Street art in Hong Kong
Colourful murals capture the city of old, writes Hanna Hussein
THERE’S something about street art that captivates me. This colourful art gives a new soul to an old grey structure — making the streets more interesting and alive.
I have explored streets in Ipoh, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Berlin to spot and capture these creatively painted murals.
Craving more, I book a flight to Hong Kong to discover its growing art hub.
Here are some places in Hong Kong where you can enjoy unique art.
HYPE OF OLD TOWN
Old Town Central is one of the oldest yet the most vibrant parts of Hong Kong.
The best way to explore the city is to wander through it. The streets are crowded with city dwellers and tourists but Old Town Central is where you experience real Hong Kong vibes.
Since Hong Kong is known for its steep hilly terrain, my advice is to start from the highest peak. I begin my self-guided walking tour from the top of the Central-Mid-Levels escalator, the world’s longest outdoor-covered escalator system, stretching 800m.
It was built in 1993 as a solution to traffic congestion and it runs uphill from 10.30am to midnight but change to downhill from midnight onwards — so you may have to take the stairs. Don’t worry, there are many exciting shops, bars and cafes along the way.
Well, you don’t really need a map as you can spot a lot of cool murals at every corner. However, there are quite a few at Hollywood Road so that is where I am heading.
One of the most popular wall canvases is by Alex Croft, which is a stunning artwork representing the old townhouses of Hong Kong on Graham Street. Another of my favourites is thepainting of Bruce Lee on Tank Lane as well as the stunning yellow cab nightlife mural on Queen’s Road West.
Do also look out for murals at Yellow Korner Hollywood, Wyndham Street, Caine Road and Queen’s Road Central.
SHAM SHUI PO COLOURS
Another hotspot for street art in Hong Kong is at Sham Shui Po district, one of the densest neighbourhoods in Hong Kong. Sham Shui Po is typical downtown Hong Kong with rows of highrise flats with shops at the ground level.
People come here to shop as there are many lively street markets, electronics outlets, fabric stores, restaurants and
food vendors.
Okay, to be honest, being a woman who enjoys shopping — I am distracted by the colourful fabric samples hanging in front of every shop, inviting passers-by to go in! Oh, it’s a fabric heaven where one can go gaga over the choices.
However, despite the typical dull high buildings, there are a few spots and alleyways splashed with vibrant artistic works including a edgy owl face at Shek Kip Mei Street as well as the stunning geometric Smiling Dog mural on Tai Nan Street.
There are more than 20 murals to discover in Sham Shui Po!
OCEAN PARK
Perhaps not considered as street art but if you like photogenic scenery, head to Ocean Park as there are a few awesome spots for your Instagram accounts.
Head to Hong Kong Street that artistically imitates the retro Hong Kong of the 50s era.
Bird cages on the wall, and pretty retro shophouses transport me to the old days in a Chinese town. There, you can try local food and buy Ocean Park souvenirs.
Ocean Park is more than a theme park, it is also where you can encounter some cool animals!
I go on the Penguin Encounter where I meet with cute penguins in a eight-degree Celsius room. It’s quite a cool experience as I prepare food for the penguins, and then feed them!
I also challenge myself to go on the VR roller coaster.
FANTASY IN DISNEYLAND
Do not miss out Disneyland Hong Kong when you’re here — another fantastic place to get a memorable Instagram photos and have fun at the same time.
There’s Main Street USA where visitors can roam to shop and dine but it’s really a realistic look of America in the 50s with Disney castle as a spectacular background.
If you’re a Disney princesses fan, head to the magical Royal Princess Garden where you can meet and greet Aurora the Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Princess Sofia. Kids, you can also do a makeover and be a princess!
You can meet with other characters including from Mickey and Minnie, as well as Star Wars and Marvel characters such as the Black Panther.
Go on the new Marvel’s Iron Man Experience where you will fly together with the hero on a thrilling aerial tour of the city to get a unique perspective of the latest and tallest addition to the Hong Kong skyline — Hong Kong Stark Tower. Just a word of warning, there are reports of Hydra elements operating in the region. Be prepared for some cool fighting action!
nhanna@nst.com.my