Hong Kong Tourism Board

The JCCAC (Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre) building was once a factory estate that housed the city’s cottage industries. It was given a facelift and a new lease on life when it reopened in 2008 as a bustling creative hub, providing artists with studio space and venues for showcasing their creations.​ Apart from theatre, shops and teahouses, the space is also home to artists hoping to preserve Hong Kong’s cultural heritage — a true home for artists.

Bo Wah specialises in paper effigies that are burned in traditional Chinese rituals as offerings to honour the deceased. Aside from market-standard effigies such as clothes and houses, this museum-like store also offers more modern items and custom-made products such as smartphones, electric guitars and even a Darth Vader helmet inspired by the Star Wars films. Master Au Yeung believes effigies can also be a form of art, crafting effigies into different art pieces for displays at home.

A popular spot with Instagrammers, this building is unlike anything else in Sham Shui Po. It’s home to Lung Hing Tong, an institution established in 1931 that offers a range of services from the medical to the spiritual and religious. Its colourful green tiling is in stark contrast to the neutral blocks sitting on either side, and its eye-catching design is topped by a 3D dragon, cranes and deer emerging out of the frescos on the roof.

Denoting ‘clayware space’, Mudheytong is a gallery founded by two local ceramic artists committed to exhibiting and promoting contemporary ceramic art in Hong Kong. Combining a pottery shop and studio, Mudheytong runs public workshops and sells unique pottery on the ground floor space to engage the wider community. The upper floor is the owner's studio which is temporarily closed to the public. Those looking to dabble in the medium can take part in one-day trial classes, or commit to a four-session regular workshop, to get hands-on with wheel-throwing, trimming, building, and glazing. Kids are also welcome to attend.

During the peak of Hong Kong’s manufacturing boom, Tai Nan Street was home to many factories that produced leather, fabrics and accessories. Today, only a handful of vendors from that era remain, including Luen Cheong Leather Hong Kong, which was established in 1948 and specialises in locally made vegetable-tanned cow hides. In recent years, the street welcomed a second wave of artisans, such as Alri Star Leather Factory and Brothers Leathercraft, which offer quality hides as well as workshops that teach aspiring craftsmen how to make their very own leather goods. Tai Nam Street is also home to many new setups and arty places, it is gradually becoming a small art hub in the city.

Established in 1958, Muze Pens is one of the oldest pen shops in Hong Kong. From fountain pens and inks to papers and other accessories, this specialist shop has it all. In efforts to promote the art of penmanship and encourage more people to put pen to paper, the shop also provides professional advice and recommendations, repair and maintenance services, as well as custom nib-grinding and engraving services. The owner collects pens from around the world and chats with patrons about calligraphy.

Constructed in 1891, Kwan Tai Temple is the only place of worship in Kowloon dedicated to the God of War and Righteousness. This Grade II historic building is a great example of traditional Lingnan architecture and includes many stunning features, including a giant bronze bell and crescent blade. The temple is open to the public on most days but it becomes a real spectacle on the 24^th day of the sixth lunar month, when crowds arrive in droves to celebrate Kwan Tai’s birthday. Distinctive Chinese architectural features can be found on the roof and they are a true reflection of traditional craftsmanship in Chinese architecture.

D2 Place is more than just another shopping mall in Hong Kong. Instead of massive chain stores and cookie-cutter retail shops, it houses stylish boutiques and pop-up stores from indie local and regional brands. The popular weekend markets also shine a spotlight on local culture and businesses, offering shopaholics a more meaningful shopping experience than what they would otherwise find at mega malls. Many artists are attracted to the weekend markets, facilitating the exchanges between artists and adding unique shopping for visitors.