A 90-year-old pink public bathhouse becomes a "vanishing memory" in Hong Kong's old Western District

▲The public bathhouse in Hong Kong’s Western District.

Reported & photographed by reporter You [name unclear] / Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s old district of Western, once less accessible by transportation, has retained the complete charm of old Hong Kong neighborhoods and has been dubbed by local media asthe "last stronghold of the underprivileged."With the opening of a nearby subway station, land and rental prices in the area have soared, leading to the gradual disappearance of long-standing shops. Among them is a 90-year-old "public bathhouse" located near the Sai Ying Pun MTR station. Its pink exterior remains intact, preserving a glimpse of Hong Kong’s past culture—but it too faces the looming threat of vanishing.


▲The well-preserved pink "public bathhouse," its color vibrant and structure intact.


Going back to 1894 when the plague broke out in Hong Kong, the government built public bathhouses in areas such as Pound Lane in Sheung Wan and Wo On Lane in Sai Ying Pun to improve hygiene. The one in Sai Ying Pun was initially a temporary setup converted from a tenement building, featuring separate bathing areas for men, women, and children, with a public toilet across the street. According to statistics from the bookPlay · Ground Sai Wan (游 · 戏西环), around 100,000 people used these two bathhouses around 1910.

In the past, Hong Kong had about 11 public bathhouses serving residents. In 1922, due to high demand, the government decided to build permanent public bathhouses. The old ones were closed, and the new one reopened on November 18, 1925. Today, the building is 90 years old and carries a century’s worth of the lives of Hong Kong people.

This pink public bathhouse, situated on a slope, has a simple square shape and is well preserved. Though still basically tidy inside, it is rarely used in modern times. With the opening of the subway and rising land values, many locals fear this historic bathhouse may soon be demolished. Travelers visiting the area around the Sai Ying Pun MTR station are encouraged to take five minutes to see this building that captures nearly a century of old Hong Kong’s history.


▲A remnant of time—the public bathhouse stands as a witness to the passage of time.


Sai Ying Pun Public Bathhouse
Address: 94 Second Street, Western District, Hong Kong