This photo says a thousand things to me. The neon signs, the markets, the dilapidated buildings, and the crowds are just several. Everything I love about Hong Kong is in this photo.
For someone who moved to Hong Kong–twice–alone, it felt soothing to walk in crowds and feel a part of something larger.
And in recent years, there’s been a movement to get rid of the neon signs in Hong Kong. I bet a thousand Hong Kong dollars that some of the signs in this photo are no longer there. Neonsigns.HK is a great resource for everything neon in Hong Kong. It has recorded images of old signs that have been taken down, along with interviews with people in the neon industry and movie makers who chose to film in Hong Kong for its (now quickly fading) neon jungles.
When I return to Hong Kong in October, I will take note of the neon signs that still remain and will make sure to snap as many photos as I can. Because that could be the last time I see them.
