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Sai Ying Pun: Hill Town Charm
Sai Ying Pun: Hill Town Charm
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Sai Ying Pun: Hill Town Charm

Visit a quaint hill town and explore the traditional shops hidden inside

Walk the slopes and alleys of Sai Ying Pun’s timeless hill town

The quaint hill towns of Sai Ying Pun blends old and new with banyan trees, shop cats, traditional craft stores, street art, trendy bars, and hip cafés. Sai Ying Pun’s small hill town vibe is endearing, just two subway stations away from bustling Central. It exudes old school charm with craftsmen making bamboo steamers, baking egg rolls, and preserving salted fishes. It also offers some of the city’s best eateries. Join us for a journey through Sai Ying Pun’s historical buildings, slopes, alleys, and stairs!

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Tour overview

  • Exclusive demonstration by craftsmen on the intricate techniques of making paper offerings for the dead
  • Witness how dim sum’s best companion, bamboo steamers, are made
  • Listen to stories from the old red light district of Shek Tong Tsui

What makes Sai Ying Pun and Shek Tong Tsui so endearing is their small hill town vibe. Yet just two subway stations away, you will find yourself in the hustle and bustle of the heart of Hong Kong. 

The neighbourhood has a lot of old school charm, where old craftsmen are making bamboo steamers, crafting paper offerings, and preserving salted fishes in the traditional way. It is now also mixed with some of the best and hippest eateries in the city – from cafes, restaurants, to bars and more. Come join us for a discovery journey amid the historical buildings, slopes, alleys, and stairs!

Selected highlights

Some of the points of interest include:

High Street Haunted House

High Street Haunted House

How did this beautiful historical building become the most infamous haunted house in Hong Kong?

 Centre Street

Centre Street

Once a vibrant al-fresco fresh market, Centre Street remains a curious place dear to the local residents' hearts

Traditional food stores

Traditional food stores

From the best chili sauce to freshly made tofu, we’ll check out some local family run shops

 Old Tsan Yuk Hospital

Old Tsan Yuk Hospital

Without this hospital and the pioneering medical staff behind, many more babies would have been delivered in primitive methods back in the days

 Tin Bo Lau paper offering

Tin Bo Lau paper offering

Fascinating world of paper offering for the deceased

Salted fish shop

Salted fish shop

Opened in 1956 as a stall on a side street, this shop holds onto their traditional trade of salted fish manufacturing and wholesale

History

  • Junior Secondary (Secondary 2 & 3)
    • Learn about the main characteristics of Hong Kong’s urban development, the changes in local communities over different periods, and the underlying causes, using Sai Ying Pun, an early Chinese settlement as an example,
    • Understand how the public health healthcare system was formed in response to historical challenges and the impact of these changes on residents through exploring the stories of places like the Old Mental Hospital and the Western Public Dispensary.
  • Senior Secondary (Theme A)
    • Understand the interaction between changes in Hong Kong’s overall urban planning, demographic shifts, and local community development.
    • Visit local food workshops and paper craft shops to analyse local cultural heritage and illustrate the coexistence and mutual influence of Chinese and Western cultures.

Geography

  • Junior Secondary (Section A)
    • Understand Hong Kong’s early urban development and understand land use patterns, regional functional distribution, and changes.
    • Explore the concepts of urbanisation, urban decay, and urban renewal through observing land use and population changes on site.
  • Senior Secondary (Topic 4)
    • Observe urban renewal projects in Sai Ying Pun, identify the urban issues addressed by the projects, and assess their impacts on residents, businesses, and the overall community environment.
    • Analyse the conflicts between Hong Kong’s historic core and modern redevelopment, and learn about urban planning and sustainability issues.

Citizenship and Social Development

  • Nature of traditional Chinese culture
    • Visit a paper craft workshop in Sai Ying Pun to learn about the inheritance and innovation of paper crafting (paper offerings) techniques, an item on the Representative List of Hong Kong’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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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