Blue House

Historical landmark · Soho

Blue House

Historical landmark · Soho

Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Stone Nullah Ln, 72A 號街 4 號地舖地舖及慶雲

Highlights

This vibrant blue 1920s Hong Kong landmark blends colorful tong lau charm with a cozy museum spotlighting local history and culture.

Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Stone Nullah Ln, 72A 號街 4 號地舖地舖及慶雲 Get directions

vivabluehouse.hk

@vivabluehouse

@onthegrid

On the Grid : The Blue House

"This Grade 1 Historic Building is an iconic image of Wan Chai. One of the few remaining examples of tong lau—tenement-style housing—once common in the city, the blue colour is slightly less vibrant these days, but no less worthy of an Instagram snap. And for the curious traveller, it also houses the Hong Kong House of Stories, a community-run museum whose aim is preservation of the house, as well as conserving Hong Kong culture amid the sweeping changes of time." - Isabel Foo

https://onthegrid.city/hong-kong/wan-chai/the-blue-house

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@onthegrid

"The Blue House, Wan Chai. This Grade 1 Historic Building is an iconic image of Wan Chai. One of the few remaining examples of tong lau—tenement-style housing—once common in the city, the blue colour is slightly less vibrant these days, but no less worthy of an Instagram snap. And for the curious traveller, it also houses the Hong Kong House of Stories, a community-run museum whose aim is preservation of the house, as well as conserving Hong Kong culture amid the sweeping changes of time."

Hong Kong

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@cntraveler

24 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong

"Blue House, a Grade I historic building, has stood the test of time. The name is a bit of a misnomer: It's not just one house, but a cluster of four interconnected tenement-style residences and shophouses in a rainbow of shades—blue, orange, yellow, and gray. The Blue House is the most famous, thanks in part to its head-turning cobalt facade, and has played host to all kinds of businesses—a hospital, temple, and even a kung fu studio. It currently serves as a residence for local Hongkongers and a few businesses." - Kate Springer

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-hong-kong

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@cntraveler

Blue House

"What's the deal with this place?In hyper-dense Hong Kong, it's rare to find pre-World War II buildings that haven't been razed or modernized. But Blue House, a Grade I historic building, has stood the test of time. The name is a bit of a misnomer: It's not just one house, but a cluster of four interconnected tong laus (tenement-style residences and shophouses, once prevalent in the 1920s) in a rainbow of shades—blue, orange, yellow, and gray. The Blue House is the most famous, thanks in part to its head-turning cobalt facade, and has played host to all kinds of businesses—a hospital, temple, and even a kung fu studio. It currently serves as a residence for local Hongkongers and a few businesses. Even so, you can visit the House of Stories, a free gallery and workshop space brimming with antiques, quotidian artifacts, and multimedia exhibitions. And the vibe?Nerdish curiosity. Is there a guide involved, and are they worthwhile?You'll be in great hands; the staff at House of Stories, all long-time residents of the neighborhood, are full of stories and insights. Who tends to stop in here?Blue House offers a stark contrast to the mega-modern skyscrapers and sleek bars in the surrounding area. Many travelers walk by just to snap a few shots of the vibrant facade; others linger at House of Stories to learn all about the history and architectural significance of the buildings. What's the best part of visiting the Blue HouseThe landmark building turns on a faucet of Hong Kong stories, and once you start learning about everyday life for residents in the 1920s and '30s, the more you want to know. So who would you recommend it to, and why?Architecture buffs and history lovers will enjoy Blue House for its status as one of the city's last-standing wooden tong laus, and its graceful design details. It's also a great stop for families or a worthy break from the Wan Chai bar circuit." - Kate Springer

https://www.cntraveler.com/activities/hong-kong/blue-house

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Lucas Tan

Google

Not sure what's the significance of this building but it's nice. For tourists, be careful when crossing the road or posing for photos at this building. Traffic are heavy at this junction all the time. Weather is hot and humid and people can be restless, including drivers. From here, you can go to wanchai street market if you haven't been there.

