King Yin Lei — Attraction in Hong Kong

Built in 1937, King Yin Lei is one of Hong Kong's best examples of Chinese Renaissance architecture. It is a sprawling palace built by a Chinese woman entrepreneur at a time when both women and Chinese people were not welcome in the upper echelons of colonial Hong Kong society.

And yet, ever since King Yin Lei was saved from demolition in 2007, it has remained a mystery to the public - except for a few precious days a year when its green metal gates are thrown open to visitors.

The house is divided into 3 wings surrounding a central courtyard. The exterior walls are clad in red brick that stands in contrast to the curved house, but it is hard to imagine what it would have been like in the glory days of King Yin Lei, as many of its original features have been altered, including an auspicious half-moon-shaped pond that was filled in at some point...

Superb fusion of Hong Kong's Chinese and colonial history. Although, now, protected the future use of this site remains unclear. Built in 1937 to a plan by British architect Fenton-Raven the site is the last word on colonial exuberance. The c.4700m site built over three stories has balconies with spectacular views of Hong Kong. The walls are of red brick with the roof made of the distinctive Chinese green pan and roll tiles. Although resplendent with colonial wonders Including then modern conveniences, the aesthetic also plainly incorporates many Chinese elements. Currently open for visiting a few days a year, the future may see a centre for better understanding Chinese culture being created here in the future but...

景賢里（英語：King Yin Lei），原名禧廬，是一座有86年歷史的嶺南大宅，是散建於港島山邊的歷史豪宅之一。位於香港香港島東半山司徒拔道45號，糅合中西方建築特色、是華南地區保存最好的1930年代嶺南大宅。由於它不是街道名稱，所以不會在地圖集的街道名稱中出現。由早年香港富商，望族李陞家族成員李寶椿在戰前出資興建，其後李寶椿送給妹妹，即李陞的女兒李寶麟及李寶麟丈夫岑日初，岑日初先生（1870-1963年），原名卿乾，廣東新會會城鎮人。父公餘，家非富有，卻盡所能為人做好事，是廣東新會著名的殷商。

景賢里是以中國文藝復興風格建造、糅合優秀的中西式建築特色的罕有例子。這種中西結合的風格，令該建築物在香港成為一幢罕見、出色的建築藝術品。 景賢里原名「禧廬」，約建於1937年，首任業主為岑李寶麟女士。大宅由厘份則師樓設計。大宅具有標誌着香港歷史發展的重要性。它是散建於港島山邊的歷史豪宅之一，不僅反映當時華人社群在本港地位日高，財富日增，也展示高尚住宅區開始在半山區成形的本港早期歷史。

1978年，大宅售予邱氏家族－邱子文先生及其子邱木城先生，邱氏家族把大宅易名為「景賢里」。...