Hong Kong Architecture

Framed by hills and mountains and with skyscrapers on either side of Victoria Harbour, the Hong Kong skyline is a spectacular sight, with more than 1,500 buildings taller than 100 metres. Hong Kong's skyscrapers are strikingly illuminated at 8pm nightly for the Symphony of Lights, the world's largest permanent light and sound show, when more than 40 buildings including the HSBC Tower, Bank of China and ifc Tower on Hong Kong Island and the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Kowloon are lit up in shades of red, yellow, purple, blue and green in time to a soaring soundtrack. The best place to watch the light show is from the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui Central for Hong Kong Island's skyline, or the Hong Kong Observation Wheel in Central for sweeping views over the Kowloon side.

While Hong Kong is renowned for having the largest number of skyscrapers in the world, the city is also home to some charming heritage buildings, many of which have been restored to their former glory, like the former Central Police Station Tai Kwun filled with heritage and arts, and the neoclassical-style 1881 Heritage Building, once the Marine Police Headquarters Compound. There are regular exhibitions and performances at Tai Kwun, along with a good range of dining options, while 1881 offers high-end shopping and dining.

Another intriguing piece of architecture is the Blue House in Wan Chai, a four-story tenement block with balconies dating back to the 1870s that takes its name from the powder blue colour it's painted. Old Chinese architecture includes the 14th century Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda in Yuen Long and the Sam Tung Uk Museum in Tsuen Wan, which houses a restored Hakka walled village.