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Kowloon

Choi Hung Estate: Beyond the Iconic Instagram Spot

by aikooosan 2025 年 4 月 17 日

To be honest, my impression of Choi Hung Estate in Ngau Chi Wan used to be rather shallow and ordinary. In recent years, when people talk about Choi Hung Estate, many immediately think of it as a “photo hotspot.” Its vibrantly coloured façades have become its signature—an iconic backdrop captured by countless visitors, from tourists and photographers to celebrities. With such global fame, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to call it world-renowned.

It wasn’t until my third visit that I finally took a photo at the famous spot.

Because this “Instagram image” is so deeply ingrained in the public’s mind, I was actually hesitant to feature Choi Hung Estate in my early housing estate explorations. It felt like too many had already covered it—searching online, you’d find an abundance of historical details, personal stories, and oral histories from residents. With so much material already out there, I wasn’t sure where to begin, and I even felt a little pressure not to pale in comparison.

Across from the iconic photo spot lies this lesser-known view.

Still, I thought—why not? I’d give it a go. I decided to write something from my own perspective, combining my visits with what I’d learned, and just let the words flow.

I tried to find other interesting photo spots beyond the usual angles—though I didn’t come across that many.

The Story Behind My Three Visits to Choi Hung Estate

Unexpectedly, I ended up visiting the estate three times in total, just to get a more in-depth experience (one of those visits was indeed to take the classic photo—guilty as charged!). But I must admit, there’s more to Choi Hung Estate than its famous Instagram backdrop. It has its own unique appeal that made me want to understand it better.

The site of Choi Hung Estate was formerly Sha Tei Wai, one of the original “Thirteen Villages of Kowloon.” According to the Overseas Chinese Daily News, the area was once home to squatter huts and farmland. “In fact, much of it was used as a dumping ground for waste.” It wasn’t until 1960 that the land was cleared and redeveloped.

As for the estate’s development, it was built in phases between 1962 and 1964, making it one of the oldest surviving public housing estates in Hong Kong today—following only Model Housing Estate and Sai Wan Estate. (Fuk Loi Estate and Ma Tau Wai Estate were also completed in the same year.)

On 18 December 1963, Sir Robert Brown Black, then Governor of Hong Kong, officiated at the estate’s opening ceremony. The commemorative plaque from that event is still displayed at the entrance of the estate.

Historical reports make it clear that Choi Hung Estate was a major undertaking. According to Overseas Chinese Daily News and The Kung Sheung Daily News, it was the seventh estate built by the Housing Authority and, at the time, their largest housing project, costing HKD 50 million. In recognition of its significance, Sir Robert Brown Black was invited to unveil the estate himself.

The estate comprises 11 blocks, ranging from 7 to 20 storeys high, creating a visually dynamic skyline. Fittingly, the names of the buildings are also colour-themed, reflecting the name “Choi Hung” (Rainbow).

From History to Experience: Walking Through the Estate

Walking through Choi Hung Estate, I realised it was far larger than I had imagined. The layout is spacious rather than cramped, and its quiet surroundings provide a stark contrast to the noisy, crowded streets outside. It’s a surprisingly calming and comfortable space to explore.

While today the estate may seem fairly standard—featuring a market, shops, post office, playgrounds, schools, and a community centre—such comprehensive planning was considered cutting-edge at the time. The estate incorporated elements of Modernist design, with a focus on functionality, openness, and simplicity. Each flat was equipped with a living and dining room, balcony, kitchen, and a combined toilet and bathroom—considered a high standard of living in the 1960s.

It’s no wonder Choi Hung Estate won the prestigious Silver Medal from the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) in 1965. Over the years, it has also attracted high-profile visitors, including then US Vice President Richard Nixon, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra and her husband, and Governor MacLehose.

A Treasure Trove of Old Shops and Local Charm

One of the estate’s most delightful features is the absence of a shopping mall. Instead, the ground floors of several blocks are lined with old-style arcades filled with long-standing local shops—some of which look as though time has stood still since the 1960s. These include the rare “Kee Cheung Flag Shop,” the old-school “Kam Pik Restaurant” and “Lee Ying Kee Watch Shop,” the nostalgic “Oi Kwan Fast Food,” and the traditional “Wah Lai Barber Shop,” which even appeared in the music video for MIRROR’s first English single, Rumours, as well as in local films.

