When we talk about residential areas we think about peaceful alleys and parks surrounded by apartment buildings where local people can enjoy a quiet afternoon. Well, the Choi Hung Estate in Hong Kong is anything but quiet.
After taking the internet by storm due to its colorful apartment buildings, Choi Hung Estate has become an overnight Instagram sensation. Usually, residential areas are not considered tourist attractions but this colorful basketball court in Hong Kong is now one of the busiest and most popular attractions in the city.
However, there are a few things you should know before deciding to visit it. More details below.
Click here to find out where you can get the best view in Hong Kong.
1. How to find the Choi Hung Estate basketball court
Finding the basketball court can be challenging but if you follow my directions, you’ll get to the Choi Hung Estate colorful buildings in no time.
- Take the MTR Subway – the Kwun Tong Line
- Exit the subway at the Choi Hung MTR Station
- Follow exit signs for C4 or C3 – these are the exits near the Choi Hung Estate
- Enter the estate, turn left and look for a multi level car park
- The famous Hong Kong basketball court is right on top of the car park
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Keep in mind that from ground level, the basketball court is not visible so make sure to climb the stairs to the top of the parking lot when you see it. For the exact location, you can follow the map below or just enter “Choi Hung Estate Car Park” in Google Maps and follow the route.
If you have any issues finding it, make sure to have a photo with the basketball court on your phone and show it to any local. They are very friendly and they will be happy to point you in the right direction.
2. About the famous basketball court in Hong Kong
In Chinese “Choi Hung” means rainbow. The Rainbow Estate in Hong Kong was built in 1964, making it one of the oldest public housing estates in Hong Kong. The estate has 11 blocks of residential buildings, 5 schools, 2 markets, one car park and one basketball court.
Other awesome things to do in Hong Kong:
- Have fun at Disneyland
- Visit the famous Monster Building
- Cruise the Victoria Harbour
- Visit Lantau Island’s famous attractions
There are around 43,000 people living here. Therefore, make sure that while taking pictures you follow a few simple rules:
- be respectful. There are many elderly people living here and walking around the basketball court.
- don’t interrupt the basketball games. There are many locals who use this basketball court for its intended use – playing ball games. Don’t interrupt their games just to take some photos. Imagine playing basketball while there are crowds of people entering the filed – not fun.
- contribute to the local economy. Buy a bottle of water from a local shop inside the estate. The locals living here have to deal with crowds of tourists every day so make sure to repay them for being so friendly.
3. Choi Hung Estate Instagram photos – photography tips
Let’s get to the most important aspect – taking pictures at the Choi Hung Estate.
The truth about this Instagram hot spot in Hong Kong is that even though it appears to be empty in all the Instagram photos, it’s actually very crowded. The place is mostly full of tourists trying to take the perfect Instagram shot but there are also locals jogging or playing basketball.
Check out the other Instagram famous building in Hong Kong – the Monster Building.
Tip number 1: If you want to have the place for yourself, make sure to be there early in the morning. The best time to visit the Choi Hung Estate is at 9 am. If you arrive too early, your risk bumping into tens of locals scattered across the basketball field, practicing tai chi.
Around the colorful basketball court there are actually two tall apartment buildings. The most popular one has those tall palm trees in front of it. The less popular one has a concrete fence in front of it.
Tip number 2: If you’re not an early bird (I know I’m not), you can use the less popular apartment building as the backdrop for your photos. There’s nobody there and the photos look perfect.
If you’re looking for some poses for your photos, I have a few suggestions below but before, let’s talk about clothing.
Tip number 3: wear colorful clothing (blue, orange, red, yellow). Also, if you have a basketball, don’t forget to bring it with you!
Below are a few photos to serve you as inspiration. Enjoy!
For more inspiration, check out these Choi Hung Estate Instagram photos – click here.
4. Tourist attractions near the Choi Hung Estate
Within walking distance from this Insta-famous Hong Kong basketball court are the Nan Lian Garden and Chin Lin Nunnery. Make sure to check them out!
Nan Lian Garden
This beautiful public park was built in the style of the Tang dynasty. Honestly, Nan Lian Garden is my favorite public park around Asia. It’s quiet, it has beautiful vegetation and walking around it is a delight!
Chin Lin Nunnery
Situated right across the street from Nan Lian Garden, the Chin Lin Nunnery is a large temple complex with an incredible architecture. Definitely worth visiting!
5. Hong Kong photography tours
If you’re passionate about photography and want to discover more amazing places around Hong Kong, you can check out this list of Instagrammable places or take a photography tour around the city.
Although Choi Hung Estate is definitely one of the most popular photography locations in Hong Kong, there are many other places to discover. Below are a few suggestions of Hong Kong photography tours:
- Hong Kong photography tour with a professional photographer – book here
- Hong Kong vintage photo tour – book here
- Hong Kong street art photo tour – book here
6. Where to stay in Hong Kong
I’m going to tell you from the start – don’t expect to find cheap accommodation in Hong Kong – it is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world. Below are my accommodation recommendations based on budget:
- Luxury – Hotel Icon – excellent service, incredible views and infinity pool, spacious rooms, excellent staff
- Mid budget – Kerry Hotel – incredible infinity pool, great value for money, excellent views, good location
- Budget – Owl Hostel – excellent location in the heart of the city, clean rooms, friendly staff
If you’re planning to visit the Choi Hung Estate in Hong Kong, I hope that this guide helped you plan your trip. I’m sure you’ll love this colorful place so make sure to add it to your itinerary! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments section below.
May the travel bug bite you!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!
This is so helpful! My first trip to Hong Kong I didn’t make it to the basketball courts, but this time I’ll be heading that way and taking all this information into account! Thanks xx
I am so glad to hear this! Let me know if you like it!