Monster Building is one of Hong Kong’s most photographed residential complexes
The “Monster Building” in Quarry Bay has become one of Hong Kong’s most photographed residential complexes, thanks to its dense, almost sci‑fi courtyard and appearances in films and social media feeds. Officially, it isn’t a single building but an E‑shaped cluster of five interconnected blocks – Yick Cheong Building, Yick Fat Building, Montane Mansion, Oceanic Mansion and Fook Cheong Building – built in the 1960s along King’s Road to house thousands of residents in compact flats above ground‑floor shops. Today, it’s still a lived‑in housing estate, but its stacked balconies and narrow central courtyard make it a magnet for urban photographers and visitors looking for a glimpse of “old Hong Kong” density.
Because it sits in the middle of a normal neighbourhood, the Monster Building can be surprisingly easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. This guide walks you through exactly how to find it, starting from the MTR, and adds a few practical tips for visiting respectfully.
Where is the Monster Building?
The Monster Building is on King’s Road in Quarry Bay, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, roughly between Quarry Bay and Tai Koo MTR stations on the Island Line. Its best‑known courtyard entrance is on a small side street off King’s Road near the junction with Mount Parker Road and Yau Man Street, behind a row of street‑level shops and small businesses.
You won’t see a big sign saying “Monster Building” – from the outside, it looks like a typical mid‑century apartment block with shops at street level – so you need to know which MTR exit to take and which direction to walk along King’s Road.
Option 1: From Quarry Bay MTR Station
The most straightforward route for most visitors is from Quarry Bay Station on the Island Line.
- Take the Island Line to Quarry Bay Station
- Use Exit A
- Inside Quarry Bay Station, head for Exit A (King’s Road / Mount Parker Road).
- Once you come out to street level, you should find yourself on King’s Road with tram tracks and traffic in front of you.
- Turn right towards Tai Koo
- Turn right as you leave Exit A, so that you are walking east along King’s Road in the direction of Tai Koo.
- Keep to the same side of the road; you’ll walk past a mix of offices, shops and small restaurants.
- Walk 5–7 minutes along King’s Road
- It’s roughly a 5–7 minute, mostly flat walk from Exit A to the Monster Building entrance.
- As you go, you’ll pass side streets and eventually approach the junction with Mount Parker Road, where there is a sign for the Mount Parker Road Green Trail leading uphill.
- Look for the entrance near Mount Parker Road / Yau Man Street
- After you pass the junction to Mount Parker Road, watch for a cluster of older shopfronts and a narrow opening leading into the building complex – this is where you enter Montane Mansion / Oceanic Mansion.
- Some guides also mention the intersection of King’s Road and Yau Man Street; if you see Yau Man Street, the entrance to the complex is just a short distance away.
- Walk through the shops into the courtyard
- Step through the passageway between the shops and follow it into the inner courtyard.
- You’ll emerge into the famous central space, with tall walls of balconies and windows rising around you – this is the “Monster Building” view you’ve seen in photos.
Option 2: From Tai Koo MTR Station
You can also approach from Tai Koo Station, one stop east of Quarry Bay, which some visitors find more convenient depending on where they’re staying.
- Take the Island Line to Tai Koo Station and follow signs for Exit B, which brings you out near Cityplaza and King’s Road.
- Turn west along King’s Road, walking back towards Quarry Bay; this is the opposite direction to the Quarry Bay route, but along the same main road.
- Walk for about 3–5 minutes until you reach the intersection with Yau Man Street on your right.
- From Yau Man Street, walk a few metres up from King’s Road and look for the entrance into the building complex on your left, again via a passageway through the ground‑floor shops into the courtyard.
This route is slightly shorter from Tai Koo than from Quarry Bay, and it works well if you’re combining a visit to the Monster Building with time in Tai Koo Shing or Cityplaza.
Other ways to get there (bus and tram)
If you’re staying on Kowloon side or prefer surface transport, you can also reach the Monster Building by bus or tram.
- By bus from Tsim Sha Tsui / Kowloon: Several cross‑harbour routes such as 102, 110 and 116 run from Tsim Sha Tsui towards Hong Kong Island East; you can get off near Quarry Bay or Tai Koo and then walk a few minutes to King’s Road and the building entrance.
- By tram: The iconic “ding ding” tram runs along King’s Road, so you can ride it to the Quarry Bay / Tai Koo area, hop off near Mount Parker Road, and then walk a short distance back to the entrance.
Whichever option you choose, the key is the same: aim for King’s Road between Quarry Bay and Tai Koo, then look for the inconspicuous passageways leading into Montane Mansion and Yick Cheong Building.
Visiting respectfully
Although the Monster Building is famous, it’s still a dense residential estate where thousands of people live. In recent years, residents and building managers have put up signs asking visitors to respect their privacy, and access to parts of the courtyard has occasionally been restricted.
To keep your visit smooth for everyone:
- Keep noise low and avoid large group gatherings or photoshoots at busy times.
- Don’t block doorways, stairwells or lift lobbies – residents need to come and go constantly.
- Follow any posted instructions, and skip climbing onto railings or rooftops for “better” angles; there are already plenty of great perspectives from ground level.
If you treat the courtyard like someone’s front yard rather than a public attraction, you’ll still get the dramatic photos while helping keep this unique complex accessible to future visitors. For more ideas on what to see and do nearby, check out our complete Island East district guide here.