Knots & Skyscrapers: The Living Heritage of Hong Kong’s Master Scaffolders
Look up amongst the glass and steel skyscrapers of Hong Kong, and you will inevitably spot a giant, web-like grid enveloping a building. Known locally as 搭棚 (Da Peng), the practice of bamboo scaffolding is one of the city’s most iconic visual traditions—a living testament to ancient engineering adapting to an ultra-modern metropolis. A Tradition Woven in History Bamboo scaffolding has...
Reaching for the Moon: This year, we’re (finally) making peace with the mooncake!
Let’s be honest: traditional mooncakes suffer from a legendary image problem. Stiflingly dense lotus seed paste, a palate-drying salted duck egg yolk smack in the middle, a brick-like texture...
Soaring Above Lantau: Two Decades of Ngong Ping 360
Lantau Island has long held a distinct place in Hong Kong’s identity. Far removed from the high-density skyscraper canyons of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, Lantau offers vast stretches of country parks, quiet coastlines, and rugged mountainous terrain. High upon the misty plateau of Ngong Ping sits Po Lin Monastery, a spiritual sanctuary founded in the early 20th century, alongside...
Rebirth and High Culture: The Brand-New Chapter of Villa Haw Par
In our last post, we left Haw Par Mansion narrowly escaping the bulldozers in the early 2000s. But what do you do with an eccentric 1930s palace frozen in the middle of Tai Hang’s ultra-modern skyscrapers? For the past two decades, the mansion has been searching for its second life. After vibrating to the rhythm of musical scales, it is now preparing...
Shadows of the Tiger: The Wild History of Hong Kong’s Haw Par Mansion
If you grew up anywhere in Asia, or if you’ve ever had a nasty bug bite or a sore muscle, you know the distinct, menthol-sharp scent of Tiger Balm. But what you might not know is that this tiny, hexagonal jar of ointment built one of the most eccentric, surreal architectural marvels Hong Kong has ever seen: Haw Par Mansion. Before it...
Shifting Perspectives: The Hidden History in Hong Kong’s Brickwork
Stroll through Hong Kong long enough, and a visual pattern begins to emerge. On one hand, you have grand colonial landmarks like the Western Market or the University of Hong Kong, radiating a warm red. On the other, tucked away in the quiet corners of the New Territories, you will find ancestral halls and ancient temples built from a cool...
Embarquement: Hong Kong
Our Last Shooting Project: “Embarquement” Lands in Hong Kong...
香港才掂! ONLY IN HONG KONG!
On 18 March 2026, the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s annual Tourism Overview drew a record audience of nearly 2,000 participants, both online and in person. The event brought together representatives from the global travel trade, the MICE sector, and academia to review the latest market trends and hear HKTB’s strategic direction for the year ahead. HKTB Chairman Dr. Peter Lam underscored...
HK Walls Festival: Turning Hong Kong into an Open-Air Museum
Since its inception, HK Walls has quietly transformed Hong Kong’s streets into a vibrant outdoor gallery. Launched in 2014 by a non-profit art organisation, the festival set out to create legal, large-scale opportunities for muralists—both local and international—to paint across the city. What began as a modest initiative has grown into a much-anticipated annual event that reshapes neighborhoods, sparks conversation, and gives...
Embracing Traditions: The Role of Lucky Charms in Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year Celebrations
In Hong Kong, the rich tapestry of superstitions and traditions surrounding Lunar New Year is a captivating aspect that locals cherish throughout the year. One notable custom is the purchasing of lucky charms, believed to influence fortunes for the year ahead—especially as we have entered the Year of the Fire Horse in 2026. The Basics of the Chinese Zodiac The Chinese zodiac consists...