Ricci Hall, Student dormitory in Central and Western District, Hong Kong
Ricci Hall is a student residence on Pokfulam Road in Hong Kong, made up of five connected buildings reserved for male students of the University of Hong Kong. Each room comes with a private balcony, and the buildings are arranged so that many rooms look out over the surrounding campus and hillside.
The Society of Jesus established the residence in 1928 as part of its educational work at the University of Hong Kong. It was named after Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit who lived in China in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and was one of the first Westerners to gain access to the imperial court.
The name Ricci Hall refers to Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit priest known for bridging European and Chinese thought in the 16th century. That spirit of exchange is still felt today, as the hall brings together male students from many different backgrounds under one roof.
The hall is reserved for male undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Hong Kong, and a formal application is required to secure a place. Anyone planning to visit the building should check current access policies in advance, as entry to the premises is not generally open to the public.
Matteo Ricci, after whom the hall is named, became so fluent in Chinese that he wrote scientific texts in the language, which was rare among Western missionaries of his time. He was also the first Westerner known to have been buried in Beijing, a privilege granted by the Chinese emperor.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
