Yick Cheong Building, Dense residential complex in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.
Yick Cheong Building is one of five connected residential towers in the Quarry Bay neighborhood of Hong Kong, China. The structures together form an E-shaped courtyard, with each side densely covered in windows, air conditioning units, and laundry poles.
All five towers rose in the late 1960s as a response to housing shortages after a devastating fire in a nearby squatter settlement. The division into separate units with their own names occurred in 1972 for easier management.
The complex earned its nickname in the 2000s when photographers began capturing the symmetrical facade from below. This perspective shows the tight apartments and balconies stacking like a grid pattern up to the sky.
The central courtyard is open during the day, and visitors need a wide-angle lens to capture the full view looking upward. Residents share this small area with tourists, so being mindful of privacy is important.
The complex served as backdrop for several international film productions, including science fiction blockbusters. Many residents still hang their laundry on long bamboo poles from the windows, a traditional practice in Hong Kong high-rises.
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