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Old Town Central
Old Town Central
tours

Old Town Central

Travel through Central and Sheung Wan to learn about Hong Kong's history and architecture

An insider’s guide to Hong Kong’s fascinating mishmash of old and new

Dive right into Hong Kong’s financial and commercial heart of Central, and weave among the skyscrapers to trendy yet traditional Sheung Wan. This tour is an insider’s guide to the city’s fascinating mishmash of the old and the new.

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Tour overview

  • Hear offbeat stories about the colorful mix of historic buildings and futuristic architecture in Central
  • Share the stories of elderly stallholders and marvel at the variety of produce on sale in Hong Kong’s oldest open-air bazaar.
  • See Chinese folk religious beliefs in action and hear stories that you won’t find in guidebooks at an important site of worship.
  • Check out how pleasant Sheung Wan marries the old and the new as you feel the trendy vibes and visit various traditional Chinese trades.

The name is accurate — Central lies at the frenetic heart of Hong Kong, and it’s an unmissable part of any visitor’s trip to the city. Under an electric backdrop of gleaming skyscrapers and elegant historic landmarks, we’ll talk about what defines Hong Kong.

A short “ding ding” tram ride away lie the quainter charms of Sheung Wan, a historic yet increasingly trendy neighborhood. Expect to find hip boutiques and artisanal bakers standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chinese temples. Along the way, we’ll lavish you with local stories that could amuse and surprise even a native Hong Konger.

Walk in Hong Kong collaborated with the Hong Kong Tourism Board in curating the thematic tour routes of the Old Town Central neighbourhood tourism repackaging campaign.

Selected highlights

Some of the points of interest include:

Central Market

Central Market

Tour the Central Street Market after over 3 years of revitalization to understand the local market culture and its architectural features that have changed from before

Good Spring Company Limited

Good Spring Company Limited

Central background introduction, brief historical review exploring a Chinese cabinet with multiple drawersand traditional Chinese Medicinal ingredients

Graham Street Market

Graham Street Market

Listen to the stories of elderly stallholders and marvel at the variety of produce on sale at Hong Kong's oldest open-air bazaar

Lan Fong Yuen

Lan Fong Yuen

The local flavor of Sidewalk snack booth: Getting to know the city-renowned Silk Stocking Milk Tea

Tai Kwun

Tai Kwun

Explore the history of Tai Kwun Complex and the iron-railed lives of legendary figures

Man Mo Temple

Man Mo Temple

See Chinese folk religious beliefs in action and hear stories that you won't find in guidebooks at this important site of worship

History

  • Junior Secondary (Secondary 2)
    • Describe the background and context of the development of the Central and Sheung Wan neighborhoods.
    • List the impact of the rule of law, policing, and commercial activities/facilities (such as Tai Kwun, PMQ, and the Central Market) on Hong Kong’s growth in the early years of the city.
    • Compare the interactions between Chinese and Western communities in legal, religious, and economic aspects.
  • Senior Secondary (Theme A)
    • Analyze how Central embodies the intersection of Chinese and Western cultures and the reviatalisation of its historic buildings.
    • Reflect on how modern cities preserve history and innovate from social, economic, and political perspectives.

Chinese History

  • Junior Secondary (Qing Dynasty)
    • Describe the self-management of Chinese society in the early days of Hong Kong, using cases such as the arbitration in Man Mo Temple.
    • Explain the historical role of organisations formed by Chinese elites during Hong Kong’s international past.
    • Give examples of the inheritance of Chinese culture in Hong Kong, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and temples.
  • Senior Secondary (Founding of the People’s Republic of China to the end of the 20th century)
    • Examine the coexistence of Chinese and Westerners and the evolution of national identity through the history of Central’s development.
    • Explore how Hong Kong’s Chinese maintained their traditions under British administration.

Geography

  • Junior Secondary (Section A)
    • Explain how Hong Kong Island’s urban planning has resulted in diverse land uses (e.g., the coexistence of commercial, religious, residential, and institutional uses).
    • Analyze population change and sustainable development issues using the development of Central Market and Graham Market as examples.
  • Senior Secondary (Topic 4)
    • Evaluate the revitalisation achievements and conservation challenges of urban renewal projects (e.g., Tai Kwun and PMQ).
    • Discuss the impact of urban renewal projects on resolving urban issues, shaping the local cultural landscape, and enhancing the local tourism image.

Citizenship and Social Development

  • Characteristics of cultural diversity of the Hong Kong society
    • Understand how Chinese and Western cultures and ethnic groups integrated in the early years of Hong Kong, laying the foundation for the multicultural heritage of Hong Kong today.

Tourism and Hospitality Studies

  • Tourism concepts and principles, Destination geography, Trends and Issues in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry
    • Discuss how guided tours can integrate community stories, cultural assets, and tourism design to enhance a location’s appeal to visitors.
    • Explain why Central and Sheung Wan have become world-class tourist destinations (e.g., through the revitalization of historic buildings and the preservation of culinary culture).
    • Explain how the revitalization of historic buildings (e.g., Central Market and PMQ) promotes sustainable development and, in turn, benefits the tourism industry.

Tour Information

  • We reserve the right to make changes to the information, prices and itineraries of the tours as set out in our website and all printed promotional materials. Provided that such changes have been made prior to the confirmation of a booking, such changes shall be binding on the participants.
  • Any information or advice provided by us on matters including but not limited to walking routes, climate, clothing, travel documents, baggage, special equipment, etc. is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of us.
  • All information provided on our website is correct to the best of our knowledge, but we cannot assure that such information would be free from errors or omission and we shall assume no responsibilities for any such errors of omission.
  • Our website may contain hyperlinks to other websites owned and operated by third parties. We have no control over, or associate with, such sites and we assume no responsibilities for the contents of such sites. The inclusion of such sites on our website does not imply our endorsement of such sites.
  • We do not warrant that our website would be free from computer viruses and we accept no liabilities or responsibilities for any loss or damage that may arise as a result.

Bad Weather Policy

  • If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above, or a Red/Black Rainstorm Warning is issued three hours before the tour starts, the tour will be canceled.
  • If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or a Red/Black Rainstorm Warning is issued during the tour, the tour will be canceled immediately.
  • If the tour needs to be canceled due to other adverse weather conditions, we will contact you by phone at least 2.5 hours before the tour. (If there is no response, we will follow up with an SMS or email.)
  • If the tour is canceled due to adverse weather on the day, we will work with you to reschedule a new date within six months from the original tour date.

Tour Reminder

  • Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes for the walk. Bring an umbrella, a bottle of water and some snacks just in case.
  • Each participant may bring their own 3.5mm plug headphone if they have one for the wireless transmitter/receiver system which will be used on the tour. The guide will provide them a new one otherwise, but for hygienic and environmental reasons participants are strongly suggested to bring their own earphones if possible.
  • There is a possibility that our organization may take photographs or videos during the guided tour, and these captured images or footage may be used for future promotion and publicity. If participants do not agree with this arrangement, please inform the tour guide or organizer during registration and on the day of the event.
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