Free guided "City Walk" tours around Central and Sheung Wan will be available as soon as October, with three in-depth "cool" choices themed around history and architecture, food and community, and arts and culture.

Curated by Urban Renewal Authority, all three walks will involve Hollywood Road, with its historical buildings, art galleries, wall paintings, and gourmet attractions, said URA managing director Wai Chi-sing.

Hollywood Road ranks No 2 in British magazine Time Out's "The world's coolest streets in 2024" table released in March.

"With City Walk, we hope to connect other special streets nearby, and gradually upgrade the whole community as a 'cool community' to enhance the district's identity and vibrancy further," Wai said.

He said different stakeholders in the community are invited to participate in sharing their "first-hand" oral history so that people can understand the evolution of Central and Sheung Wan and the stories of people's livelihoods.

"We are going to recruit docents for the three proposed City Walk courses, and we will focus on those who were born and grew up in Central and Sheung Wan, or those who had worked in the district," Wai said. "[We hope] to encourage them to share their memories and daily life stories when leading the tours."

Recruitment and training will start soon. Wai is confident that over 500 locals and tourists will join the 40 tours staring in October.

The first walk will focus on the district's historical buildings. Starting from the 80-year-old Central Market - a grade III historic building - participants will then travel across Mid-Levels, including Tai Kwun and Man Mo Temple.

It will also feature the Yu Lan Festival, organized by Central 30 Houses Kaifong Yulan Association annually on the seventh lunar month.

In the food and community course, participants will visit old shops, such as Lan Fong Yuen, one of Hong Kong's most historic cha chaan tengs. Those joining the arts and culture tour will visit wall painting "check-in spots" - including the painting outside 46 Graham Street and eight paintings at the URA's redevelopment project H6 Conet at The Center.

Wai hopes the program could promote cooperation between the government, business sector and the community.

The URA plans to expand the scheme to other districts such as Kowloon City and Mong Kok Flower Market.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com

The in-depth 'City Walk' tours will likely begin as soon as October.

Start of walking tours just around the corner