What colour comes to mind when you think of Hong Kong? Journey through the rainbow of shades that define our city
Hong Kong is defined by the brilliance of its colours and the brightness of its lights
From that not-quite-emerald green of the Star Ferry to the sharp candy red of urban taxis, specific shades of certain colours will always hold a unique place in the hearts of Hongkongers.
These colours, wherever they be seen in the world, will irrevocably harken back to home. They are symbols of the city, of that whirling, vibrant, bustling life that thrives amid the towering buildings and hollering hawkers.
Regardless of where Hongkongers happen to be in the world, these colours speak to us in a way that cannot help but provoke a sense of nostalgia. City Weekend explores the various tones that “colour” our city and represent this “fragrant harbour” of ours, as a means of constructing the colour palette that defines our lives.
Red
Chinese culture enshrines itself in the aesthetic glory of vibrant red, and Hong Kong has definitely not fallen short in this regard. The city is defined by this vivid red that bursts through the concrete seams that try to rein it in. From the cloth lanterns that cover Wan Chai’s Lee Tung Street and the omnipresent urban taxis, to the luminous symbol of our Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system and the city’s flag, you have to actively try to not see red everywhere you turn.