Chloe Koh

Google

Small exhibition on the first floor with a lot of antiques and cute merchandise. A few other buildings nearby painted in only one colour which make for nice photos

Neko Chan

Google

This is a Grade I historical building in Hong Kong, assessed by the Antiquities and Monuments Office. The site was originally constructed as the Wah To Hospital in 1867. The hospital ceased operation in 1886 and became the Wah To Temple. The temple was demolished and relocated in 1920. The present building was then constructed. Form part of the Blue House Cluster. Together with Yellow House and Orange House, their revitalization has won the Award of Excellence of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The Hong Kong House of Stories located on the ground floor of the Blue House. There is small scale display of daily necessities in the old days. Free to visit. Free guided tours are available too but reservation in advance is advised. English, Cantonese and Mandarin tours are offered.

Martin

Google

The Blue House in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, is a historic and cultural gem that offers a glimpse into the city's past. Built in the 1920s, this vibrant cobalt-blue building is one of the few remaining examples of "Tong Lau" architecture, a style that blends Chinese and Western design elements. Its name comes from the surplus blue paint used during renovations in the 1990s. The Blue House is not just a visual landmark but also a hub for community and cultural activities. It houses the Hong Kong House of Stories, which organizes exhibitions, workshops, and guided tours to promote local heritage. Visitors can learn about the building's history, which includes its time as a Chinese medicine hospital and a martial arts school. While the interior is modest, the building's charm lies in its historical significance and the stories it tells about Hong Kong's evolving urban landscape. It's best admired from the outside, where its striking color and architectural details stand out. If you're a history enthusiast or someone who appreciates cultural preservation, the Blue House is worth a visit.

R T

Google

Honestly, there's nothing much to do over here apart from seeing some retro old furnishings and items on the ground floor and viewing the backyard. There are some merchandise for sale though. Was informed that residents are still living in the upper floors and it's a restricted area. If you are in the vicinity and into architecture and building, you can check the place out. If you have limited time in Hong Kong, better to skip this place.

Marco S (MarcoVolo)

Google

Nothing special. A building with blue paint. Maybe historic but in HK there are so many beautiful places to feel the history.

A. Moe

Google

Interesting… Yangon (previously known as Rangoon)’s downtown has many historic building like this. Some of them are even smaller than this building. But, it is poorly maintained and they cannot be considered tourist attraction. I am glad to see HK has similar buildings and it reminds me of Yangon while walking along the streets of Hong Kong.

Bryan (SMAD)

Google

The Blue House on Hong Kong Island is a must-visit for a glimpse into the olden days. It showcases various exhibitions of vintage technology, offering a nostalgic experience. Nearby, you can explore other historic houses like the Yellow House or Green House for additional immersion. Don't miss the temple situated at the top for a complete cultural experience.

Whitney L.

Yelp

While wandering around Wan Chai, I came across the Blue House and the Hong Kong House of Stories. The Hong Kong House of Stories (香港故事館) is a tiny museum that is packed with nostalgic old items from Hong Kong's past, giving you a quick glimpse into the city's history and how much it has changed over the years. The space is small, so it doesn't take long to explore, but it was fun to poke around the exhibits and appreciate the effort that went into curating them. I also liked that there were some handmade souvenirs that I could pick up! It was a charming and worthwhile stop, especially if you're in the area already.

Joshua B.

Yelp

This is an old restored building with a little shop in the bottom floor. The shop keeper tells the story of the history of the building, which was cool to hear, as well as sells different handmade items from the shop (technically they are for donation). The shop also has other strange and curious things to browse through.

Grace H.

Yelp

The "Blue House' refers to a four storey balcony-type tenement block located in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. It is naked after the blue color painted on its external walls. It is one of the few example of Tong Lau in Hong Kong. It is classfied as Grade I historic building. There are a few buildings near by which also painted in brigh colors. It reminds me of those colorful buildings in Bueno Aires - the "La Boca" district, although the one in Bueno Aires are more colorful. There is also a small make shift museum on the ground floor, but it does not open everyday. For me, it is interesting to see what is disappearing very fast in Hong Kong.

