5 Hidden Photography Spots in Central Hong Kong That Will Transform Your Street Photography
5 Hidden Photography Spots in Central Hong Kong That Will Transform Your Street Photography
Central Hong Kong overwhelmed me when I first arrived 10 years ago. Massive skyscrapers, endless crowds, and chaos everywhere - how do you capture that feeling in a single photo?
Most visitors end up with the same IFC and Exchange Square shots you see on postcards. Beautiful, but missing the soul of Hong Kong. As a photography guide who's spent a decade exploring these streets, I want to share 5 hidden spots that will transform your Central photos from tourist snapshots into storytelling images that locals actually recognise.
Spot 1: Tai Kwun Heritage and Arts (Old Meets New)
This building has such rich history - a former Victorian police station and prison transformed into a vibrant community space with food, shopping, and cultural events. It's the perfect backdrop to practice capturing Hong Kong's "old meets new" story that defines our city.
Position yourself in the main courtyard and use your phone's wide lens to capture the heritage stone walls in the foreground with modern glass towers behind. Early morning light (9-10am) creates beautiful contrast between the weathered stone textures and gleaming new surfaces.
Pro tip: Look for moments when people walk through your frame - a businessman in a suit against colonial architecture tells the story of modern Hong Kong better than any empty building shot.
Spot 2: Central Tram Tracks - Near Hang Seng Building
Ding Ding! That's the sound of Hong Kong's iconic trams that have been traveling these streets since 1904. Still the cheapest transportation in Hong Kong and what I think is the most photogenic way to capture our city's living history.
Stand safely at the Pottinger Street tram stop where you can use the tracks as powerful leading lines drawing the eye toward the Hang Seng Building. The surrounding skyscrapers provide incredible scale - showing how traditional transport weaves through our modern financial district.
Pro tip: Time your shot for when a vintage green tram enters the frame against the backdrop of Central's towering buildings. The contrast between the iconic ding ding transportation and contemporary Hong Kong creates an instant story.
Spot 3: Graham Street Market
This is Hong Kong Island's oldest wet market and one of my personal favorites. My first apartment was just up the road on Graham Street, so I'd pop down daily for fruits and vegetables. There's still a lady there who has the BEST avocados in Central!
Visit between 8-10am when morning light filters down between the buildings and before the market becomes too overrun. Hong Kong is slow to wake up, so anytime you can get out taking photos before 11am you'll find it easier to get clear shots and find your focus.
Pro tip: Great photography isn't about capturing everything in one shot. Edit out the visual "noise" and focus on one compelling detail. That perfectly arranged display of bok choy tells Hong Kong's story better than a wide shot of the entire market.
Spot 4: Central to Mid-Levels Escalator
You've definitely used the world's longest covered escalator system if you've spent time in Central. But have you used it as a photography platform? This moving viewpoint gives you constantly changing perspectives on Hong Kong's layered urban landscape.
Get to the top of the 3rd escalator where you get the perfect elevation to capture the layers of high-rises stacking up the mountainside. Look down to photograph the geometric patterns of taxis and green minibuses navigating the streets below, or focus upward on how apartments seem to grow directly out of commercial buildings.
Pro tip: Street photography isn't just about standing on the street - change your perspective! The escalator gives you elevated viewpoints that transform ordinary street scenes into dynamic compositions showing Hong Kong's incredible density and energy.
Spot 5: Walk Down a Street You've Never Traveled
When I started my photography journey in Hong Kong, the way I grew my photography portfolio was simple: wandering down alleys I'd never visited before. Instead of following Google Maps directly, take the longer route through back streets off Wellington Street or the small roads off of Hollywood Road.
Slow down, put your phone away initially, and train your eyes to see like a photographer. Notice how traditional red shop signs contrast with blue glass towers, or how afternoon light creates dramatic shadows between narrow buildings. These moments of discovery happen when you stop rushing and start noticing.
Pro tip: The best Hong Kong photos capture unexpected details. That traditional medicine shop tucked between Starbucks and a bank? That's the real Hong Kong story. Look for layers - old and new, East and West, traditional and modern existing in the same frame.
Ready to see Central through local eyes? I'd love to help you discover these hidden spots and teach you the photography techniques to capture Hong Kong's real character.
Join me for:
- Photography walks where I'll guide you to these 5 spots plus more hidden gems only locals know
- Corporate team building photography experiences for your team to explore the city together
- Don't want to take your own photos but want the memories of your family in the streets of Hong Kong? Get in touch and we can capture your family's Hong Kong story.
Until next time,
Nicole xx