Locals on Tap in Riga
Hong Kong, Hong Kong





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Before online shopping, megamalls, supermarkets, and eBay, retail trade was solely done at markets. Join this Hong Kong tour to get the lowdown on all the market action, from fresh fruit at Yau Ma Tei fruit market to precious stones at the Jade Market, and fresh ferns at the Flower Market.
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Highlights
- Experience an atmospheric century-old wholesale market
- Outsmart the fakes by learning how to tell real jade from imitation
- Stop and smell the sweet aromas from the stalls in the flower market
- Listen to the chirpy songs of the songbirds in the Bird Garden
- Shop for bargains at a local street market
- Discover how a new shopping mall has transformed the area
- Wind your way through the world’s most densely populated neighbourhood
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
Prince Edward MTR station Exit A (Intersection of Nathan Road and Playing Field Road).
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 2.00 PM
- Ending point:
Yau Ma Tei MTR station (5 minutes to Tsim Sha Tsui and 10 minutes to Central by MTR).
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English speaking guide.
Exclusions: Items of personal nature, tips / gratuities for your guide.
Hong Kong is packed full of fascinating markets, and you’ll discover the best of them on this Kowloon market tour, as we get up close and personal with where Hong Kong locals have shopped for over 100 years, and continue to do so, despite the development rising up around them.
We kick this Hong Kong markets tour off on a fragrant note at the Flower Market, a vibrant and colourful street market consisting of more than 50 shops. A jungle of exotic blossoms, luck-bringing houseplants, and sweet scents, it’s the perfect introduction to the markets in Kowloon.
Next, it’s onto the nearby Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, a charming Chinese-style garden with songbird stalls, traditional Chinese courtyards, and moon gates. Soak up the peaceful surroundings and listen to the charming sound of thousands of birds - it’s easy to forget about the crazy city streets that lie just outside the gates!
As we travel along this Hong Kong city tour, we’ll continue to help you orient yourself, understanding whereabouts in the city you are, where Kowloon ends and the New Territories begin, and how we get to mainland China from here. We’ll also point out a mountain that is a true Hong Kong landmark and local symbol, to ensure you’re thinking just like a local.
Now’s the time to practice your bargaining skills at a popular local street market where vendors sell bargain-priced clothes, bags, and accessories. If you’re not up for bargaining, it’s still loads of fun to experience the atmosphere of the market, set deep within the neighbourhood of Mong Kok. As the world’s most densely populated neighbourhood, Mong Kok is home to more than 130,000 people per square kilometre! Take a minute to digest that before we head out down Nathan Road, passing by the newly built five-star Langham Place hotel and mall, before reaching Shanghai Street.
On Shanghai Street you’ll have the chance to glimpse what 1950s and 60s Hong Kong was like. Shanghai Street was once famous for selling everything from traditional wedding clothes to ancestral offerings, and it’s here that we’ll head into the Yau Ma Tei fruit market, a century-old wholesale market that sells exotic fruits from all over the world. From there, we’ll also call by the world-famous Jade Market, which has more than 400 hawkers, and learn about how locals believe jade can ward off health hazards and bad feng shui.
The final stop on this walking tour of Kowloon’s markets is a visit to Temple Street. See the city’s working class culture first-hand as you admire the Sea Goddess Temple that is the street’s namesake, and the Yau Ma Tei Public Plaza, where local people like to spend a lazy afternoon under the beautiful Chinese Banyan trees.
This is a market tour that shows you the real local culture of Hong Kong and the fascinatingly diverse neighbourhoods of Kowloon, and we’re sure you’ll leave with a head full of excitement and perhaps even a few unique souvenirs and treasures of your own!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English speaking guide.
Exclusions: Items of personal nature, tips / gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Comfortable shoes.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: When warning signal on typhoon, rainstorm or thunderstorm is being hoisted by the Hong Kong Observatory, please contact Hong Kong Urban Adventures to discuss arrangements.
Child Policy: Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this sightseeing tour.
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Local contact
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