I’m no stranger to Hong Kong— I’ve visited over 6 times in the past decade, but it seems that I never quite get to all of the “Instagrammable” spots, since the focus of my travels are usually to spend time with local family members. This past November, I got to spend a few weeks as a local in Hong Kong, exploring all of the good eats and finally some of the lesser known Instagrammable locations on Hong Kong island.
#1 on the list, Sai Wan Swimming Shed in Sai Wan, Hong Kong.
For weeks, I was watching the weather to see when would be a safe time to go, but day after day, I was plagued with Typhoon warnings ranging from T3 to T8 due to a delayed typhoon season. Just towards the last few days of my month-long trip, I saw a break in the severe typhoons and was blessed with a T1 day.
Michelle made the trek over from her home on one of the distant islands and we journeyed by MTR, then by taxi, then by a steep, staircase hike down to the swimming shed. Many locals that I talked to had no idea of the Swimming Shed’s existence, but I’d always seen that iconic shot of tourists posing on the dock leading to an abyss of choppy waters on social media.
The famed swimming shed used to be a small, government property that was a refuge for swimmers to change and get ready for a dip in the water, but when we arrived, we found out the hard way that a squatter had occupied the shed and was using it as their home. Oops.
A selfie in the squatter’s outdoor bathroom mirror…
The waves were heavy from the typhoon, and the dock waved side to side from the force of the water. We watched as the squatter barreled down the dock and jumped headfirst into the waves, with nothing but faith and a pair of swim trunks. An older man was fishing on one of the cliffs. For these locals, this spot was a refuge away from the hustle and bustle of the hectic urban areas of Hong Kong.
A fisherman at the edge of the world.
I brought along with me a Nikon FG, a Voigtlander 40mm f/2 Ultron, a new and unfamiliar film stock, VIBE MAX 100, which I then converted to black and white due to extreme color shift and haze, and a Leica Q-P.
A short clip illustrating how windy it was at the edge of the water.
Even snuck in a little touristy shot for myself, thanks to Michelle:
After we got a few shots in the area, we hiked about a third of a mile to get to the The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong and got some environmental portraits in a more urban setting, with the gorgeous architecture of the campus.
If you’re visiting Hong Kong and are looking for a unique spot for photos or just a chance to get some fresh air away from the crowds, I highly recommend checking out Sai Wan Swimming Shed. Be warned, there are no bathrooms.
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