The Yick Cheong building, also known as the "Hong Kong Monster Building"
Is one of the most impressive and visually striking residential complexes in Hong Kong, making it a must-go-to spot for architecture and urban photographers.
This is a photography spot in Hong Kong that I was looking forward to explore and to see the local community that keeps this challenging structure running. The Monster Building is located in Quarry Bay, on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island. This area is famous for its dense, almost surreal architecture that perfectly captures the city's urban intensity.
What is impressive is that walking through Kings Road, you can view the building, there are pathways and viewing points great for photography, but the external views don't give a sense of the enormous size and density of the building until you enter the central patio canyon and have almost a 360° view of the enclosure of small apartments nestled together. Then you note the massive cluster of stacked apartment units, with hundreds of small flats crammed together in towering blocks.
The complex has an ecosystem on it’s own of shops, services, restaurants, locals, and tourists mingling on the ground floor and patio, worth exploring for additional photo opportunities. I visited the Monster Building twice on this trip to Hong Kong, but I missed capturing it at night—that shot is on my wish list for next time.
The exterior façades are a made of of balconies, air-conditioning units, and laundry racks, giving the building a chaotic yet mesmerising appearance. While the the central courtyard creates an almost claustrophobic canyon effect, with walls of apartments rising on all sides and a small rectangle of sky above. The buildings are arranged in a tight E-shaped formation, creating narrow internal courtyards and light wells.
As this is a residential area, if you are lucky you can catch local residents enjoying a game of cards on the patio, mixed in with tourists, influencers, and travellers all coming to admire this photography location. It is a contradictory sight, but an interesting one nonetheless.
My reflection is that this location can be a challenging place to live, but there is a strong sense of community that keeps the complex organised, and a welcoming attitude towards tourists and photographers alike. For this, we have the local community to thank for keeping this classic Hong Kong architectural marvel pulsating and alive.
Gear used: Camera body Sony Alpha A7IV | Lens GM 28-70mm f/2.0 & GM 14mm f/1.8 | Dji Pocket 3
All images are copyright of AltSpots.For image licensing inquiries, contact thomas@altspots.com
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