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Header image courtesy of @aigi.12 (via Instagram)
Hong Kong’s massive population is disproportionate to its small size—we often find ourselves having to weave through humming roads lined with cars just to get on with our day. As of June last year, our energetic, spirited city has a total of 943 footbridge structures, which is both shocking and impressive.
While footbridges are not expected to serve an aesthetic purpose, considering their practical primary function, there are quite a few stunning footbridges that deserve your admiration and attention. Here’s a list of the 10 most Instagram-worthy footbridges in Hong Kong.
The only street without a suffix in Hong Kong, Glenealy starts from Ice House Street in Central and goes all the way up to Hornsey Road and Conduit Road. Adjacent to a section of this long stretch, next to the Caritas House, is a mysterious-looking footbridge that’s perfect for creating a darker Brutalist vibe on your Instagram feed. What makes it special, aside from its look, is its position—it’s both above a busy road and below one. While cars are zooming past below you, you can hear cars buzzing past above your head, too.
How to get there:
From Central Station, use Exit D2 and walk along Pedder Street towards Queens Road Central. Cross the road and walk up Wyndham Street all the way until you reach the staircase. At the end of the staircase, make a left down Arbuthnot Road until you reach Caritas House. Then, cross the road and walk up Glenealy until you see the narrow path leading behind Caritas House. Follow that path and you’ll find yourself at the footbridge.
The closest you will get to this footbridge in Diamond Hill’s Nan Lian Garden is as seen in the photo—this Tang dynasty-style construct is not accessible to the public. However, you’re still able to take photos from nearby and in front of it. The Nan Lian Garden also has quite a few rules for visitors: no eating, no drinking, no smoking, and no animals—it’s a serene and tranquil area that should not be disturbed. A collaborative project between the Chi Lin Nunnery and the government, the park was first opened to the public in 2006, and it’s an excellent place to relax and enjoy traditional Chinese-style architecture in Hong Kong.
How to get there:
From Diamond Hill Station, use Exit C2 and walk along Sheung Yuen Street. Then, turn right onto Fung Tak Road until you see the entrance to the Nan Lian Garden.
Most of you may know this footbridge by its nickname—Jimmy Bridge. The white bridge with blue and pink blocks of colour got its nickname from its appearance in the Hong Kong romantic comedy Love in a Puff, starring Shawn Yue and Miriam Yeung. Yue plays Jimmy, hence the nickname. Another notable pop culture appearance it has made is in Kay Tse’s music video for “Zhong Wu Yan” (鍾無艷) in 2007.
The Z-shaped exterior of the staircase leading up to the footbridge is quite a sight, and so is the inside of the footbridge. You can opt to take pictures the most popular way—with the symmetric interior of the footbridge as your backdrop, or perhaps take one with the rounded rectangle framing the city behind you. Feel free to experiment with different angles and poses when you’re there!
How to get there:
From the Kowloon Bay Station, walk down Siu Yip Street, then take a left onto Tai Yip Street. After a short while, you’ll see the entrance to the footbridge in front of you.
While most of our city’s footbridges are situated above expressways or busy thoroughfares that stretch across multiple districts, some are built in tranquil, seaside areas—they are footbridges that connect us to nature. One excellent example is the Shek O Blue Bridge, also known as the Lovers Bridge.
Partially destroyed by Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018—the strongest to hit Hong Kong since 1983—the bridge underwent reconstruction and is open to visitors once again. Its simple, baby blue design is the perfect companion to the sky and sea, which explains why this location is a popular destination for wedding photoshoots and Instagram photos!
How to get there:
From the Shau Kei Wan Station, head to the Shau Kei Wan bus terminus and take bus 9 for around half an hour to the very last stop, Shek O. At Shek O, walk along Shek O Road, then turn onto Shek O Village Road until you see the signage for Shek O Headland Road. Then, walk straight along Shek O Headland Road until you reach a narrow staircase near the sea. Head down the stairs and continue along the path, and you’ll be able to see the blue bridge just within your reach.
There’s no better time than now—at the height of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—to visit this colourful footbridge in the heart of Causeway Bay. The iconic tourist landmark is not just a convenient way to get through Causeway Bay’s busy thoroughfares, but it’s also popular online—many choose to sit on the staircase for a chic Instagram photo.
Seeing the Olympic Bridge on our list may not be shocking to most Hongkongers, but did you know that the design for the footbridge was suggested by the students and teaching staff of St Paul’s Convent School, the Catholic all-girls private school adjacent to it? Now we know who to thank for this beautiful addition to our city’s street view!
