King Yin Lei Guided Tours Hong Kong: Free Entry to a 1937 Heritage Mansion
- HKG
- Jan 8
- 3 min read
It was one of the first luxury houses on the hillside of HK Island.
Also, it was “Han’s Mansion” in Bruce Lee’s movie - “Enter The Dragon”.
This was where some super rich asians used to live in 1930s.
King Yin Lei was built in 1937 by a local Chinese couple. The wife was one of the members of Li Sing family. Li Sing was the richest man in the late 19th century of Hong Kong. The couple decided to spend a fortune to make the house built in Chinese Renaissance style. At that time the salary of a housekeeper was one Hong Kong dollar a month, they spent six hundred thousand HK dollars to build the house.
That’s why the house is just magnificent.
Photo source: oldhkphoto.com, by Doug Price
When you enter King Yin Lei, you will see a swimming pool. This was something really fancy 80 years ago especially in Hong Kong. The owners used to have poolside party every week with their rich friends.
The house is on the hill side of Hong Kong Island above Wan Chai.
A century ago Hong Kong had a law that “only non-Chinese residents are allowed to live in the peak area except the governor’s permission”. There were less than 5 exceptions at that time.
When you enter the house, you will see the main hall and furniture with the style of the 70s. They were owned by the second owner of the house since 1978.
The mansion has two dining halls, one in Chinese style with a round table and one in western style with a long table, classy.
Passing through the courtyard, the other side is the Rosewood hall where the host would treat the guests with some awesome tea.
The ground floor is mostly for the guests whereas the first floor is where the family lived.
You may be able to tell that the mansion has some features which look like the Chinese palace. Yes. The first owner hired officials from Ching dynasty as consultants to design the house , so they could live like a king and queen.
Besides the bedrooms, the bathroom, and the kitchen, there is an interesting area which is worth to see - the pet area.
The owner raised chicken their own in order to make sure what they ate had the highest quality.
King Yin Lei is a unique and historical site which is worth to check out. However it is opened for around 6 different weekends only per year.
Guided Tours
King Yin Lei Guided Tours offer a rare opportunity for the public to enter one of Hong Kong’s most stunning declared monuments—a 1937 mansion blending Chinese and Western architectural excellence at 45 Stubbs Road, Wan Chai. Now part of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (Batch VI), these free docent-led tours let visitors explore the interiors, learn its history, and appreciate its status as an outstanding work of art declared a monument in 2008.
The Commissioner for Heritage’s Office organises free guided tours every weekend, with docents leading groups through the mansion. Tours run on Saturdays and Sundays.
Time slots: Available bookings for the next two weeks are updated every Monday at 10:00 am. Application deadlines are typically Wednesday 5:00 pm before the tour weekend.
How to Book King Yin Lei Tours
• Assembly point: 45 Stubbs Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
• Languages: Cantonese, Putonghua, or English (request when booking)
• Fee: Free
• Application: Book via the official heritage.gov.hk website; spaces are limited so apply early.
Tours are led by knowledgeable Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) docents who share architectural details, historical stories, and preservation insights.
Why Visit King Yin Lei on a Guided Tour?
These tours provide exclusive access to a private mansion rarely open to the public, perfect for architecture enthusiasts, history buffs, and Wan Chai explorers. Highlights include:[heritage]
• Admiring the fusion of Chinese gardens, Western interiors, and period furnishings
• Learning about its pre‑war elite owners and cultural significance
• Understanding modern revitalisation efforts under Hong Kong’s heritage scheme
Ideal for things to do in Wan Chai, Hong Kong heritage tours, or free attractions in Hong Kong.
Address: 45 Stubbs Road, Mid-Level
Comments