I was standing in the General Post Office in Central, right by the Star Ferry pier, watching a guy frantically lick about twenty stamps. It’s a weirdly nostalgic sight. In a city that moves at the speed of a fiber-optic cable, the act of sending a postcard from Hong Kong feels like a deliberate, beautiful act of rebellion.
Digital is easy. Physical is real.
Hong Kong is basically a neon-soaked fever dream. You have these massive, glass-and-steel skyscrapers literally leaning over crumbling wet markets where people are haggling over bok choy. It’s that contrast that makes you want to reach for a pen. You want to prove you were actually there, amidst the humidity and the smell of roasted goose.
Finding the Right Card Without the Tourist Fluff
Honestly, most of the postcards you see at the street stalls in Tsim Sha Tsui are... well, they’re fine. They have the standard skyline shot with the red-sailed junk boat. It's iconic, sure. But if you want something that doesn't look like it was printed in 1994, you have to look a bit harder.
Local artists are doing some incredible work lately. Places like G.O.D. (Goods of Desire) or the small boutiques in Tai Kwun (the old prison-turned-art-hub) sell cards that actually capture the soul of the city. We're talking illustrations of old-school minibuses, the specific green of the Star Ferry, or those chaotic bamboo scaffolding structures that defy gravity.
These aren't just souvenirs. They are artifacts.
If you're feeling adventurous, head over to the Western Market in Sheung Wan. It’s an Edwardian-style building that feels out of place, but inside, you’ll find vendors who sell vintage-style stationery. There's something inherently right about writing a postcard from Hong Kong while sitting in a building that has survived the city's relentless urge to tear everything down and rebuild.
The Logistics of the Postage Stamp
The Hong Kong Post is surprisingly efficient. It’s one of those things that just works. You’d think in a city this dense, mail would get lost in the cracks, but no.
What You Need to Know
Airmail is the way to go. Unless you want your card to take a scenic, three-month boat ride across the Pacific, always specify "Air Mail." You can grab stamps at any post office, but many convenience stores like 7-Eleven or Circle K also stock them, though they usually sell them in booklets.
Current rates fluctuate slightly based on the destination, but generally, sending mail to the US, UK, or Europe is incredibly affordable—usually under 10 HKD.
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The mailboxes are easy to spot. They are bright red. Wait, no. Actually, some are green. Since the 1997 handover, the old colonial red boxes have been slowly repainted or replaced with the standard green of the Hong Kong Post, though you can still find a few rare "Royal Red" ones if you look closely in neighborhoods like Stanley or Peak Road. Finding an old George VI or Queen Elizabeth II era mailbox is like a mini-scavenger hunt for history nerds.
The "Postcard from Hong Kong" Ritual
There is a specific feeling to sitting in a cha chaan teng (a local tea restaurant) with a cup of milk tea and a stack of cards. The table is sticky. The waiter is yelling orders for "pineapple buns" in Cantonese. It’s loud.
This is the best time to write.
Don't just write "The weather is here, wish you were beautiful." That's boring. Write about the way the humidity feels like a wet blanket the moment you step out of the airport. Write about the dizzying speed of the Mid-Levels escalators. Mention the sound of the "ding ding" (the iconic double-decker trams) as they rattle through Wan Chai.
- Tip: If you’re writing at a cafe, watch out for condensation from your iced lemon tea. Nothing ruins a card faster than a giant water ring over your handwriting.
- Ink choice: Use a ballpoint. Gel pens are risky in a tropical climate; the ink can smudge or, worse, run if the card hits a humid sorting facility.
Where to Find the Best Views for Inspiration
You can't write a postcard from Hong Kong without looking at the skyline. It’s a legal requirement. Okay, not really, but it helps.
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Most people go to Victoria Peak. It’s crowded, the line for the tram is a nightmare, and you’re surrounded by selfie sticks. Instead, try the Braemar Hill Lookout (Red Incense Burner Summit). It’s a short hike, but the view of the harbor at sunset is unrivaled. It’s quiet enough that you can actually hear yourself think while you scribble down your thoughts.
Another sleeper hit? The West Kowloon Cultural District. You get a massive grassy area where you can actually sit down—a rarity in this city—and look back at the Hong Kong Island skyline. It’s the perfect spot to decompress and get those cards finished.
Why This Matters in 2026
We live in an era of "instant." You take a photo, you post it on Instagram, people double-tap, and it’s forgotten in ten minutes.
A postcard is different. It’s a physical object that traveled 8,000 miles. It has a stamp that was cancelled by a machine in a sorting office in Kowloon. It has a smudge from your thumb. When your friend or family member pulls it out of their mailbox, they are holding something that was actually there.
It’s a tiny piece of Hong Kong’s chaos delivered to a quiet front porch.
Practical Steps for Your Mailing Mission
If you're ready to send your own, here's the play-by-play.
- Go to the GPO (General Post Office) in Central. It’s right near the ferry. It’s big, air-conditioned, and has plenty of counters.
- Buy the "Local Scenes" stamp series. Hong Kong Post often releases special edition stamps that look way better than the standard ones. Ask what's in stock.
- Use the "Air Mail" sticker. They are free. They are small and blue. Stick it on the left side. It ensures your card doesn't end up on a container ship.
- Drop it in the green box. Ensure you’re using the "Air Mail" slot, not the "Local" one.
Don't overthink the message. The fact that you took five minutes out of your vacation to buy a card, find a stamp, and hunt down a mailbox says more than the actual words will.
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Next Steps for Your Trip
To make this happen today, head to the nearest MTR station and look for the "Post Office" exit signs. Most major districts have a branch within a 5-minute walk. Grab a set of "Hong Kong District" postcards from a local bookstore like Eslite—they have beautiful, modern designs that avoid the usual cliches. Write your cards tonight, and drop them in any green mailbox you see on your way to breakfast tomorrow. It’s a small gesture that carries a lot of weight.