How to get there:
The bridge is a four-minute walk from Causeway Bay Station. Use Exit D2 and walk down Yee Wo Street, past the round pedestrian footbridge, towards Regal Hotel. The footbridge is next to St Paul’s Convent School, above Irving Street and Leighton Road.
Connecting both sides of the Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po is the Kwong Fuk Bridge. Before its construction in 1896, villagers had to pay a fee to take the cable ferry across the river, necessitating the creation of the bridge. In 1898, the bridge was reconstructed by the British government to accommodate for the one-lane passage of cars.
Decades later, in 1957, the Hong Kong government expanded the bridge to allow two-lane vehicular travel. The bridge we see today, with its traditional design and red pillars, however, was only built in 1986, after the bridge was repurposed for only pedestrian and bicycle traffic—both sides of the bridge are now two-way bicycle lanes.
How to get there:
From Tai Po Market Station, take Exit B and walk down Po Nga Road. When you see the horizontal Kwong Fuk Road, go across it and look to your right. After crossing Ting Kok Road, you will see the prominent green-and-red structure in front of you.
Built by Tai O’s own villagers in a month’s time, the wooden bridge was officially opened for use in June 1979. Prior to its construction, villagers had to cross the canal via a brief boat ride, which was highly inconvenient. Connecting two sides of Tai O’s main streets—Kat Hing Street and Sun Ki Street—the iconic structure is not only there for accessibility, but is also the best vantage point for Tai O’s famous stilt houses and green, verdant mountains.
How to get there:
From Tung Chung Station, take bus 37H and get off at the Tung Chung New Development Pier. Take the ferry to Tai O and walk along Tai O Market Street. Turn right onto Kat Hing Street until you see the red footbridge.
Alternatively, from the Tung Chung Station, take bus 11 and get off at the last stop—Tai O. Then, proceed to walk along Tai O Wing On Street, then turn left onto Tai O Market Street. Then, turn right onto Kat Hing Street and walk along the path until you see the bridge.
Situated in Kwai Chung’s Shek Lei Estate next to Shek Tai House, this pink footbridge is a wonderful surprise for those who love symmetry and bright, bubbly colours. A beautiful pastel pink coats every inch of this footbridge, from the ceiling to the railings at the bottom, and for just a second, it will feel like you have entered a theme park.
Shek Lei Estate was first built in 1966 and has undergone expansions since 1985. Home to over thirty-five thousand people, the estate now comprises twenty-one residential buildings, making it the second-largest public housing estate in the entire Kwai Tsing District. Do be aware of residents and their privacy when visiting and snapping pics!
How to get there:
From Kwai Hing Station, take bus 38 and get off at Shek Ying Path Kwai Chung. Then, take the stairs up to Shek Pui Street, and continue along until you see a staircase on your right. After taking the stairs, turn left and you will see Shek Tai House in front of you.
This spiral staircase is part of a longer footbridge connecting Garden Road and Murray Road. Situated next to a bustling highway, it provides a panoramic view of Central and Admiralty. While most people choose to have their photos taken while on the staircase leading down to Queensway, some also do so on the footway with the city’s business district at their backs! From the top, the beautiful curves and lines are reminiscent of the measured pattern found on the inside of a nautilus seashell and make for a stunning photo subject.
How to get there:
From Central Station, use Exit J2 and head down Chater Road towards Club Street. Take the stairs to your right. Continue down that footbridge until you see the spiral staircase.
Also known as the Causeway Round Pedestrian Bridge, the footbridge’s easily recognisable structure can be seen by anyone passing through the bustling shopping district. In fact, the beige and pink archways decorating the sides of the footbridge also made a cameo in Ghost in the Shell, a rather controversial American film based on the Japanese manga of the same name starring Scarlett Johansson, who also plays Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Take a photo with the arches as a stunning backdrop, or simply stand below it at the tram station and have a photo taken from a downwards angle pointing at the sky.
How to get there:
From Causeway Bay Station, take Exit E and walk down Patterson Road and then Yee Wo Street. The footbridge is just past Sogo Department Store along Yee Wo Street and is a few steps past the Adidas store and Commercial Press Bookstore.
As someone who grew up speaking three languages at home and another two at school, Shania is an avid language learner with a passion for creative writing, music, film, and television. If she’s not out with her friends and family, you will most likely find her at home doting on her two tortoises, watching the latest K-drama sensation on Netflix, or typing away on a new story.
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