Ironically, despite multiple visits, I still haven’t eaten at Oi Kwan Fast Food.

And stumbled upon a truly retro sportswear shop.

There’s even a classic old-fashioned provisions store still operating.

Other hidden gems include the almost extinct “Comic World” manga rental shop and the traditional butcher “Choi Hung Meat Company”—both underappreciated treasures.

If you pay attention to the menu, you’ll realise how affordably priced the food is. A true throwback.

And I nearly forgot—on my first visit, I stopped by a snack shop where the prices felt like something out of my school days. HKD 5 for three deep-fried scallops—what a bargain!

The butcher’s name, “Choi Hung,” echoes that of the estate.

Thoughtful Design and Rainbow Identity

As mentioned earlier, Choi Hung Estate’s most distinctive feature is its rainbow-painted exterior. Even the names of the seven streets within the estate reflect the colours of the rainbow—Red Plum Road, Orange Blossom Road, Yellow Chrysanthemum Road, Green Willow Road, and so on—showcasing the Housing Authority’s creative thoughtfulness during planning. Though the estate is now over 60 years old, a major renovation in recent years has helped it retain its charm.

To capture the famous rainbow façade, you’ll need to head up to the rooftop of the car park. I didn’t expect it to be so lively—it doubles as a garden, basketball court, and badminton court. People gather there to relax or play, creating a vibrant everyday scene full of life.

The basketball court is still buzzing with activity at sunset.

Search online and you’ll find countless stories of residents sharing what it’s like to live in Choi Hung Estate. (For example, actor Tse Kwan-ho once appeared on the public housing series Show You Where I Lived, linked here.) Many residents express a strong sense of belonging and consider the estate a place to truly settle down. For them, Choi Hung Estate is full of fond memories and continues to be a warm and liveable home.

Here’s a rare photo of my camera-shy travel companion at the estate.

PS:Somehow this turned into quite a lengthy article—and I spent over an hour writing it (oops!). If you’ve read this far, thank you so much for your support.

Estate Information

Location: 5–19 Tsz Wan Road; 2 Wong Kuk Road; 2–8 Luk Lau Road; 2 & 11 Tsing Yeung Road; 1–5 Hung Mui Road, Ngau Chi Wan
Year of Occupation: 1962–1964
Number of Blocks: 11
Building Type: Old Slab Blocks
Building Names: Tsui King House, Chi Mei House, Hung Ngok House, Kam Hon House, Kam Wan House, Kam Pik House, Kam Wah House, Luk Ching House, Pik Hoi House, Pak Suet House, Tan Fung House

Sources: Hong Kong Housing Authority, Wikipedia

2025 年 4 月 17 日

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Tai Hang Tung Estate in Kowloon Tong: A Low-Key and Nostalgic Presence

by aikooosan 2023 年 2 月 19 日

Compared to its neighboring “Instagrammable” public housing estate, Nam Shan Estate, Tai Hang Tung Estate can be considered a relatively low-key presence.

As a child, I often had the misconception that Tai Hang Tung Estate was located in the Tai Hang area of Hong Kong Island, requiring a trip across the sea. It wasn’t until later that I realized that Tai Hang Tung Estate is actually in Kowloon Tong. My apologies.

From Squatter Area to Resettlement Estate to Redevelopment

The history of Tai Hang Tung Estate can be traced back to the post-World War II period when a large number of mainland Chinese refugees moved to Hong Kong and settled in the environmentally harsh squatter areas in the mountains. Tai Hang Tung was one of the resettlement areas.

As for the predecessor of Tai Hang Tung Estate, it was originally a resettlement building that appeared as early as 1955-56. The resettlement building was constructed in response to a large fire that broke out in the Tai Hang Tung squatter area in 1954, leaving over 20,000 people homeless. The Hong Kong colonial government, in order to accommodate the affected residents, followed the example of the response to the 1953 Shek Kip Mei fire and built Tai Hang Tung Estate to house the disaster victims.

It wasn’t until 1974 that the government began planning the redevelopment of Tai Hang Tung Estate, and construction began in 1979. The Tai Hang Tung Estate that we see today underwent redevelopment and began occupancy in 1984.

Nostalgic Vibes at Tai Hang Tung Estate

The first impression of Tai Hang Tung Estate is that many of its buildings are relatively short, with only around 10 floors. This is because the estate is located in Kowloon Tong, where building heights are restricted due to being under the flight path. After checking the data, it was found that the six long, connected buildings in Tai Hang Tung Estate, namely Tung Hoi House, Tung Fai House, Tung Shing House, Tung Yu House, Tung Moon House, and Tung Wong House, were the first to be completed with the least number of floors and indeed only have 11 floors.

In general, although Tai Hang Tung Estate is not as well-known as its neighboring Nam Shan Estate, it is also rich in nostalgic charm and beauty. It is common to see octagons in Tai Hang Tung Estate, perhaps due to Feng Shui or other reasons, such as in the footbridges. Even in the park’s facilities, you can still find the frequent appearance of octagons if you look closely.

Moreover, the nostalgic charm of Tai Hang Tung Estate comes from many of its features that still retain the characteristics of the 1980s. When strolling around, there is a feeling of time being sealed. For example, the landmark of Tai Hang Tung Estate, the Rainbow Restaurant, looks particularly dazzling and beautiful at night when its neon sign is on. The shops in the estate are located on the ground and pedestrian bridge levels, and many of them are small old shops with a certain history.

Another favorite spot for many is located around the clotheslines, where there are small transportation icons behind them, such as buses, trams, and trucks, all in colorful and rich colors, full of childlike fun. If only the clotheslines weren’t blocking the view, it would be a great place to take pictures.

Talking about Tai Hang Tung Estate, I once walked around at night just to admire the view of the Rainbow Restaurant (laughs). The biggest difference between day and night is that Tai Hang Tung Estate used to have few streetlights in bustling Hong Kong, giving it a somewhat eerie feeling. Looking back on it, it was also quite interesting.

Information

Number of Blocks: 9
Year of Intake: 1984
Types of Blocks:Linear 1, New Slab, Small Household Block

Sources: Wikipedia, Housing Authority

To Read More……

2023 年 2 月 19 日

Exploration Notes Explore Estates Features Kowloon Stories Urban History

Ngau Chi Wan Choi Wan Estate – Changes and Continuity Over the Years

by aikooosan 2023 年 2 月 15 日

Located in East Kowloon, Choi Wan Estate may not be the largest public housing estate in Hong Kong or have the tallest buildings, but when it comes to the names of its buildings, I have an inexplicable fascination with them.

Their names are poetic, such as Sunrise Court(觀日樓), Moonbeam Tower(伴月樓), Jade Palace(瓊宮樓), Ivory Court(玉宇樓), Dragon Court(遊龍樓), Phoenix Court(飛鳳樓), Scenic View(景新樓), White Rainbow(白虹樓), Starlight Garden(星辰樓), and Drizzling Court(時雨樓), all of which evoke images of constellations and astronomical terms.

Despite this, residents like Levi, who has lived in Phoenix Court in Choi Wan Estate since first grade, do not have a special attachment to the names of their buildings and do not feel proud or happy about them.

The Dramatic Changes of Choi Wan Estate

Levi sees everything that changes and remains the same in Choi Wan Estate. The estate’s shopping mall has undergone the most significant change. Walking from the Bai Hong House bus stop to the Choi Wan Estate shopping mall is a typical pattern of public housing shopping malls, with air conditioning, elevators, and escalators fully equipped, appearing to have no distinctive features. It conforms to the standard of Link REIT malls, which are clean and tidy but cold and impersonal. At best, the mall’s second floor has a central outdoor garden with many green trees and some benches for residents to rest. The Hong Kong Jockey Club betting station happens to be located next to the central garden. On race days, uncles and grandpas holding newspapers, smoking, and listening to the radio for race updates fill the area, and the air becomes lively.

