This Abandoned School In Hong Kong Is An Instagram Sensation

A desolate and abandoned building rests quietly by the South China Sea, in the coastal district of Kennedy Town in Hong Kong Island. What was once a primary school has evolved into a canvas for local street artists, a playground for urban explorers and a backdrop for Instagram-savvy millennials.

A plastic sign warns that unauthorized entry is considered illegal trespassing, but unguarded gates and shattered windows do little to prevent the local Hong Kong youth from catching a glimpse of what is essentially, a free-of-charge art gallery.

View of vibrantly splattered graffiti from east-wing of the building

Anonymous expression of discontent towards Hong Kong’s challenging education system. Similar struggles are experienced in other East Asian countries

Most visual artworks are created in a clandestine manner, signed anonymously or with brief initials

Some artists regularly find their way back into the abandoned school to spend days on more intricate murals

One of the very few windows left unbroken

This building was previously occupied by the co-educational international school, Hong Kong Academy. Since they relocated to a new campus in Sai Kung, New Territories around August 2013, no other establishments have occupied the building. Without doubt, street art is still largely considered vandalism in Hong Kong, and is promptly removed from public spaces. As a result, many artists and graffiti fanatics have found their way into decrepit, unmonitored and disowned buildings around the city for their art work to preserved in a more permanent setting. Here, you will discover anything from amateur graffiti to powerful political imagery and motifs supporting the notorious 2014 Umbrella Revolution.

Covered in spray paint, some desks and cupboards remain relatively intact

The widespread use of social media has transformed this abandoned school into an unofficial education centre among the local Hong Kong youth. However, instead of maths or science, graffiti art, urban exploration and photography are the subjects on the curriculum here.

Find this abandoned school at: 12 Ka Wai Man Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong Island

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.