I was a little pleased to find an illuminated sign overhanging the roadway, something that has become less common in recent years

Sign shaped like a green leaf
Sign shaped like a green leaf

As you walk through the streets of Hong Kong, it’s often the signs above — not just the shops below — that catch your eye. Massive neon boards jut out boldly over the roads, suspended above traffic like glowing relics. For years, they stood as icons of the city’s chaotic charm. But lately, they’ve begun to disappear. Deterioration, updated safety regulations, shifting ideas about urban aesthetics — there are many reasons. Whatever the cause, it’s clear that these signs are part of a vanishing landscape.

While walking through Wan Chai, I came across this one — a sign shaped like a green leaf, hanging above a traditional tea shop. The bold red characters printed on the leaf marked it as a cha hang, a place that sells tea leaves. Though weathered by time, the sign remained firmly in place, as if resisting the changes unfolding around it. It looked old, yes — but somehow, also proud.

Wan Chai on Google Map
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Jun 2025 HONG KONG IN THE CITY

PHOTO DATA

No

12861

Shooting Date

Sep 2024

Posted On

June 21, 2025

Place

Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Genre

Street Photography

Camera

SONY ALPHA 7R V

Lens

ZEISS BATIS 2/40 CF

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