‘This vertical city is so dense, the only way to build is up’: Victor Cheng’s best phone picture

Monster Mansion, 2021, shot on Vivo X60.

Photograph: Victor ChengView image in fullscreenMonster Mansion, 2021, shot on Vivo X60.

Photograph: Victor ChengSmart shotPhotography‘This vertical city is so dense, the only way to build is up’: Victor Cheng’s best phone pictureCheng took advantage of a Covid lockdown in Hong Kong to get this dramatic shot of the ‘Monster Building’Grace HollidaySat 2 Aug 2025 11.00 BSTShareVictor Cheng describes his adopted city as “organised chaos”.

The photographer, originally from Toronto but now based in Hong Kong, says that while many people have a stereotypical view of the city, based on classic kung fu movies or Rush Hour, it’s “actually quite modern, and full of skyscrapers.

It’s also fast-paced; even at times when you have nowhere to be, you get caught up in the busy streets and start to feel you have to move faster!”Despite that, Cheng says he sees the city as a “photographer’s paradise.

There are so many photogenic spots and scenes.” The Yick Cheong building seen here, known colloquially as Monster Building or Monster Mansion, is usually teeming with locals and tourists.

When Cheng took this shot, however, the Covid lockdown was in force.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Inside SaturdayFree weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine.

Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend.Enter your email address Sign upPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties.

For more information see our Privacy Policy.

We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotion‘You don’t get a second chance at a shot like this – horses wander off’: Mike Wells’s best phone pictureRead more“I think it gained its nickname after it was in a Transformers movie,” he says.

“It’s a residential building, but downstairs there are shops, cafes and wet markets.

Because of the pandemic, it felt like I had the place to myself.

I set a timer, put the phone down and used the wide-angle lens to get the shot.”Cheng later applied minor adjustments using the Lightroom app.

“I hope that people would be amazed at how dense this vertical city is,” Cheng says.

“Space is so limited that the only way to build is up.”Explore more on these topicsPhotographySmart shotArtfeaturesShareReuse this content