Old vs New Hong Kong
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
Experience the mash up of old and new that is modern Hong Kong! You'd be forgiven for thinking that there's nothing more to this financial mecca than bright lights and skyscrapers. Join this Hong Kong tour to see the slow, traditional side as well as the frenetic futurism it's known for.
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Highlights
- Immerse yourself in Hong Kong’s journey from traditional fishing harbour to international financial powerhouse
- Explore the pathways of Hong Kong’s historical transformation through its multicultural neighbourhoods
- Experience Hong Kong’s unique juxtaposition of traditional and modern lifestyles and architectures
- Take a ride on the world’s longest outdoor escalator
- Explore Hollywood Road, home to many of Hong Kong's antique shops
- Pop into Cat Street, a former black market turned open-air curio market
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
Sheung Wan MTR station Exit B (4 minutes from Central and 12 minutes from Tsim Sha Tsui by MTR).
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 10.00 AM
- Ending point:
Central MTR station.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English speaking guide.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for your guide.
Markets are the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s history and present day identity, so it's only appropriate that this Hong Kong city tour begins with an exploration of some of the city’s oldest and most unique markets.
The foundation of Hong Kong’s traditional trade and fishing harbour industry, markets are an excellent way to identify with Hong Kong’s humble, hardworking past, as we will see in the Western Market, the Ginseng and Bird Nest trading hubs, and the Herbal Medicine Quarter.
This HK tour follows the trail of traditional Hong Kong street shops, as we make our way to Hollywood Road, the centre of Chinese antiques trading. Over a hundred antique shops line Hollywood Road, selling everything from Ming vases to Han Dynasty war horse potteries. As we venture further into Hong Kong’s market history, we visit Cat Street, originally home to the city’s black market, now an open-air curio market.
Heading into Tai Ping Shan, it’s as though you’ve done a time warp – the shops and galleries are new and contemporary, and the culture is decidedly more Western and international, representing Hong Kong’s shift to an expat community led by international business. The combination of European style influences and traditional Hong Kong streetscapes has created some fascinating neighbourhoods in SoHo and NoHo, providing a unique narrative and local experience.
Take a break from walking and catch a ride up the iconic 800-metre long Central-Mid-Levels Escalators, the world’s longest outdoor escalator system. Funny as it sounds, it's a highlight of our Hong Kong walking tour, as it is for most visitors to the city. The escalators transport you through a district known for being one of the best examples of traditional and modern life coming together in Hong Kong.
As we make our way to Central, we see the central business district of the city dominated by modern skyscrapers that represent Hong Kong’s new life of riches, as an integral international financial hub. As a consequence, Hong Kong’s modern identity includes posh social clubs, swanky shopping malls, and impressively constructed office towers, yet retaining traditional elements, such as Feng Shui oriented art and architecture.
Hong Kong is a city in its own class, where tradition and culture have merged full speed with modernity and international influences. From old to new, this Hong Kong city tour will excite your senses, pique your curiosity, and leave you fascinated at how it has transitioned so seamlessly.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English speaking guide.
Exclusions: Items of a 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: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour. Children younger than 6 are permitted at no extra cost, but please make sure you inform our guides of this before you take the tour.
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Local contact
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