hkskyline's 2012 HONG KONG Photo Collection

[hkskyline]

1. Reclamation works continue in the financial district.











6. A tram rumbles past the old Bank of China.











11. Skyline @ night











16. Due to a weird plot size, the entrance to this skyscraper is narrow facing the road, although the site fattens dramatically at the back.











21. Sunbeam Theatre was on the verge of closing earlier this year, but last-minute negotiations saved this Cantonese opera performance venue.











26. Non-air-conditioned buses will be phased out by mid-year.











31. Kowloon's skyline looks rather empty.











36. This plot of land in east Kowloon is being redeveloped into public housing. New towers have already risen behind.













42. Manulife has a large Asian franchise. Like many companies, their support functions have moved out of the expensive Central district and into far cheaper areas such as east Kowloon.

[hkskyline]

46. Train travel is fairly cheap in Hong Kong compared to other major First World cities.



47. Since the French took over the local tram company, they have renovated stops, improved signage, and overhauled the fleet. However, one tram remains historic and still charges only HK$2.3 per trip.









51. Redevelopment is evident in this corner of east Kowloon. These buildings will eventually disappear.













57. US$1 million isn't really enough to get something in this luxury waterfront development.



58. In the more modest lower income areas, residents dry their laundry in the open, utilizing public space as efficiently as possible.





60. Public housing is far less glassy.











65. But the poor are still eligible to get good views.













71. Lion Rock rises above the urban jungle. It's actually not a tough hike to get up there, and the panoramic views are most rewarding.







74. Young kids bus spotting once again.





76. This past winter and spring had been very gloomy and wet.





78. Plane spotting in Hong Kong is quite a lot of fun, with plenty of local and foreign visitors on display.

[Skyscrapercitizen]

Nice load of pics, thanks!

[cmoonflyer]

Awesome pics , keep up the good work and best regards !

[hkskyline]

80. Hong Kong's poor live in utilitarian housing estates, some on hillside locations like this one. Cheung Ching Estate is located on Tsing Yi Island. For those lucky enough to live on the higher floors, they may even be able to get a harbour and skyline view from their windows.













86. The interior courtyard is a gloomy, eerie place given how tall this block gets.





88. Dryers are not common in Hong Kong, despite its humid climate. Instead, people like to do it the natural way.



89. These older housing estates tend to be less dense. The parkette within the compounds borders the hillside edge with panoramic views of the container port.









93. Signs of mixed land use are easily visible. Downhill, these buildings are industrial.

[Urban Critic]

Great pics as usual!

Does anyone happen to know what kind of interest rates HK developers are paying these days?

[hkskyline]

96. Public housing estates are a good source for interesting photos. Here, residents dry seasonal flowers on a pedestrian bridge.





98. Perched on the hillside, this housing estate is actually quite serene, albeit still in Kowloon.

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by Urban Critic

Great pics as usual!

Does anyone happen to know what kind of interest rates HK developers are paying these days?

Well, residential mortgage rates are around 2% now. I suspect the big developers will be paying even less than that.

[hkskyline]

[hkskyline]

125. Welcome to the concrete jungle.





127. Even though it is quite hot these days, a tram ride is still do-able since the windows are huge and there is plenty of wind coming in as the vehicle moves.







130. Summer brings clear skies and lovely sunsets.









134. Reservoirs in the city tend to provide decent views. This one near Shek Kip Mei in Kowloon rises above the city with an unusual view.







137. Now you see what a "skyscraper wall" means?



138. This loner would have great views on all 4 sides ... for now.



139. The tall buildings are all post-Kai Tak constructions.







142. Being right next to a huge public housing estate, these parts are frequented by a lot of locals.

[ikops]

Amazing collection of pics. Keep up the work.

[spicytimothy]

great pics as always :-)

[hkskyline]

162. Thanks to the US devaluation, a lot of cheap money is stirring speculation of all sorts of things, from property to currency bills.



163. Poor people live here.



164. Everything is too expensive these days. Property prices have roughly doubled since Lehman fell.







167. These small eateries with tables in the open are a disappearing crowd.













173. Would you walk in this alley at night?



174. Some redevelopments have taken hold.





176. These horizontal signs are quite unique in Asia. Even in Hong Kong, not many streets still have these in mass numbers.



177. No need to use the dryer today. Few homes in Hong Kong are equipped with dryers.

[hkskyline]

186. Hong Kongers voted on 9 September





188. Care for some traditional and natural remedies?



189. The BBC painted their colours on a few trams, although their local Asian coverage is a bit weak.



190. Hard to believe they're already advertising for the mid-autumn festival. It's still 32C!



191. Meanwhile, planes are baking under the hot summer sun.



192. Protesters have hit the streets against the national education plan, accusing it of brain-washing the next generation to praise the glory of the Communist Party, which lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty and need to be praised ... long live the regime!

[titiritero]

amazing city..... impressive pics!!!!!!!!!!!

[hkskyline]

198. Tuen Mun is one of the further suburbs, about a 45-minute train ride from Central. Like all the other planned new towns, skyscrapers are the dominant residential form.



199. However, the density is offset by these planned green areas, which are very popular on weekends.









203. A series of light rail lines, many overlapping each other on the same set of tracks, criss-cross the northwestern New Territories.



204. Luxury residences are being built in this supposedly lower income distant suburb.

[hkskyline]

[hkskyline]

245. Central District has a major shortage of office space. This is the latest new big project in the area - the new home for China Construction Bank (to the right of AIA).



246. With plenty of traffic on the streets, pedestrians need to be one step above the game.







249. Pedestrian bridges can bring forth photogenic surprises.



250. Print newspapers are trying to survive in today's tech-savy society.



251. Even in the suburbs, pedestrian bridges are common.



252. Being less congested, spacious cycling paths allow a greener form of transportation to take hold.







255. Covered walkways shield residents from the elements, and are very useful during the rainy season.











Across the sea, another suburb rises.

[hkskyline]

264. The older public housing estates are less tall, at a more humane scale. Parts of this one will be redeveloped though, with higher density.

[hkskyline]

280. Sai Kung's city centre is a popular tourist destination to watch hawkers sell their seafood in boats.