Romantic Hong Kong on film: our top cinematic locations for lovers
With Valentine’s Day upon us we list Hong Kong’s most famous locations as seen in cinema: from Suzie Wong to Chungking Express and beyond
There are many ways to fall in love with Hong Kong – with the sights, the sounds, the food, the culture – but through the decades films made both locally and from overseas have brought lovers together in different locations on either side of the fragrant harbour.
Upon this Valentine’s Day we thought it timely to make a list of locations for love as witnessed in film, and for those adventurous lovers wishing to walk in the footsteps of Hong Kong’s cinematic classics.
Star Ferry terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui – The World of Suzie Wong
While much of the buildings including the original ferry terminal are gone, there is still the Star Ferry terminal at TST – where you can recreate the moment Robert Lomax (William Holden) meets Mee Ling (Nancy Kwan), and take the ferry across the harbour, engaging in the type of coy chit-chat that begins the 1960 classic based on the novel by Richard Mason – although thanks to land reclamation you’ll only have a few minutes, as opposed to the half hour these two enjoyed.
The restaurant from Wan Kar-wai’s classic romance where two neighbours meet for dinner to discuss their suspicions about each other’s partners … Sit down, order some food, then perhaps listen to the 1946 song by Zhou Xuan that gave the filmmaker the inspiration for the film’s title – or the Bryan Ferry remake.
Tsim Sha Tsui harbour lookout – It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong
This 78-minute film was billed as “the film that will make you fall in love with Hong Kong”, but there’s a pretty easy location to pick for romance from this film – the harbourside TST lookout with the view over Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island.
Loke Yew Hall, University of Hong Kong – Lust, Caution and City of Glass
Fancy a dress-up? You can pick between erotic espionage thriller or tragic romance with this location, as it was featured both in Ang Le’s 2007 film Lust, Caution, set in 1938 and in Mabel Cheung’s City of Glass, set in 1997.
Wai Yip Street pedestrian bridge – Love in a Puff
Relationships forged by smokers forced out of buildings onto pavements, huddling together as they ask each other for a light – sound familiar? Why not recreate the scene on a pedestrian bridge over Wai Yip Street where Shawn Yue asks Miriam Yeung for her phone number … and they gradually move away from the pack of smokers, finding solace in a darkened alley.
If the excitement of wandering myriad corridors of Chungking Mansions and sitting down for a curry is a bit exotic for you, why not recreate the moment Faye (Faye Wong) runs into PC633 (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) at the Stanley Street dai pai dong? Sadly, the original Midnight Express snack bar has shut down and been replaced by a 7-11 – but it’s still easy to find yourself a blonde wig and sunglasses on Pedder Street.
Hennessy Road – Crossing Hennessy
You on one side of the road, your sweetheart on the other, traffic and trams streaming before you. You gaze into each other’s eyes. The bright, noisy surroundings fade as the two of you transform into Jacky Cheung and Tang Wei – and your romantic comedy begins.
If we’re trying on romantic roles, who wants to play Leon Lai and who shall be Maggie Cheung? In this tale of the country kid and the city slicker who move from the mainland to Hong Kong, thrown together by fate and falling in love, the Hung Hom MTR plays the supporting role to their meeting. Feel free to turn up the volume on your phone and slow dance on the train to the classic theme song Tian Mi Mi by Teresa Teng.
Ruins of St Paul, Macau – Return of the Cuckoo
If you fancy an excuse for the overnight dash to Macau, the ruins of St Paul might be a nice little romantic sojourn. Our film guru says the film is “rubbish” – but it was also made into a much-loved TVB series – and which self-respecting romantic couple wouldn’t be inspired by this background?
