HONG KONG’S HERITAGE

Hong Kong’s Back Alleys Walk

The famous lights of Nathan Road, the way that most people view Hong Kong, but, as in all Cities, there is so much more. The parts of the city that no visitor will usually see, the back alleys and the streets where traditional Chinese customs are still observed and passed on to the next generation.

Every big city, and Hong Kong is one of the biggest, has its “other side”. This fascinating “walk through the city” is led by well known and charismatic Hong Kong personality, David Man.

David is Chairperson of Hong Kong’s “Eco Tourism Awareness Group” and among other things, he spends a lot of his time trying to educate the ever increasing number of Hong Kong group tour participants, how to behave in an acceptable manner when they travel overseas.

Hong Kong has the most densely populated urban areas in the world and the pressure of living and working in such an environment creates images vastly different to those seen on regular sightseeing excursions.

David will tailor-make a “real life” tour for you, taking in the particular aspects of this exciting city which interest you most.

Traditional Medicine shop, part of the rich heritage.

An alternative tour is to take his “back alleys” walk to some unmentionable corners of Kowloon that you will never have heard of.

At once controversial, sad and funny, this real life exploration will provide you with a better understanding of the hardships and realities of life in some of Hong Kong’s least attractive neighbourhoods. You will see people ekeing out a living, surviving, in the most extraordinary ways and usually, to all appearances, enjoying their lives.

A typical walking tour

From the tip of the Kowloon peninsula to Boundary Street.

Meet at the base of the old “Kowloon Station” clocktower, adjacent to the Star Ferry Pier.

Leaving behind what is probably the most spectacular harbour view you’ll ever see, enter the luxurious air-conditioned shopping arcades of Harbour City. There will be a stark contrast between what you experience here and what you encounter later on.

Exit the shopping arcades and take a pedestrian flyover, high above the crowded traffic lanes, and enter the remarkably peaceful, meandering pavements, of Kowloon Park.

Within a few minutes you’ll be enveloped in the hustle and bustle of the jostling crowds at famous Temple Street night bazaar. Ugly, unkempt residential towers, festooned with family washing dangling from laundry poles, dominate the colourful and festive scene.

Descend into the bowels of the Earth at Jordan Road MTR (Mass Transit Railway) Station and travel to the next stop, Yaumati.

Stroll around some of the back alleys of this crowded, untidy neighbourhood and glance into dark doorways to see some of the areas thriving business transactions taking place. Famous Portland Street is a mass of yellow neon signs, each vying, one with the other, by using colourful symbolism to lure customers up the dark and unattractive stairways. David will explain what each sign promises.

Crossing busy Nathan Road, we enter the impossibly crowded streets of Mongkok and make our way towards “Women’s Street”, a bazaar specializing in womens apparel. We will also see some of Hong Kong’s funkiest and most fashionable youths engaged in the booming “fakes” business. Some buildings, many of which appear to be terrifying fire traps, offer endless booths selling everything from pre-release blockbuster movies on copy DVD’s, to X Rated pornography. All at rock bottom prices.

Another bazaar is the most famous local market for sports wear.

Boarding the MTR once again, we take the short ride to Shamshuipo to see one of Asia’s most enormous bustling computer and IT shopping locations. It’s a case of buyer beware in these arcades.

The nature of these walking tours allows great flexibility and no two walks are ever the same! David Man’s commentary will depend upon what you want to talk to him about. The walk normally concludes in this region of northern Kowloon.

The duration of the tour is 3-4 hours. It can be arranged for an individual or a small group and although it can be enjoyed at any time of day, it is recommended that the walk be undertaken in the evening.