Contemporary Art Galleries to Old Timey Antiques

Name: Contemporary Art Galleries to Old Timey Antiques
Brand: VoiceMap
SKU: 399
Price: 7.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (13 reviews)
Author: Bronwen

(13 reviews)

Hong Kong audio tour: Contemporary Art Galleries to Old Timey Antiques

This is a 0.9mi walking tour

It takes an average of 20 mins to complete.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong (China)

Archived

This tour isn’t available for download. We’ve preserved the script and audio as a record of its moment in time, but we don’t recommend doing the tour. It was published in May 2017.

View Comments

About the Tour

This adventure takes us deep into the eclectic city of Hong Kong. We will explore what makes this such a dazzling contemporary metropolis, but also experience the essence of old Hong Kong, with all its exotic smells, sounds and side streets transporting you back to a different time.

Tour Producer

Bronwen Shelwell

0 tours

I live and work in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, mostly in the arts and journalism worlds. I love exploring the lesser known paths of Asian countries and learning about the ways old and new mix in such quickly evolving spaces. I also do my own artwork, take a look and give me feedback on assembly.withtank.com

Preview Location

Location 1

Start: The Pedder Building

Welcome to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Central. You should be facing the Pedder Building, with your back to the road. It is the grand grey stone building with three archways across the road. The main archway entrance leads up stairs to a main hall which has housed som... