Small-Group Walking Tour: Old vs New Hong Kong

Small-Group Walking Tour: Old vs New Hong Kong

On this small-group walking tour, immerse yourself in Hong Kong’s diverse history and culture by journeying through both old and new Hong Kong. With your friendly and knowledgeable English-speaking guide, explore small, traditional markets and antique shops before marveling at the bustling commercial and industrial hubs dotted with towering skyscrapers. As you walk through the city, learn about the intermingling of old conventions and new institutions that form Hong Kong’s fascinating culture.

After meeting your guide at a central location in Hong Kong, begin your tour by exploring some of the city’s oldest and most unique markets to get acquainted with the city’s humble trade and fishing community.

First, enter the Western Market, the oldest surviving market building in Hong Kong. Inside this Edwardian-style building, see fabric stores, bakeries and dessert shops, cafés and souvenir shops. Continue to the markets along Wing Lok Street and Bonham Strand West, which sell prized, luxurious items like ginseng.

Afterward, follow your guide to Ko Shing Street (also called Herbal Medicine Street), a retail and wholesale center for Hong Kong’s herbal medicine. Walk along the pathways and learn about the wide selection of Chinese herbs offered here.

A 20-minute walk will take you to Hollywood Road (Antique Street), where you will find specialty shops and curio stalls selling everything from Chinese furniture and porcelain wares to Buddha idols and collectible coins. Venture onto Cat Street and browse stalls selling rare and exquisite products such as jade and silk.

Continue along Tai Ping Shan Street to discover an interesting fusion of tradition with modernity. See contemporary boutiques and cafés built against the backdrop of one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, providing a unique historical narrative.

Nearby, walk to the base of the Central Escalators (also called the Mid-Levels Escalators), the world’s longest outdoor escalator system, covering a distance of nearly 2,600 feet (800 meters). Hop on and experience this cool way of getting to the Central district in Hong Kong!

When you reach this central business district, see towering skyscrapers housing international corporations. As you follow your guide on a walk, marvel at the immensity of buildings such as the Bank of China Tower and the International Finance Center, and learn how the construction and organization of these buildings follow traditions of feng shui-oriented art and architecture.

Note: Travel start from January 1st, 2016, you will visit another highlight of your Hong Kong tour, this will no doubt be a visit to the newly opened PMQ; the former Police Married Quarters has been transformed into the designer hub of the city. Young brands and independent designers showcase and sell their products in the old dormitory units in the heart of the city, while paying a subsidised rate. PMQ is the last word on cool in Hong Kong town. We dare you to see if something doesn’t catch your eye here!