoods/west-kowloon.html.
