Island East, one of Hong Kong’s oldest districts, has a long history of community development. When Hong Kong was ceded to British, It had developed into a big fishing village. Nowadays, it becomes a home to a bevy of small restaurants and famous local street food and traditional shops selling herbal tea, dried seafood, papier-mache. It also includes bone setting clinic and temples where Cantonese is the lingua franca in this area. Visiting neighborhood area can review these historical changes by walking through both the old parts and the newly built areas. Find out how old traditions persevere in Hong Kong in an old fishing village.
Overview :
- Typical Chinese breakfast (Pineapple bun and Hong Kong style Milk Tea) HK-style Milk Tea was inscribed onto the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014
- Experience the oldest forms of transportation Hong Kong tram
- Visiting Tam Kung temple – Grade III historic building
- Exploring local wet market
- Chinese herbal tea tasting – was inscribed onto the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006
- Optional: Visit the Hong Kong Film Archive
TOUR PRICE: ADULT HKD790
DATE: Every MON, THU, SAT (except Christmas and Chinese New Year)
DURATION OF TOUR: 3 hours (Approx)
MEETING PLACE: MTR Shau Kei Wan Station exit B (inside the station by the concourse area)
STARTING TIME: 09:00 a.m.
FINISHING PLACE: Tour will end at Sai Wan Ho MTR station - Our host will keep you accompanied to your hotel or anywhere else in downtown you planned
MINIMUM CAPACITY: 2 ADULTS
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 8
ITINERARY :
Tour starts with a typical Chinese breakfast at the local café while sharing the local table manner and the must-eats item in Hong Kong. A pineapple bun is as famous as the croissant. It is a very popular breakfast in Hong Kong and Macau. It is a pillow-soft bread with a crunchy and sugary top crust that looks like a pineapple, hence the name. There is no pineapple in the bun. Most places serve it with a piece of butter stuffed into the middle of the bun. Imagine the butter melting within the soft and fluffy bread. Hong Kong-style milk tea made from several types of black tea and evaporated milk. The key feature of Hong Kong-style milk tea is that a sackcloth bag is used to filter the tea leaves. Together with the shape of the filter, it resembles a silk stocking, giving Hong Kong-style milk tea the nickname of “silk stocking milk tea”. Hong Kong-style Milk Tea Making Technique was inscribed onto the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.
After the simple breakfast, visit the Tam Kung temple is a Grade III historic building since April 2013. The temple is over 100 years old and was renovated in 2002, with its original design carefully preserved. In addition to a statue of Tam Kung, the temple also houses a small wooden junk and a dragon boat; while the iron bell, altar and stone tablet all date back to the Qing dynasty. Tam Kung is a much-loved patron of fishermen. The birthday of Tam Kung falls on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. For many years, local people held an annual procession on this day to commemorate the time when many were saved from a plague.
Wet markets were traditionally places that sold dead and live animals out in the open. This includes poultry, fish, reptiles, pigs, exotic animals, fresh fruits and vegetables. Wet markets also generally include butcher shops with fresh meat. The fresh meat and fish sections are separate from the fruit and vegetable stalls. This is where the locals do their daily shopping. The characteristic of the Shau Kei Wan wet market is located near the coast and the Wholesale Fish Market. Many kinds of fresh or dried seafood can be found in this open market. There are also some pawnshops, bone setting clinics, papier-mache offering shops and dried seafood stores nearby wet markets. You can understand more about the everyday life of a local. Find tons of hidden gems in the local market and travel like a local with us.
Experience the oldest forms of road transportation Hong Kong tram is the most authentic mode of public transport on the island with the narrow-gauge heritage tram system in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's tram system is one having opened in 1904 during the territory's British colonial period. The system is popular for both locals and tourists and is one of the most environmentally friendly public transports. It owns the world's largest operational double-decker tram fleet. Shau Kei Wan station is the terminus of a tram.
Before we ended the tour, let's relax a bit and try one of our most popular Traditional Herbal Tea (“Leung cha”). It is a decoction of Chinese medical herbs made according to traditional Chinese medicine theories. Herbal Tea in Hong Kong has a history of over a hundred years. Decades ago, the herbal tea shop had another function as a neighbored “entertainment center”. Today, herbal teas are still very much a part of everyday life and are representative of folk knowledge and traditional culture. It was inscribed onto the first national list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006.
PRICES INCLUDE:
- Typical Chinese breakfast with 1 pineapple bun and 1 tea or coffee (Subject to change and availability)
- 1-time ride for Hong Kong (Ding Ding) Tram
- Tour will be conducted by a friendly English speaking guide (licensed by Hong Kong Travel Industry Council or Hong Kong Association of Registered Tour co-ordinators)
- 1 glass of herbal tea
- Public liability insurance
PRICES EXCLUDE :
- Cost of transport or any food/drinks which you choose to buy during your tour.
- Transportation fees from your hotel to Shau Kee Wan MTR station and Sai Wan Ho MTR station back to your hotel
- Gratuities (recommended)
FRIENDLY REMINDER :
- WHAT TO WEAR AND BRING: As we will be walking and standing for most of the tour, so, comfortable shoes and clothing is recommended
- If the weather forecast is a rainy day: Please bring an umbrella or rain gear with you
- If the weather forecast is a hot sunny day: Please put on appropriate sunblock
- WEATHER CONDITIONS: All tours take place as scheduled except under Red/Black storm warning or Typhoon #8 or above.
VEGETARIANS :
- Vegetarian option is also available, please advise us upon making a reservation
FOOD ALLERGIES :
- If you have food allergies, please let us know upon making a booking, we will try to avoid and make alternative tastings for you.
NOTES :
- SMALL GROUP: 2-8 people per group
- Children under 11 years old are free.
- Children aged 12 or above is considered as a full paying person.
- Maximum 3 children (age 0-11 years old) can be accompanied by 2 paying adult
- Minimum numbers of 2 paying adults are required. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
- A moderate amount of walking is involved
- No appointed shopping stop is involved
BOOKING & CANCELLATION
- Booking has to be made at least 48 hours prior to the tour date
- Cancellation by guests with less than 48 hours prior to the tour departure time, the following cancellation fee is involved
- No show : 100% of tour fees
- Cancellation made within 48 hours prior to the tour date : 100% of tour fees