Suanne C.

Yelp

Still remember a research on the Blue House was my school project back in the days of early millennium.(Well, Blue House is actually a group of 3 tenement houses with shared party-walls- a wall separating 2 parties, and hence may be considered as one building) At that time, not much information could be found on this old and decaying house, but some old drawings from the Buildings Department and libraries. In that research, we found that the house was built in the 1920s after World War II, in a typical style of the time. Back then, houses were built with a narrow street front, due to the limitation of loads to be taken by wooden horizontal beams across 2 stone party-walls. The living space was then extended deep from the street side into the lot, so not much sunlight can penetrate into the living space, the kitchens doesn't have windows (precious windows are reserved to the bedrooms and living rooms, a bit like the studio flats that are getting popular around town nowadays) and private lavatories were not common. The house also underwent several alterations to upgrade the standards over in the 40s. 3 of the 4 houses in the block were acquired by the government and conveniently painted with the left over blue paint of the government Works Department during renovation in 1990 (the colour commonly used on metal parts of government buildings), and was listed as Grade 1 historical building. Finally in 2007 St. James' Settlement's set up the Wan Chai Livelihood Place, at its G/F shop as a small communal private museum to showcase the livelihood and culture of local Wanchai residents (a bit like the small museum in Tai O, which I have a separate review). In 2010 its revitalization proposal with museum on G/F, whilst letting the original tenants living on the upper floors with improved sanitary conditions, was officially accepted by the URA and implemented. It was subsequently renamed Hong Kong House of Stories in 2012 with the sponsorship from Hong Kong Bank Foundation, and it has live music events and guided tours organized regularly to promote culture in Wan Chai. When I passed by recently it seems it is under another flux of change of Phase II revitalization called the Viva Blue House, let's see how it would turn out~ The current:- http://houseofstories.sjs.org.hk/?q=about The Future:- https://www.heritage.gov.hk/tc/rhbtp/ProgressResult2_Blue_House_Cluster.htm

Trini A.

Yelp

You may have heard about The Blue House and you may even have been there, but do you actually know what it is? I've been there too and after leaving, I still had no idea what it was about. The place caught my eye as I was walking up Stone Nullah Lane to grab a tea at Lokali...its name says it all, it's a blue house! And it stands out from the rest of the buildings in the street. I actually love the architecture of it and for a second a Mediterranean scene came to my mind, with its bright blue color and its balconies, not so common in Hong Kong. As I found out later, it was built back in the 20s as a residential building and maintained through different public projects that finally allowed residents to stay although the standards don't seem too high (apparently there are no proper toilets!). A little more culture about it: it's a Grade I historic building, which applies to buildings with 'outstanding features' that justified any effort towards its preservation. Prior to it being a four-storey blue house, it was a lower rise house used as a hospital and a temple but it was later demolished and turned into the house you can see today. It was then used as a martial arts center, and osteopathy clinic, a school offering free education for children; a chamber of commerce for the fishmongers...the house is packed with a ton of history. Nowadays, it hosts the Wan Chai Livelihood Museum, which is what I visited on that day. They aim at preserving the cultural richness of Wan Chai and they organize exhibitions and workshops to support it. To get the most of your visit to the museum, I recommend you go there informed about what the house and Wan Chai is about. You'll definitely get to understand this piece of history so much better.

@onthegrid

Lucas Tan

Google

Chloe Koh

Google

Small exhibition on the first floor with a lot of antiques and cute merchandise. A few other buildings nearby painted in only one colour which make for nice photos

Neko Chan

Google

Martin

Google

R T

Google

Marco S (MarcoVolo)

Google

Nothing special. A building with blue paint. Maybe historic but in HK there are so many beautiful places to feel the history.

A. Moe

Google

Bryan (SMAD)

Google

Whitney L.

Yelp

Joshua B.

Yelp

Grace H.

Yelp

Suanne C.

Yelp

Trini A.

Yelp

Blue House

Photos

Highlights