Around Kowloon in 8 Markets

Highlights / General details

Before online shopping, megamalls, supermarkets, and eBay, retail trade was solely done at markets. Join this Hong Kong tour to get the lowdown on all the market action, from fresh fruit at Yau Ma Tei fruit market to precious stones at the Jade Market, and fresh ferns at the Flower Market. Experience an atmospheric century-old wholesale market. Outsmart the fakes by learning how to tell real jade from imitation. Stop and smell the sweet aromas from the stalls in the flower market. Listen to the chirpy songs of the songbirds in the Bird Garden. Shop for bargains at a local street market. Discover how a new shopping mall has transformed the area. Wind your way through the world’s most densely populated neighborhood.

Inclusion

Local English speaking guide.

Exclusion

Items of personal nature; Gratuities for your guide.

Hours of operation

Available: Daily (2014; Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday (2015); Start time at 2:00pm.

Duration

Approximately 3 hours.

Location Meeting point: Prince Edward MTR station Exit A (Intersection of Nathan Road and Playing Field Road) Finish point: Yau Ma Tei MTR station (5 minutes to Tsim Sha Tsui and 10 minutes to Central by MTR)

Itinerary We kick this Hong Kong markets tour off on a fragrant note at the Flower Market, a vibrant and colourful street market consisting of more than 50 shops. A jungle of exotic blossoms, luck-bringing houseplants, and sweet scents, it’s the perfect introduction to the markets in Kowloon. Next, it’s onto the nearby Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, a charming Chinese-style garden with songbird stalls, traditional Chinese courtyards, and moon gates. Soak up the peaceful surroundings and listen to the charming sound of thousands of birds - it’s easy to forget about the crazy city streets that lie just outside the gates! As we travel along this Hong Kong city tour, we’ll continue to help you orient yourself, understanding whereabouts in the city you are, where Kowloon ends and the New Territories begin, and how we get to mainland China from here. We’ll also point out a mountain that is a true Hong Kong landmark and local symbol, to ensure you’re thinking just like a local. Now’s the time to practice your bargaining skills at a popular local street market where vendors sell bargain-priced clothes, bags, and accessories. If you’re not up for bargaining, it’s still loads of fun to experience the atmosphere of the market, set deep within the neighborhood of Mong Kok. As the world’s most densely populated neighborhood, Mong Kok is home to more than 130,000 people per square kilometre! Take a minute to digest that before we head out down Nathan Road, passing by the newly built five-star Langham Place hotel and mall, before reaching Shanghai Street. On Shanghai Street you’ll have the chance to glimpse what 1950s and 60s Hong Kong was like. Shanghai Street was once famous for selling everything from traditional wedding clothes to ancestral offerings, and it’s here that we’ll head into the Yau Ma Tei fruit market, a century-old wholesale market that sells exotic fruits from all over the world. From there, we’ll also call by the world-famous Jade Market, which has more than 400 hawkers, and learn about how locals believe jade can ward off health hazards and bad feng shui. The final stop on this walking tour of Kowloon’s markets is a visit to the Temple Street. See the city’s working class culture first-hand as you admire the Sea Goddess Temple that is the street’s namesake, and the Yau Ma Tei Public Plaza, where local people like to spend a lazy afternoon under the beautiful Chinese Banyan trees. This is a market tour that shows you the real local culture of Hong Kong and the fascinatingly diverse neighborhoods of Kowloon, and we’re sure you’ll leave with a head full of excitement and perhaps even a few unique souvenirs and treasures of your own!

Participant restrictions

Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this sightseeing tour.

Additional Information Comfortable shoes are recommended. When warning signal on typhoon, rainstorm or thunderstorm is being hoisted by the Hong Kong Observatory, please contact Hong Kong Urban Adventures to discuss arrangements.

