5 Hong Kong heritage sites: The expert's pick

Amid Hong Kong's race to build the biggest, newest and tallest buildings, it is humbling to remember the structures that date from the city's early days.

Here are some of the best of Hong Kong's heritage buildings, picked by the Commissioner for Heritage Laura Aron.

Aron works on the adaptive reuse of government-owned historic buildings. She tries to strike a balance between development and conservation when revamping these beautiful, frail old structures.

1. King Yin Lei

This stunning mansion garnered a huge amount of media attention during the "Save King Yin Lei Campaign" in 2004.

“It is not only unique in architecture," says Aron.

"It was the first historic building in Hong Kong to be protected by the government through land exchange with its previous owner, setting a precedent in the city’s heritage conservation work."

Built in 1937, King Yin Lei changed prosperous hands several times over the years. In 2007, a purchaser who remains anonymous began demolition and renovation work, causing extensive damage to the building’s roof and flooring.

Attentive neighbours and quick action by the government halted the demolition.

While King Yin Lei is currently off-limits to the public, keep your eyes out for open days to be held soon. Until then, admire the Chinese Renaissance style of this mansion from the outside.

King Yin Lei, 45 Stubbs Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong