Behind the success of every great city, there is a story, as well as a terrific load of myths. Hong Kong is no exception. In fact, in this land of dynamic money-making and pragmatic doers (hang on, are those stereotypes true?), myths are everywhere, and many participate in their production and celebration without ever knowing. Wan Chai, literally ‘Little Bay’ in Cantonese, is one of the first settlements that the British developed after they took Hong Kong in 1841. The original shoreline got marooned inland generations ago, but the deep layers of history anchored along Queen’s Road East have conspired with the swirl of 21st-century urban redevelopment to make Wan Chai a fertile ground of merry myth-making. On this walk through the ‘old’ Wan Chai, we will pursue the area’s myths using a very broad definition of the term and, in so doing, blur the already elastic line between truth and fiction. The spread of myths will take in: - World War II and the city’s biggest concentration of urban ruins - Local geography, ghost stories and forgotten Chinese temples - A top haunted house, hipster hangouts, the muffled peal of church bells, and more! While some of the myths are evocative of the past, they are often not as old as commonly assumed. Indeed, some of these stories say as much about the colourful history of Wan Chai as they do 2013. Similarly, while a lot of the small changes that have seeped into the local landscape in recent years may seem accidental or irrelevant, they are actually in tune with much bigger trends that are dictating the course of Hong Kong society. This walk will not only serve as a crash course on Hong Kong for the city’s newbies, but it also promises plenty of surprises for those who want to look at the place a bit more differently. See you at the time machine terminal. Language English (Cantonese and Mandarin options are available for private group bookings. Please email [email protected] for details.) Meeting point Hopewell Centre entrance, 183 Queen's Rd East, Wan Chai Price $250 per person for a scheduled walk. Tour duration: Approximately 2.5 hours