Hugging the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Fortress Hill is a small neighbourhood east of Central. Several of its streets are inspired by the 19th-century oil depot established by Royal Dutch Shell, which has now been decommissioned to make way for office buildings, apartments and leafy parks.
Things to do in Fortress Hill
Be sure to photograph the famous Fortress Hill Steps, a patchwork-painted set of zigzag staircases located adjacent to the Fortress Hill MTR station. At the top of the stairs, continue along the road leading to Tin Hau Temple to admire the Japanese-inspired Garden No. 3, which features bamboo fencing, stone sculptures and a charming bridge.
Art enthusiasts shouldn’t miss a visit to the Oi! Street Art Space, which occupies a red brick building built in 1908 as the headquarters of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Today, it houses temporary art exhibitions and art-related activities and has an outdoor learning area for kids. While exploring Fortress Hill, keep an eye out for Oi!’s “living art projects”, which are designed to beautify Hong Kong’s buildings.
For sweeping views across Victoria Harbour, head to the newly developed East Coast Park Precinct on Fortress Hill’s waterfront. Kids will love the nearby King's Road Playground while dogs can run free at the North Point Promenade Dog Park. Watching over Fortress Hill are the wooded walking trails of the Tin Hau Temple Road Garden No.2.
Getting around Fortress Hill
Fortress Hill is around 10 minutes’ drive from Central and 40 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport. The neighbourhood is served by the Fortress Hill MTR station and a network of trams, as well as several bus routes. Most of Fortress Hill’s attractions are within walking distance of one another.