Dark Side of Hong Kong - Kowloon Caged Homes Walking Tour
Description
While Hong Kong is known as a thriving international finance center, visitors are often only shown the bright side of the city, with popular attractions like The Peak, Victoria Harbour, and Big Buddha taking center stage. But what about the 1.5 million people living in poverty, making Hong Kong one of the most unequal places on earth? Our tour delves into the heart of Hong Kong’s capitalist system, giving you a first-hand look at the grim reality many of its citizens face. You’ll visit a subdivided unit in one of the city’s poorest districts - Sham Shui Po, providing a stark contrast to the economic prosperity that seems so abundant. Join us on a journey to see Hong Kong in a more realistic light and gain a deeper understanding of the true stories of its people. Sign up now for a thought-provoking and eye-opening tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Uncover why Hong Kong is ranked the world's #1 least affordable city and see how a typical 500 sq ft apartment is subdivided into five 100 sq ft units.
Explore how post-war population growth, a low-tax capitalistic economic model, and scarce land supply created a perfect storm for Hong Kong's housing crisis.
Step inside a 100 sq ft subdivided flat where the kitchen, bed, and living space for a minimum-wage family, and see a caged home designed for a single resident.
Over a cup of herbal tea, visit a declared monument in Hong Kong which is also a Tong Lau, designed for housing subdivision since colonial times.
Glimpse the hidden underworld in Sham Shui Po’s backstreets and learn about the illicit ties between the drug and sex trades.
Witness the stark contrast of new USD$ 1.5 million apartments standing side-by-side with a dense cluster of subdivided units and caged homes.
Ascend to a rooftop in central Sham Shui Po to explore the hidden slums and witness the Hong Kong they don't put on postcards.
Visit SoCo, a charity with 50 years of history advocating for the marginalized, and discuss solutions for the city’s future.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(498)
Lok Lok was a superb tour guide. This is a great in depth tour. We learned so much.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stephen’s Truth About Hong Kong Housing Tour was one of the most eye-opening experiences we had in Hong Kong. He did an outstanding job explaining how, over the last 30 years, the gap between rich and poor has widened, with housing becoming increasingly unaffordable for many residents. The tour was packed with fascinating facts and real-life insights that you won’t find in a guidebook. Stephen was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and happy to answer every question. His passion for sharing the realities of Hong Kong made this experience both educational and unforgettable. Highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to understand the city beyond the skyline. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
Mr. Hodi sincerely explained the situation of where he lives in Hong Kong. Japan has a low salary, but I thought it was still a good place to live compared to Hong Kong.
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
This tour exceeding my expectations. I was hoping to learn about aspects of the city and residents' lives that are typically underrepresented to tourists, and I walked away from this experience with that and more. I also learned about some of the political and historical contexts that have contributed to inequities and the housing crisis in Hong Kong. Jasmine also integrated some pf her personal stories and experiences, which made the tour feel extra personal and meaningful.
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
This tour was really enlightening and very respectful of the peoples lifestyle that Jasmine was describing. Jasmine herself was clearly passionate and committed to educating visitors about all aspects of Hong Kong. I highly recommend this tour.
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
Deryk was excellent! Very professional and respectful. We learned a lot about the housing situation in Hong Kong, the social issues of a city with such a high population density. I highly recommend this tour for those who want to go beyond the luxurious shopping malls and get to know another side of such an iconic city.
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
Lok lok was very knowledgeable and patient with everyone. I loved how her and the tour company are ethically minded to not make a spectacle of the life-style of people living in poverty. She respectfully showed us the truth about how people are forced to live. A must-do tour!
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
Provides a deeper insight into the other side of HK
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
Really insightful tour about the reality of life for many people living in Hong Kong. Hazel was a wonderful tour guide and really went into detail when answering questions that our tour group had. She was very professional and knowledgeable, and made everyone feel at ease at all times. The work that SoCo do to support people living in difficulty in Hong Kong is admirable. Hazel also suggested when we should/should not take photos to be respectful of the local people which I appreciated.
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
We just can’t say enough good things about this tour and the tour company. It was a very unique look at the way many people really live in HK. Our tour guide, Hazel, was very knowledgeable and personable. The time flew by and we gained such a deeper perspective. An absolute must do in HK. Also, afterwards the tour company took us on a test run of a food tour they are starting, which includes a unique market visit to buy ingredients that are cooked up for a meal in a very local restaurant. The food tour also includes a visit with an incredible woman who sells snake products and waved around a cobra! This tour will be amazing on its own or as a fabulous compliment to the dark side tour. This is a must-do tour to see part of the real Hong Kong. Do it!!!
Thank You very much for your review. If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve you next time, please book direct at our tour company website by searching the tour name on the internet. Often time we are better positioned to serve you on our own platform (think refund, rebook to different date and cancellation situations) in the unlikely case that you may need flexibility in your next travel. See you soon and Thank You for visiting Hong Kong, Michael
