Blue House on Postcard

"This Grade 1 Historic Building is an iconic image of Wan Chai. One of the few remaining examples of tong lau—tenement-style housing—once common in the city, the blue colour is slightly less vibrant these days, but no less worthy of an Instagram snap. And for the curious traveller, it also houses the Hong Kong House of Stories, a community-run museum whose aim is preservation of the house, as well as conserving Hong Kong culture amid the sweeping changes of time." - Isabel Foo

On the Grid : The Blue House

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@onthegrid

"The Blue House, Wan Chai. This Grade 1 Historic Building is an iconic image of Wan Chai. One of the few remaining examples of tong lau—tenement-style housing—once common in the city, the blue colour is slightly less vibrant these days, but no less worthy of an Instagram snap. And for the curious traveller, it also houses the Hong Kong House of Stories, a community-run museum whose aim is preservation of the house, as well as conserving Hong Kong culture amid the sweeping changes of time."

Hong Kong

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@cntraveler

"Blue House, a Grade I historic building, has stood the test of time. The name is a bit of a misnomer: It's not just one house, but a cluster of four interconnected tenement-style residences and shophouses in a rainbow of shades—blue, orange, yellow, and gray. The Blue House is the most famous, thanks in part to its head-turning cobalt facade, and has played host to all kinds of businesses—a hospital, temple, and even a kung fu studio. It currently serves as a residence for local Hongkongers and a few businesses." - Kate Springer

24 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

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@cntraveler

"What's the deal with this place?In hyper-dense Hong Kong, it's rare to find pre-World War II buildings that haven't been razed or modernized. But Blue House, a Grade I historic building, has stood the test of time. The name is a bit of a misnomer: It's not just one house, but a cluster of four interconnected tong laus (tenement-style residences and shophouses, once prevalent in the 1920s) in a rainbow of shades—blue, orange, yellow, and gray. The Blue House is the most famous, thanks in part to its head-turning cobalt facade, and has played host to all kinds of businesses—a hospital, temple, and even a kung fu studio. It currently serves as a residence for local Hongkongers and a few businesses. Even so, you can visit the House of Stories, a free gallery and workshop space brimming with antiques, quotidian artifacts, and multimedia exhibitions. And the vibe?Nerdish curiosity. Is there a guide involved, and are they worthwhile?You'll be in great hands; the staff at House of Stories, all long-time residents of the neighborhood, are full of stories and insights. Who tends to stop in here?Blue House offers a stark contrast to the mega-modern skyscrapers and sleek bars in the surrounding area. Many travelers walk by just to snap a few shots of the vibrant facade; others linger at House of Stories to learn all about the history and architectural significance of the buildings. What's the best part of visiting the Blue HouseThe landmark building turns on a faucet of Hong Kong stories, and once you start learning about everyday life for residents in the 1920s and '30s, the more you want to know. So who would you recommend it to, and why?Architecture buffs and history lovers will enjoy Blue House for its status as one of the city's last-standing wooden tong laus, and its graceful design details. It's also a great stop for families or a worthy break from the Wan Chai bar circuit." - Kate Springer

Blue House

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R T

Google

Honestly, there's nothing much to do over here apart from seeing some retro old furnishings and items on the ground floor and viewing the backyard. There are some merchandise for sale though. Was informed that residents are still living in the upper floors and it's a restricted area. If you are in the vicinity and into architecture and building, you can check the place out. If you have limited time in Hong Kong, better to skip this place.

A. Moe

Google

Interesting… Yangon (previously known as Rangoon)’s downtown has many historic building like this. Some of them are even smaller than this building. But, it is poorly maintained and they cannot be considered tourist attraction. I am glad to see HK has similar buildings and it reminds me of Yangon while walking along the streets of Hong Kong.

Angela Lee

Google

A nice place to visit and experience old days of Hong Kong. No shelter leading to the place, so it is weather-dependent.

Bryan (SMAD)

Google

The Blue House on Hong Kong Island is a must-visit for a glimpse into the olden days. It showcases various exhibitions of vintage technology, offering a nostalgic experience. Nearby, you can explore other historic houses like the Yellow House or Green House for additional immersion. Don't miss the temple situated at the top for a complete cultural experience.

