The weather has been especially nice in Hong Kong over the past few weeks, with many sunny days - albeit a bit hazy at times. My focus has turned to more street level photos rather than skyline-style scenes. The Tai Hang Road area rises above Causeway Bay and is another popular area for the rich. Many apartments in this part of Hong Kong Island have nice views of the skyline and the harbour. On the other hand, there is a public housing estate in this part of town as well.

The tour begins near sea level :

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0134.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0135.jpg

Hong Kong-style traffic - a lot of buses trying to pull into and out of their stops.

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0137.jpg

These buildings overlook Victoria Park, a major park on the north shores of HK Island.

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0138.jpg

As the elevation rises, many pencil towers rise along the hillsides of Tai Hang Road.

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This bus station marks the beginning of the ascent up Tai Hang Road.

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Hong Kong Central Library

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An alley of poorer residential areas below the hillside apartments.

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There is public housing near Tai Hang Road, where the poor live near the ultra-rich.

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0181.jpg

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Meanwhile, skyscrapers continue to pop up along this hilly area.

http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0183.jpg

School's out.

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I begin to descend back into the poorer areas below Tai Hang Road via staircase.

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The western edge of North Point district, where more middle class dwellings dominate the cityscape.

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I think the contrast among rich/poor areas is very interesting! I love the buildings near the mountains and the chaotic streets are quite charming! :okay:

I think the contrast among rich/poor areas is very interesting! I love the buildings near the mountains and the chaotic streets are quite charming! :okay:

But those relatively poor residentials in these photos are not that poor in HK since all photos are taken on the HK island side which is relatively richer overall. There are more poorer districts in HK which mostly lie on the Kowloon side or New Territories(the suburb). hkskyline and some other HK forumers have posted some poor districts' photos in this forum already. LIke Shamshuipo, Kwun Tong & the New Territories.

You make me homesick man...

You make me homesick man...

You lived in Tai Hang? Ah! Your are rich! :)

Tai Hang looks like a wonderful area~~ :)

Great area! Maybe the best serie till now, I hope there are more to come. :)

I'll spend maybe a day in this area and surrounding next time I'm in HK.

What I've shown here are the lower parts of Tai Hang Road. If you go up to the top part, there is a very nice vantage point of the whole skyline and as you walk west you will hit Highcliff and Summit. Take bus #11 (Central Ferry Piers - Jardine's Lookout) and get off at around stops 28 / 29 when the bus turns from a descent down Mt. Butler Road back onto Tai Hang Road: http://www.citybus.com.hk/eng/RouSer/RouteSearch/busroute_info.asp?route=11++++&routetype=D&company=5&routenumber=11

looks like this is the new hotel by Chinachem.
http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0218.jpg


and i didn't know hk has double-circle public housing.
http://www.globalphotos.org/hongkong/20051012/RIMG0182.jpg

Is the population in HK growing a lot? Are significant numbers of people
moving from mainland China to HK? What is the new construction for?

Oh - I thought of another question - is HK sunject to the 1 child policy?
Was this only the case after 1997? (sorry that was 2 questions)

Is the population in HK growing a lot? Are significant numbers of people
moving from mainland China to HK? What is the new construction for?

Oh - I thought of another question - is HK sunject to the 1 child policy?
Was this only the case after 1997? (sorry that was 2 questions)

HK's population grew fastest from the 50's to 80's(grew form below 2M to about 5M in the 80's) when huge number of mainland immigrants flooded into HK. But after 90's, the population growth slowed down as government restricted the immigration policy of mainlanders in the 80's. Then came the economic slump in late 90's. The birth rate of HK dropped a lot(became the lowest in the world in 2004, probably due to SARS & the economic situation) and the population growth further slowed down.

There is still a constant immigration quota of mainlanders at 75 people per day. It's not significant but is a complement to the low birth rate of HK though.

What do you mean by the new construction? Residential or commercial? Anyway, HK population is still growing though at a slower rate. And many new residential constructions are for redevelopment and upgrading of living environment of HKers.

HK has never adopted a 1 child policy. Rather, the government is now encouraging people to have more children due to the extreme low birth rate.

Interesting - I'd allways asumed that they were subject to the 1 child policy as well.
I was refering to the large apartment towers you occaisionally see being constructed
in threads on here. I guess it makes sense that a large amount of that is for
re-development.

Like many developed nations, Hong Kong's birth rate has dropped to below replacement levels because couples now have to work and there is little time to care for children. Many Western countries face a similar problem as well, with their birth rates below replacement levels.

Is the population in HK growing a lot? Are significant numbers of people
moving from mainland China to HK? What is the new construction for?

Oh - I thought of another question - is HK sunject to the 1 child policy?
Was this only the case after 1997? (sorry that was 2 questions)
I think a lot of westerner think the return of HK back to china affect hk a lot, while actually it is not.

I think the contrast among rich/poor areas is very interesting! I love the buildings near the mountains and the chaotic streets are quite charming! :okay:


I don´t think they are charming. Venice is charming. That is ugly.

Great pictures, thanks for sharing. :)

Awesome pics, I love seeing this side of HK.

Interesting - I'd allways asumed that they were subject to the 1 child policy as well.
I was refering to the large apartment towers you occaisionally see being constructed
in threads on here. I guess it makes sense that a large amount of that is for
re-development.

Even in China not everywhere is subjected to one child policy. In rural areas they are allowed to have two children. Ethnic minorities are not subjected to one child policy. Couples who are the only child in their families are allowed to have 2 children.

Nice pictures... Hong Kong is the next stop on my list!

Why don't Hong Kong build more buildings like Highcliff? They are VERY IMPRESSIVE.

this situation also happen in other super urban in world, not just happen in HK.

another reason to hk's low birth rate is that not many young people are getting married anymore. its mainly a career and money-making orientated lifestyle...

lovely pics hkskyline! thanks for the pictures. I remember many nights of mine at the HK public library hahaa.