Hong Kong has always been one of the top travel destinations for Filipinos, and itโs easy to see why. Its proximity to the Philippines makes for easy (and more affordable) travel, while still offering a culture so different it’ll leave your sense of adventure inspired. Not to mention its beautiful sights and destinationsโperfect for your travel photos.
But where are the best new spots to visit in Hong Kong anyway? There are the usuals: Victoria Harbour and Avenue of Stars, Ngong Ping Village, Causeway Bay, and Victoria Peakโฆbut there is one amazing area that many tourists overlookโWest Kowloon.
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Waterfront promenade along the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong
West Kowloon, located in Hong Kongโs Kowloon Peninsula, is one of the biggest hubs for arts and culture in Hong Kong. In fact, itโs home to the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kongโs largest cultural vicinity. That means youโll find some of Hong Kongโs newest modern museums here, like the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ Museum, and get blown away by award-winning contemporary architecture.
But as one of Hong Kongโs oldest neighborhoods, West Kowloon is also home to structures that date back to the 1800s. Itโs a neighborhood thatโs full not just of modernity and innovation, but of stories and rich history.
From state-of-the-art museums to charming old buildings, here are some of the best photo spots in West Kowloon to add to your Hong Kong travel itinerary:
Hong Kong Palace Museum
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Hong Kong Palace Museum
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Hong Kong Palace Museum
Hong Kong Palace Museum is a beautiful modern structure located at the tip of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Its โbarrier-freeโ design, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows provide space for exploration and introspection, while also giving a sweeping view of the iconic Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong Palace Museum houses nine main exhibition galleries and priceless pieces from all over the world.
Location: West Kowloon Cultural District, 8 Museum Drive
Xiqu Centre
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Xiqu Centre
Come for the Instagrammable spots, stay for the experience. Beyond the striking architecture that makes up this establishment, Xiqu Centre will move and inspire you with beautifully told stories. A performing arts center, within Xiqu Centre youโll find two theater venues that promote Cantonese opera and traditional Chinese theater.
A guided tour will help you understand Xiqu Centreโs architectural and design features, but restaurants and cafes are also available for those who want to just sit and admire this lovely structure.
Location: 88 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui
M+ Museum
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | M+ Museum
If you love visual art, design, and architecture, you will love M+ Museum. Itโs one of the worldโs largest museums for visual culture. But what we love is itโs also much more than that. M+ Museum is a destination on its own where you can find shops, cinemas, and restaurants. Its waterfront location also means stunning views of Hong Kong, so make sure to add this to your itinerary.
Location: West Kowloon Cultural District, 38 Museum Drive
Tin Hau Temple at Yau Ma Tei
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Tin Hau Temple
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Tin Hau Temple
If youโre looking to explore more of the spiritual side of West Kowloon, thereโs no better place to visit in the neighborhood than Tin Hau Templeโthe largest Tin Hau temple complex in Kowloon. Built around 1865, this temple used to be by the sea, where seafarers would go to pray for safety before they sailed. The area is now reclaimed land, but fishermen still come here to pay respects to Tin Hau, the goddess of the sea.
Location: Temple Street, Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
The streets of West Kowloon
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board
With art at the center of West Kowloonโs beating heart, the entire neighborhood is like a museum on its own. Thereโs no better way to get to know this cultural district than to walk its streets and find the urban art sprinkled all over town. Donโt forget your camera! Youโll want to document this experience. Make sure to look up, peek, observe, and look down to discover West Kowloonโs street art. Youโll never know if the steps youโre walking on will have art painted on it.
Here are some locations to get you started:
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board
Flight of stairs: 81 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market
Building mural: Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market, Waterloo Road, Yau Ma Tei
Competition Pavilion
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Competition Pavilion
Located at West Kowloonโs Art Park is this gorgeous structure, Competition Pavilion. Itโs the winning design of the 2017 Hong Kong Architects & Designers Competition. The structure, titled โGrowing Up,โ is made from slender timber pieces and is a reference to Hong Kongโs cultural growth. Competition Pavilion is also located waterfront with a view of Hong Kongโs harbor, giving you a superb two-in-one photo location.
Location: West Kowloon Cultural District
Red Brick Building
Image: Hong Kong Tourism Board | Red Brick Building
Amidst the shiny modern buildings in West Kowloon is the Red Brick Building, built in 1895. Itโs a former pumping station, but now an office for the Yau Ma Tei Theatre. The distinct architecture of the building has made it an iconic landmark and is officially recognized as a historic building. Aside from its aesthetic red brick design, watch out for other charming design elements as well such as its cast-iron hopper heads and rainwater pipes, and arched verandas.
Location: 8 Waterloo Road, Yau Ma Tei
West Kowloon perfectly blends arts, city life, culture, and traditionโwhich is why itโs one of our favorite places to visit when in Hong Kong. And donโt forget to go equipped with your camera! Youโll want to snap an OOTD and document every corner thanks to this districtโs IG-worthy sights and cultural structures.
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