After Link REIT took over the mall, it transformed from a dilapidated and sparsely occupied mall into a new appearance with tiled floors and renovated walls, and newly painted walls. The number of chain stores increased from a dozen to multiple, offering more restaurant choices for residents, including noodles, dumplings, and pizza, in addition to McDonald’s and local tea restaurants. As for the more historical restaurants in the mall, you have to count Cheng Fat Restaurant. The restaurant opened in the 1990s, and over the years, the decoration remained the same, and the taste of the food remained consistent. The dim yellow light, combined with many tables, is a typical Hong Kong-style tea restaurant pattern. The food’s taste is considered average, but it boasts some traditional Hong Kong-style dishes, such as beef and egg rice, tofu with preserved meat rice, and clay pot rice, which are recognized as a romantic dish for men.

The Unchanging Features of Choi Wan Estate

However the interior of the housing estate’s shopping mall may change, there are always some views that remain unchanged, as if time has frozen in these scenes and they have not aged. For example, the huge banyan tree at the entrance of the mall and the bus terminal, it appears very dense and the banyan tree’s many aerial roots extend very long and are interwoven in various forms. It has long been recognized by the community as a landmark of Choi Wan Estate, and it is believed to have silently guarded the community.

an over hundred years old Banyan Tree in Choi Wan Estate.

It is said that the banyan tree existed before the construction of Choi Wan Estate and was already listed in the register of ancient trees. There is a couplet written by a resident of Yau Oi Estate that says, “Choi Wan gives rise to auspiciousness, and the flourishing ancient tree adds luster to the shopping mall,” which is quite literary. Levi recalled that he had a deep impression of the tree since he first saw it in primary school, feeling full of life.

Another unchanging view of the housing estate is the elderly people who have been queuing for some reason for a long time.

Levi explained that the garbage station near Pak Hong House in Choi Wan Estate used to be so lively. There were people specializing in recycling aluminum cans and plastic bottles, and many elderly people would line up, dragging heavy bags filled with aluminum cans or plastic bottles collected from the estate, and then sell them next to the garbage station to earn some pocket money. “My mother used to remind me to bring aluminum cans to the garbage station to recycle when I was young, to earn some pocket money. But later, I saw that the profit was not much, so I stopped doing it.”

In the past, the elderly would queue at the garbage station, but today they queue in front of the plastic bottle recycling machine in the mall for the same reason, to earn some pocket money. Everything seems so ordinary, but it is also heart-wrenching.

The people, not the public housing estate, have changed

The changes in Choi Wan Estate over the years could be considered significant or insignificant. Levi admits that it’s the people who have changed. When he was in primary school and spent more time in the estate, he had a closer connection to it. However, everything changed as he joined the workforce, spent less time at home and the place transformed.

“In fact, it’s a microcosm of Hong Kong. You only see mostly elderly people participating in estate activities. As the number of elderly people and building age increase, the estate becomes increasingly aged.”

“The peach blossoms remain the same, but the faces of people are different.” It seems to refer to the situation mentioned above.

2023 年 2 月 15 日

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Ngau Tau Kok Lok Wah South Estate: Blue Hour Tunnel / Pantone Pink Exterior Walls with Multiple Instagram-Worthy Spots, Featuring Forest-Themed Bread

by aikooosan 2022 年 7 月 8 日

Recalling my first encounter with Lok Wah Estate, it was when i worked as a magazine journalist a few years back. Due to editorial requirements, there was a time where i had to periodically write on topics regarding Hong Kong’s public housing ( in which indirectly contributed to my writing of this website). Before interviewing about public housing affairs, you needed to gather information, or find relevant respondents in advace, such as local people, experts specializing in public housing development, etc. At that time, I was able to meet with the staff of The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage whom helped introduce and look for suitable interviewees.

I’ve lived in public housings since I was 11 years old and hold affection for them. In fact, I’ve always been interested in the development of public housing. Naturally, i was able to share common interests with the interviewees and the staff at Association Centre. I could casually make inquiries to the staff on which housing estates she lived in as a child. She uttered the name ‘Lok Wah Estate’ and it was the first time I became aware of it.

