Private tour in Hong Kong William S

Hong Kong by Night: A Safe and Secure Walk on the Dark Side...

4.8

(17) reviews

-
Hours icon 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

William S.

4.9

Guide rating

145

Reviews

Tours delivered

7 hrs

Avg. response time

Experience The Streets of Hong Kong With An Accomplished Artist, Professional Photographer and One of ToursByLocals Most Highly Rated Hong Kong Guides. . . Greetings Fellow Travelers, Welcome to Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient! Allow me to share with you the finest ways to experience all facets of this truly magnificent city, culturally, historically and visually, just as we locals do; so that when we are finished, you will be able to confidently and knowledgeably relate the modern story of Hong Kong as an inquisitive and well informed cultural traveler. I'm an American of Asian descent and I have lived as a local in an old neighborhood of Kowloon called To Kwa Wan for 22 years. I spent substantial amounts of time here on business and pleasure over the years following my earliest visits in the 1970s and witnessed the evolution of this city as well as the rest of North and South East Asia over the past 50 years. I am also a retired international lawyer and have reinvented myself as a professional artist, urban street photographer, and a street-savvy premium Hong Kong guide. I have performed 1500+ premium private tours to date. My artwork and photography have been featured on prominent American and international websites for over a decade and I sell prints to collectors from all over the world. I have literally spent thousands of hours walking the streets of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and Old Macau, camera in hand, searching for all manner of intriguing people, local points of interest, fine eateries and the wonders of Cantonese street culture in all of its curious manifestations. In my preparations to serve as your premium guide, I have also logged countless hours engaging in cultural and historical research of pre-colonial, colonial and modern-day Hong Kong. I pride myself in being a keen social observer, an artist/entertainer, a lover of good food and a culturally intelligent human being. Much of my knowledge of Hong Kong is a knowledge that I acquired long before I started preparations to offer premium guide services. Knowledge I acquired when my Dad had offices here in the 1970s and I visited during summer breaks, living in an old Chinese neighborhood in a 'Chinese style' building, interacting with family and relatives in Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau, observing local holidays and traditions, relishing all manner of local cuisine and nightlife, wandering and exploring the many old urban and rural neighborhoods as a raw street photographer and just being a curious and alert cultural observer. I have spent a lifetime honing my skills as a communicator and I have redirected these skills to sharing my unique portfolio of local knowledge and experience with maximum efficacy. I have plenty of intriguing local facts and anecdotes to share with each and every one of you. It is one thing to blather on about the much-touted "hidden gems" of the universe, it is quite another to put in the requisite elbow grease to build and share a comprehensive framework connecting the multitude of cultural and historical dots in an engaging and user-friendly manner. Hence, my mission can be encapsulated as follows: To provide all of my clients with an entertaining, deeply informative and street savvy premium travel experience ultimately leading to cherished memories, a portfolio of stunning on-tour photographs, an urge for further cultural and historical investigation and a strong desire to return to this fascinating city that I will call my home for many years to come. All of my premium tour engagements are performed soulfully by me. Accordingly, you can expect the utmost attention to detail in preparation, proactive communication, positive attitude and demeanor and the highest standard of client service professionalism. Warm regards from Hong Kong! William Resident of Hong Kong for over 20 years. Lived and/or worked for substantial periods in the following cities: NYC, Washington DC, Chicago, London, Warsaw, Kobe, Singapore, Shanghai and Bangkok. Master Digital Artist and Professional Photographer (i.e., people from around the globe purchase my works). Tourist Guide License TG12434 issued by Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong. First Aid Certification Hong Kong Red Cross Retired International Lawyer (admitted NYC Bar 1982) Featured in Hong Kong's Apple News Daily (William, an American who knows his way around Hong Kong like a native Hong Konger) 1500+ Premium Private Tours Delivered to Date. Tours By Locals Guide On-Boarding Team (2018-2020). Tours By Locals Night Tour recently featured in June 2019 issue of American Airlines Inflight Magazine. Five HarvardX Courses Completed: -Ming China -Modern China's Foundations; The Manchu and Qing -Invasions and Rebellions and the End of Imperial China -Creating Modern China: Birth of a Nation -China and Communism Please note the following: A. I do not offer food tours and am unable to handle complicated dietary requirements. For this I can refer you to another capable guide. B. I am not a commercial driver. However, I can engage a late model air conditioned car or van with driver at reasonable cost, if requested.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message William S.

Overview of your Hong Kong tour

Join me for a night of neon madness, street cacophony, tasty local snacks, bustling open-air markets and teeming street scenes straight out of Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell and Wong Kar Wai cinema. Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei, these are genuine local venues of "messy urbanism" at its best. Places where Canto-street culture rules. Welcome to my turf. Old Kow Loong to the Colonial Brits, Nine Dragons to the locals. A place also known as the "Dark Side. " I will take you to exciting venues you will never find on your own. Your camera will be chuck full of nitty-gritty old-school Hong Kong. Places that quintessentially define the street culture of this amazing city. Places that sadly, are rapidly disappearing under the modern moniker of urban redevelopment. I have traversed this nocturnal terrain with camera for thousands of hours. You will be absolutely safe and secure observing triad controlled backstreets. You will finish this experience as a savvy Hong Kong night explorer.

Your Hong Kong tour itinerary

This is a private walking tour which means the itinerary can be adjusted to meet your personal preferences. Irrespective of the overall plan, I will take you one step further by interconnecting and weaving between basic waypoints with my own repertoire of local neighborhoods, markets and lesser-known but equally significant points of interest that I consider essential in order to complete the cultural and historic "big picture" of Hong Kong and its people. This is the reaction I target: Wow I never imagined I would see so much in a limited time frame!

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Walking

Walking and all modes of public transportation as required.

What's included
Other: My services as your private local guide for the evening. My seasoned advice before, during and after your tour (including detailed instructions), on how to maximise your pleasure and enjoyment during your visit safely and securely. Important: I put the highest priority on protecting my clients and conducting my tours safely. If you have any questions concerning the current travel safety situation in Hong Kong, feel free to ask.
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Public Transportation
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Your hotel or accommodation.

  • You can request a different meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout process.
Other details
Tour categories
Night
City Highlights
Tour reference number
352305
Languages
English
Activity level
Light
Accessibility
Kid Friendly
Wheelchair Accessible
4.8

Traveller reviews for this private tour in Hong Kong

17 reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who is this private tour in Hong Kong best suited for?

This private tour in Hong Kong is perfect for those who want to explore the vibrant and bustling night scenes of Old Kowloon. It's ideal for travellers interested in experiencing the local street culture, capturing unique photographs, and discovering hidden gems that are off the beaten path. The tour is also suitable for families, as it is kid-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

Can this private tour in Hong Kong be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-4 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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