The striking, modern eight-storey library at Ping Shan might at first seem more at home in Stockholm than Hong Kong, but it’s consciously designed to reflect the surrounding heritage sites. Based on a Chinese-style cabinet, the library is built from natural materials like brick, timber and stone, just like the neighbourhood’s Tang-clan structures. Its outdoor areas are sublime when weather permits, while the extensive collection of over 330,000 books (the second largest in Hong Kong) ensures there’s plenty of reading material to choose from. It’s a peaceful enclave to read, study or simply contemplate.