From watching noodle-making with bamboo to witnessing the diversity within Chungking Mansions, locals and tourists alike are showing keen interest in offbeat experiences
Hong Kong is best known as a bustling metropolis filled with towering skyscrapers and swanky shopping malls, but right beneath its modern facade lies another Hong Kong—a city of full of heritage and tradition that can be seen in its dai pai dongs, wet markets, mahjong games, cart noodles, neon lights and flower markets. In other words, a city steeped in history whose roots are entrenched in its origins as a fishing village as well as in its colonial past.
However, Hong Kong is also a city that is constantly looking towards the future, which leaves its past at risk of being overlooked by both visitors and locals. In an effort to prevent the richness of this city’s heritage from being forgotten by history, a group of passionate locals have taken it upon themselves to shed light on the lesser-known sides of Hong Kong through guided tours.
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Unlike big tour operators, who focus on touristy landmarks such as Lantau’s Big Buddha, Hong Kong Disneyland or Sheung Wan’s Man Mo temple, these guided tours take guests off the beaten path to explore the city’s hidden gems. From a stroll through traditional wet markets to learning about the city’s rich diversity, these trips provide immersive experiences that are both educational and engaging.
“There are some unique local sides to Hong Kong that set it apart from other cities and I wanted to showcase that to people,” says Virginia Chan, founder of Humid with a Chance of Fishballs, a company that takes people on food tours around older Hong Kong neighborhoods such as Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City. “I was motivated by the stories my mum and dad used to tell me during my childhood in Canada. And when I came back to Hong Kong, I wanted to take expat guests and tourists to see a side of Hong Kong which is less accessible to them because they don’t speak Cantonese.”