Private tour in Hong Kong William S
5.0
(6) reviews
1
1
William S.
4.9
Guide rate
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.
You tell me when your flight will arrive at Hong Kong International Airport. I will meet you at the airport and show you as much as can possibly be compressed into your scheduled layover. We will travel into Central Hong Kong by taxi or you can take the Airport Express and meet me in Hong Kong or Kowloon Station to save time. Subject to time constraints, we will visit Victoria Peak, historic Central Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour and the Star Ferry, a magnificent Chinese temple and a very old local Chinese neighbourhood including an old style local wet market. I will provide a historic and cultural overview that will allow you to leave this magnificent city with the ability to confidently relate everything you will see and hear. At the end of the tour I will make sure you make it to the airport three hours in advance of your flight departure time. Precise timing and flexibility are the name of this game, so don't be shy and ask plenty of questions.
Subject to time constraints, we will visit Victoria Peak or historic Central Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour and the Star Ferry, a magnificent Chinese temple and a very old local Chinese neighbourhood. At the end of the tour I will make sure you make it to the airport three hours in advance of your flight departure time.
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.
The tour is an authentic combination of urban walking and all modes of public transportation including trolleys, ferries, buses, subways and cabs, as needed.
1 Sky Plaza Road, New Territories, New Territories, Hong Kong
Airport
6 reviews
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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