HSBC celebrates 160 years with vibrant murals across Hong Kong’s 18 districts

A fiery dragon’s head, rendered in bold shades of orange and red, is etched onto a wall on Wun Sha Street in Hong Kong’s Tai Hang neighbourhood. The striking mural, created using incense ash, pays homage to the Fire Dragon Dance, a century-old Mid-Autumn Festival tradition celebrated annually in the city.

 

Meanwhile, in the bustling heart of Peel Street, another vibrant mural showcases the HSBC Main Building, its iconic bronze lions, and a glowing digital globe motif. Using luminous colours that glow in the dark, the artwork was designed to capture Central’s dynamic role as Hong Kong’s vital hub that connects the city to the world.

 

 

These two captivating murals are part of a larger collection of 18 artworks that have transformed blank walls across all of Hong Kong’s districts into vivid community canvases. As HSBC marks its 160th anniversary, the 'HSBC 18 Districts Mural Stories' initiative celebrates the city’s rich cultural tapestry by uniting art, heritage, and community spirit.

 

 

Each mural, painted by a local artist, reflects the unique character of its district, from the thrilling dragon boat races in Stanley to the warm nostalgia of cafés in Yau Tsim Mong. The project also highlights HSBC’s enduring commitment to the communities it serves.

 

In Shau Kei Wan, a charming harbour in the Eastern District, a hand-drawn comic-style mural depicts steaming fish ball noodles, a beloved local delicacy that evokes fond memories of shared meals among friends on the neighbourhood’s street corners.

 

 

Traveling to Kowloon’s Wong Tai Sin District, home to the iconic Lion Rock, a mural in San Po Kong portrays the famous rock formation, which locals say resembles a lion’s head. This symbol embodies the city’s hardworking and resilient spirit.

 

 

Further north, in Sai Kung of the New Territories, a vivid mural of a barking deer, the area’s emblematic wildlife, celebrates the region’s lush ecology and serves as a marker of its environmental health.

 

 

Bringing colour and life to walls across the city, these murals were created in collaboration with five talented local artists. The community-focused project aims to blend heritage and modern artistry, in a way that reflects HSBC’s deep-rooted connection to Hong Kong and its vibrant cultural heritage.

 

To make the artworks accessible to all, HSBC partnered with the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK) to provide audio descriptions for all 18 murals. Each mural features a label with a QR code, which grants visitors with visual impairments an inclusive audio-described experience that vividly brings the artworks to life.

 

It’s good to see HSBC step beyond its corporate walls to celebrate its 160th anniversary with a truly community-focused initiative. The murals bring vibrant art and colour to city streets, creating something that residents across Hong Kong can enjoy and take pride in. Commissioning local artists to bring these stories to life was a smart move, keeping it authentic, while breathing new energy and local identity into neighbourhoods throughout the city.

 

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