“MyTopoHK” Mobile Application Launched to Promote Reading and Writing of Literary Works on Hong Kong’s Landscape

The Department of Literature and Cultural Studies has developed a mobile application called “MyTopoHK” - the first interactive application for reading and writing literary works on Hong Kong’s landscape. The project aims to promote reading and creative writing by motivating users to explore and observe Hong Kong’s geographical space, to strengthen the connection between textual expressions and the smartphone generations, and stimulate interest in local historical stories.

“MyTopoHK” currently features around 150 literary works from about 30 writers. All the works are pinned on the map according to the associated locations. For each entry, publication details, an introduction to the writer, and photos related to the work are provided alongside the text. There is an option for “Reading Onsite”, which utilises GPS data to highlight works related to the user’s current location and areas nearby. Another option is to choose a region and a district, then scroll through the category to find the works linked to the area. Users can also type in street names and landmarks as keywords to search for the associated works.

Apart from providing access to read the literary works written by established writers, the application also invites users to write their own works and share them with others. While writing on the spot, users can easily submit a new piece of creative writing on a dedicated page within the application – the location of the writing is automatically recorded, and users only need to enter the title, content and related keywords. Users can also choose to attach photos taken on site. Once submitted, the work will be listed among the existing works and be shown on the map.

The application has launched, and it can now be downloaded through the Google Play Store by searching for “MyTopoHK”/ “在地讀寫”, or through the App Store by searching for “在地讀寫”. EdUHK members and the public are invited to follow the footsteps of different writers to explore every corner of the streets as well as the countryside while reading their works, and be inspired to take part in shaping Hong Kong’s literary map through sharing new creative works on the fresh experiences in local areas and hidden treasures found on the way. 

The logo design of “MyTopoHK” combines the images of the sun, a mountain and the tip of a pencil – representing the importance of our landscape and writings

Literary works pinned on map facilitate reading onsite

Inviting the users to submit creative writing creates an interactive user experience