Kwong Ng

Google

A beautiful building indeed but honestly not much to see. Perhaps I didn’t join the guided tours which are scheduled for 11am and 3pm. There is a cafe within the building which you can sip and eat. Surprisingly to me, upper floors are residential units.

Mun Kew Leong

Google

We were looking for less common places to visit in HK and this Blue House trio (there's also a yellow and an orange house) was recommended. It was interesting to read the history but nothing really historic as their "artifacts" are quite famiiar from having grown up with similar stuff in our grandparents' place. I think it's more interesting to just walk around Wan Chai then aiming for special destinations.

Angel Lau

Google

I joined the Cantonese tour by accident and learn the rich history behind this historial building. The tour is wonderful and its about 1-1.5hr. The building itself its tiny, similiar to all other old HK building in the past. ***If you are not in the tour, I would not recommand you to visit.*** But for the local, I think its a great way to learn the history in person. In the tour, you can even visit the "sample apartment" which retain the way the apartment used to be, which is very interesting. And there are actual residents living there, who the community required them to contribute for the neigbourhood. I find that ideas great, because the more you put into the neigbourhood, the more you get back. And it really build and mold the community, which is very rare in Hong Kong, I only wish everyone would have the time to do so in their busy life here in HK. Thank you for the wonderful tour.

Wendy

Google

Lingnan-style homes. The Blue House cluster is an interesting building to visit and learn about Hong Kong history. Tours run at selected hours and can be booked online. I recommend doing the tour to get the full background about the building. The staff inside were really helpful in explaining the history of the building.

R T

Google

Honestly, there's nothing much to do over here apart from seeing some retro old furnishings and items on the ground floor and viewing the backyard. There are some merchandise for sale though. Was informed that residents are still living in the upper floors and it's a restricted area. If you are in the vicinity and into architecture and building, you can check the place out. If you have limited time in Hong Kong, better to skip this place.

A. Moe

Google

Interesting… Yangon (previously known as Rangoon)’s downtown has many historic building like this. Some of them are even smaller than this building. But, it is poorly maintained and they cannot be considered tourist attraction. I am glad to see HK has similar buildings and it reminds me of Yangon while walking along the streets of Hong Kong.

Angela Lee

Google

A nice place to visit and experience old days of Hong Kong. No shelter leading to the place, so it is weather-dependent.

Bryan (SMAD)

Google

The Blue House on Hong Kong Island is a must-visit for a glimpse into the olden days. It showcases various exhibitions of vintage technology, offering a nostalgic experience. Nearby, you can explore other historic houses like the Yellow House or Green House for additional immersion. Don't miss the temple situated at the top for a complete cultural experience.

Kwong Ng

Google

A beautiful building indeed but honestly not much to see. Perhaps I didn’t join the guided tours which are scheduled for 11am and 3pm. There is a cafe within the building which you can sip and eat. Surprisingly to me, upper floors are residential units.

Mun Kew Leong

Google

We were looking for less common places to visit in HK and this Blue House trio (there's also a yellow and an orange house) was recommended. It was interesting to read the history but nothing really historic as their "artifacts" are quite famiiar from having grown up with similar stuff in our grandparents' place. I think it's more interesting to just walk around Wan Chai then aiming for special destinations.

Angel Lau

Google

I joined the Cantonese tour by accident and learn the rich history behind this historial building. The tour is wonderful and its about 1-1.5hr. The building itself its tiny, similiar to all other old HK building in the past. ***If you are not in the tour, I would not recommand you to visit.*** But for the local, I think its a great way to learn the history in person. In the tour, you can even visit the "sample apartment" which retain the way the apartment used to be, which is very interesting. And there are actual residents living there, who the community required them to contribute for the neigbourhood. I find that ideas great, because the more you put into the neigbourhood, the more you get back. And it really build and mold the community, which is very rare in Hong Kong, I only wish everyone would have the time to do so in their busy life here in HK. Thank you for the wonderful tour.

Wendy

Google

Lingnan-style homes. The Blue House cluster is an interesting building to visit and learn about Hong Kong history. Tours run at selected hours and can be booked online. I recommend doing the tour to get the full background about the building. The staff inside were really helpful in explaining the history of the building.

Blue House

Blue House

Photos

Highlights

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