The annual Hong Kong Island Coastal Trail Challenge is now in its fourth edition and will take place from 15th November to 15th January next year. Registration is currently open. You can enjoy $50 off with our discount code HKCTC50 when you register from now to 14th November. The trail is divided into eight sections, featuring steep hiking trails, flat waterfront promenades, and bustling urban streets.
Following last year's arrangement, the Coastal Trail Challenge 2023/24 has two categories – "Leisure" and "Racing". In the Leisure category, participants can explore any section or multiple sections of the Coastal Trail, or complete all eight sections while participating in an engaging quiz game. By doing so, they can earn a new set of eight pins representing the Coastal Trail, three of which feature the theme of residential architecture. Let’s have a sneak peek of what to expect.
Wah Fu Estate
Wah Fu Estate is known as “the luxury home of the ordinary (平民豪宅)”, and is familiar to many in Hong Kong. Located by the sea, many residential units and public areas within the estate offer breathtaking views. With the recent wave of nostalgia, the old-style public housing represented by Wah Fu Estate has become a popular spot for photography, capturing collective memories.
Established in 1968, this half-century-old estate was the first public housing development in Hong Kong to adopt a town concept design. Following the natural terrain, the layout of the estate is well-planned. It includes a shopping mall, market, school, post office, parking lots, and other comprehensive facilities. It has nurtured many Hong Kong citizens and served as a haven for numerous families. However, as the estate ages, Wah Fu Estate will soon undergo a redevelopment plan, bidding farewell to the people of Hong Kong. In recent years, both official and community initiatives have been launched to document the unique life, community, and architectural culture of the estate, recording its final moments.
Wah Ha Estate
In comparison, Wah Ha Estate may not be well-known to many people. Located next to Chai Wan Station, this public housing estate only consists of a single building. It was established in 2016, but its value cannot be underestimated. The building, completed in 1959, was formerly the Chai Wan Factory Estate. During the development of the Chai Wan community, many squatters and small factories were relocated to this multi-story factory building. Over the years, the building has witnessed the industrial development history of the Chai Wan area. To preserve the remaining "H-shaped" factory building, the government converted it into public housing in 2012. A year later, the Antiquities Advisory Board designated the building as a Grade II historic building.
Monster Building
Hong Kong has a highly dense population, and most people live in high-rise buildings. The "Monster Building" in Quarry Bay which is composed of five interconnected buildings, exemplifies this typical characteristic of Hong Kong housing. The building was established in 1972 and provides over 2,000 residential units for tens of thousands of people. Standing between the two large atriums of the building and looking up, the massive and uneven exterior and densely packed units attract tourists and photography enthusiasts alike. In the past, many movies including the Hollywood film "Transformers: Age of Extinction," have been shot here, bringing the Monster Building to the cinema screen multiple times, creating the impression of a "concrete jungle" in Hong Kong.
The selection of other pin designs includes well-known natural landmarks and culturally significant heritage sites. This year, we specially selected a century-old building that is about to undergo restoration as one of the pins, which are designed to encourage participants to experience the city's development and historical changes while exploring the Hong Kong Island Coastal Trail. For more details, please visit the Hong Kong Island Coastal Trail Challenge 2023/24 website and social media platforms (Facebook / Instagram).