However, when it comes to the first real visit to Lok Wah Estate, it should have been almost 4-5 years ago, because I was meeting up with friends who resided there. However, since it was nighttime, and I was merely focused on sitting downstairs and chatting with my friends in the housing estate. Thus, my first impression of Lok Wah Estate was not memorable.

On the contrary, it was only this year that I really visited Lok Wah Estate for the first time. You read it right, that is, it is just a matter in 2022.

It’s not the same. For the first time, I made the decision to visit Lok Wah Estate during the day. Of course, it was influenced by the trend of taking pictures and sharing them on the Internet. I saw many people taking pictures of the blue tunnel of time and Pantone pink exterior wall of the estate, so I wanted to bet on the estate’s true character.

But Later, after researching more information on the estate, I discovered that the distinctive design of the Estate actually has a number of short stories behind it, and many of them are worthy of everyone’s attention. Therefore, it is inevitable that many will decide to snap pictures here, but while you’re at it, it’s better to share tales related to the estate. So that readers can learn more about the history, development behind the housing estate and much more.

Tracing back the history of Lok Wah Estate, it was completed in four phases between 1982 and 1985. In order to facilitate management, it was split into the current “Lok Wah South Estate” and “Lok Wah North Estate” in 1984.

As for the origin of the name “Lok Wah Estate”, it is actually has quite the meaning behind it.

It turns out that “Lok Wah” is taken from the phrase “Fai Lok Zhong Wah”, meaning “happy China”. According to Wikipedia, the original design of Lok Wah Estate with Chinese style and minimalist style was written by architect Yang Junjie. “The design permeates the elements of Chinese architecture and echoes the design ideas of Happy China. For example, a moon gate is set up at the entrance of Qu Ti to the estate. Above, there is a granite plaque engraved with the three characters of Lok Wah Estate in Chinese calligraphy, the main entrance of the shopping mall, the color selection of the exterior wall of the building, the Chinese-style tiles of the shopping mall, the black wooden pavilion, the red triangle decoration on the footbridge, etc. Are also abstract from the details of Chinese architecture, and then expressed in a modern and simple way, north to Zhen Hua Road, south to Gongle Road, east to Corning Road. “Therefore, the many picture taking spots that everyone saw turned out to have quite interesting stories behind their birth. It can also be seen that the architect’s thoughts on the design of the housing estate at that time.

If the southern and northern estates of Lok Wah Estate are added together, there will be a total of 14 buildings in the estate, 6 in the South Estate and 8 in the North Estate.

Among them, the oldest buildings are Zhanhua Building and Hui Wah Building, which were completed in 1982 , located in the southern estate. They use the old long-shaped building that was popular from 1950 to the 1980s, which is a central corridor type, connecting buildings E+ and E.

In addition, the types of buildings in Lok Wah Estate include Y1 type, double-linked I-shaped (commonly known as “H-shaped building”) and so on. As for the double-linked I-shaped blocks, all of them are concentrated in the North Estate. This type of building will appear more often from the end of 1970 to the end of 1980.

In addition, the Lok Wah Shopping Mall in the northern estate. It is 3 storeys high and covers an area of more than 10,000 square feet. It was completed in September 1985. The shopping mall is located on a slope, and the design uses red, orange and yellow as the main colors, which are very traditional Chinese colors.

The day before filming Lok Wah Estate, I received a renowned item from a friend who lives in Lok Wah Estate: bread. You read it right, it was indeed bread, but at that time she bought orange-chocolate flavored bread. At that time, I was shocked when I took a bite: I didn’t expect public housing to have such delicious bread! So on the day of the shooting, I also visited the birthplace of Lok Wah’s famous product in the mall: Forest Bread, and bought orange-flavored chocolate bread and mochi bread that my friends claimed to be the Lok Wah’s most notable product.

【info】
Location: 50 and 70 Chun Wah Road, Happy Hill, Ngau Tau Kok

Transportation: MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A or B (about 15 minutes walk); bus 2A, 13X, 28, 619, etc.

Source: Wikipedia

2022 年 7 月 8 日

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