 | |
| Type | Container terminal |
|---|---|
| Locale | Junction of Hill Road at Connaught Road West Sai Wan, Hong Kong |
| Official name | Western District Public Cargo Working Area 西區公眾貨物裝卸區 |
| Owner | Hong Kong Marine Department |
| Characteristics | |
| History | |
| Coordinates | 22°17′21″N 114°08′00″E / 22.2891°N 114.1333°E |
The Western District Public Cargo Working Area (Chinese: 西區公眾貨物裝卸區 ), commonly nicknamed the Instagram Pier, is a pier located on the waterfront of Sai Wan, Hong Kong. Originally a container terminal, the cargo dock has become a popular attraction and location for photographers.[1] The Instagram Pier is well known by the public because of its clear view of Victoria Harbour, a major tourist attraction in Hong Kong. From the Instagram Pier, views like those of the Hong Kong skyline, sunsets, old lamp posts, caution barriers, cargo pallets, etc. can be captured.[2]
The public cargo working area gained its nickname due to the huge amount of Instagram posts taken in this area, giving it its informal nickname of "Instagram Pier."[3] It has subsequently gained a large amount of media coverage.
History
The Instagram Pier was originally mainly for freighting and has been known as the Western District Public Cargo Working Area. It is one of the six public cargo working areas managed by Hong Kong's Marine Department. With the replacement of small and medium-sized freight companies by large transportation corporations, the usage of the Western District Public Cargo Working Area has become more infrequent. With the lack of amusement parks in the Western District, people began to occupy the area for walking dogs or even fishing. Since around 2010, it has been known for its scenery for watching the sunset, which makes it a good place for photos.[4]
The area has become a popular place for witnessing sunsets and shooting photos. The picturesque surrounding area seen from the pier has taken on the nickname "Mirror of the Sky," since many photographs are taken of the reflective shoreline there. The name refers to the natural phenomenon of reflections seen on the unusually thick layer of water remaining on the ground after rainfall. The water clearly reflects the sky and the shadows of people and objects standing on the horizon. Sunsets often add a stunning effect to this phenomenon.[5]
In 2013, the Instagram Pier won the "Outstanding Public Space Elections," jointly organized by Designing Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Public Space Initiative, and other groups. While the Instagram Pier received the highest number of votes in that election, it is technically not a public place. In fact, the Marine Department has posted warning notices at the pier entrance, citing public safety regulations. Only those engaged in loading and unloading operations are officially allowed at the pier.[6]
After the introduction of the West Island line on the MTR in the first quarter of 2015, the pier has become more famous. In addition, the exposure on social media has attracted even more visitors, especially those from overseas. The end of the work day at the pier is the perfect timing for sunset. Photographers often line up with their tripods, waiting for the sun to fall on the horizon line.[7][8]
On March 1, 2021, the Marine Department used the epidemic as a reason to prohibit the public from freely entering the Instagram Pier except staff.[9]
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Entrance of the Instagram Pier -
Notices at the extrance -
People enjoying the sunset -
"Mirror of the Sky" snapped in the pier -
Crowds of people taking photos and resting
Potential dismantling
Due to a lack of railings for protection, there is a potential danger of falling into the ocean. There have been accidents at the pier, making it possible that the site will have to be closed. The Hong Kong government suggested renovating the whole pier for town planning. It was planned to build extra railings and construct landmark buildings at the tip of the extended part. In addition, parts of the site might be re-established as a waterfront promenade. The planning generally included railings for the pier, and it would be transferred to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for administration.[citation needed]
In the middle of 2015, a Hong Kong newspaper office exposed the news about this town planning, which received a large amount of negative feedback from residents. Afterward, the District Council denied the possibility of this project. However, the government has not forgotten the project. It has been persuading the operators to leave their berths in order to build the waterfront promenade. On the other hand, society has been considering other options for this project. It plans to rebuild the surfaces of Fung Mat Road, Shing Sai Road eastbound, and parts of the Western District Public Cargo Working Area as a waterfront promenade and cycle track; these works would be separated by railings or dividing lines.[citation needed]
In 2017, the Government of Hong Kong published their policy address in October, amending plans to portion off 7500 square meters (over 70%) of the "Instagram Pier" to be converted into a community garden. This sparked widespread criticism, and concerned groups protested against this decision. [1] [10][11]
See also
References
- ^ "Welcome to Hong Kong's 'Instagram Pier'". National Geographic. 2017-10-19. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Top 10 places in Hong Kong to take an insanely beautiful photo – #nofilterneeded!". Young Post | South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ Laurent, Olivier. "Sunset and Selfies: Welcome to Hong Kong's Instagram Pier". Time. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "No Filter Needed: Hong Kong's 13 most Instagram-famous locations that you've always wanted to find | Coconuts Hong Kong". Coconuts. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Top 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Hong Kong". Travelog. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Hong Kong Public Space Awards 2013". Hong Kong Public Space Initiative 拓展公共空間. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Lomography – 攝影好去處 ﹣「Instagram Pier」西環貨運碼頭" (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ 發自香港, 端傳媒攝影記者 林亦非. "西環碼頭：被圍欄包圍之前的Instagram Pier｜端傳媒 Initium Media". 端傳媒 Initium Media (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "海事處封西區「港版天空之鏡」 公眾須持工作證進場" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2021-02-28.
- ^ "Gov't scales down community garden plan at popular 'Instagram Pier' amid criticism | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ HK, Southside (2018-02-11). "Public push to protect Instagram Pier – Southside Magazine". Southside Magazine. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
External links
- #InstagramPier hashtag Explore page on Instagram
- Map from the Marine Department of Hong Kong
Further reading
- B. Pong, Unfolding the Western District Public Cargo Working Area in Hong Kong, 2017. An introductory text in the Harvard University Graduate School of Design website.
This page was last edited on 11 April 2024, at 16:46