Itinerary

We kick this Hong Kong markets tour off on a fragrant note at the Flower Market, a vibrant and colourful street market consisting of more than 50 shops. A jungle of exotic blossoms, luck-bringing houseplants, and sweet scents, it’s the perfect introduction to the markets in Kowloon. Next, it’s onto the nearby Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, a charming Chinese-style garden with songbird stalls, traditional Chinese courtyards, and moon gates. Soak up the peaceful surroundings and listen to the charming sound of thousands of birds - it’s easy to forget about the crazy city streets that lie just outside the gates! As we travel along this Hong Kong city tour, we’ll continue to help you orient yourself, understanding whereabouts in the city you are, where Kowloon ends and the New Territories begin, and how we get to mainland China from here. We’ll also point out a mountain that is a true Hong Kong landmark and local symbol, to ensure you’re thinking just like a local. Now’s the time to practice your bargaining skills at a popular local street market where vendors sell bargain-priced clothes, bags, and accessories. If you’re not up for bargaining, it’s still loads of fun to experience the atmosphere of the market, set deep within the neighborhood of Mong Kok. As the world’s most densely populated neighborhood, Mong Kok is home to more than 130,000 people per square kilometre! Take a minute to digest that before we head out down Nathan Road, passing by the newly built five-star Langham Place hotel and mall, before reaching Shanghai Street. On Shanghai Street you’ll have the chance to glimpse what 1950s and 60s Hong Kong was like. Shanghai Street was once famous for selling everything from traditional wedding clothes to ancestral offerings, and it’s here that we’ll head into the Yau Ma Tei fruit market, a century-old wholesale market that sells exotic fruits from all over the world. From there, we’ll also call by the world-famous Jade Market, which has more than 400 hawkers, and learn about how locals believe jade can ward off health hazards and bad feng shui. The final stop on this walking tour of Kowloon’s markets is a visit to the Temple Street. See the city’s working class culture first-hand as you admire the Sea Goddess Temple that is the street’s namesake, and the Yau Ma Tei Public Plaza, where local people like to spend a lazy afternoon under the beautiful Chinese Banyan trees. This is a market tour that shows you the real local culture of Hong Kong and the fascinatingly diverse neighborhoods of Kowloon, and we’re sure you’ll leave with a head full of excitement and perhaps even a few unique souvenirs and treasures of your own!

Participant restrictions Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this sightseeing tour.

Location

Meeting point: Prince Edward MTR station Exit A (Intersection of Nathan Road and Playing Field Road) Finish point: Yau Ma Tei MTR station (5 minutes to Tsim Sha Tsui and 10 minutes to Central by MTR)

Itinerary We kick this Hong Kong markets tour off on a fragrant note at the Flower Market, a vibrant and colourful street market consisting of more than 50 shops. A jungle of exotic blossoms, luck-bringing houseplants, and sweet scents, it’s the perfect introduction to the markets in Kowloon. Next, it’s onto the nearby Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, a charming Chinese-style garden with songbird stalls, traditional Chinese courtyards, and moon gates. Soak up the peaceful surroundings and listen to the charming sound of thousands of birds - it’s easy to forget about the crazy city streets that lie just outside the gates! As we travel along this Hong Kong city tour, we’ll continue to help you orient yourself, understanding whereabouts in the city you are, where Kowloon ends and the New Territories begin, and how we get to mainland China from here. We’ll also point out a mountain that is a true Hong Kong landmark and local symbol, to ensure you’re thinking just like a local. Now’s the time to practice your bargaining skills at a popular local street market where vendors sell bargain-priced clothes, bags, and accessories. If you’re not up for bargaining, it’s still loads of fun to experience the atmosphere of the market, set deep within the neighborhood of Mong Kok. As the world’s most densely populated neighborhood, Mong Kok is home to more than 130,000 people per square kilometre! Take a minute to digest that before we head out down Nathan Road, passing by the newly built five-star Langham Place hotel and mall, before reaching Shanghai Street. On Shanghai Street you’ll have the chance to glimpse what 1950s and 60s Hong Kong was like. Shanghai Street was once famous for selling everything from traditional wedding clothes to ancestral offerings, and it’s here that we’ll head into the Yau Ma Tei fruit market, a century-old wholesale market that sells exotic fruits from all over the world. From there, we’ll also call by the world-famous Jade Market, which has more than 400 hawkers, and learn about how locals believe jade can ward off health hazards and bad feng shui. The final stop on this walking tour of Kowloon’s markets is a visit to the Temple Street. See the city’s working class culture first-hand as you admire the Sea Goddess Temple that is the street’s namesake, and the Yau Ma Tei Public Plaza, where local people like to spend a lazy afternoon under the beautiful Chinese Banyan trees. This is a market tour that shows you the real local culture of Hong Kong and the fascinatingly diverse neighborhoods of Kowloon, and we’re sure you’ll leave with a head full of excitement and perhaps even a few unique souvenirs and treasures of your own!

Participant restrictions Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this sightseeing tour.

Additional Information Comfortable shoes are recommended. When warning signal on typhoon, rainstorm or thunderstorm is being hoisted by the Hong Kong Observatory, please contact Hong Kong Urban Adventures to discuss arrangements.

Policies For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people. If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation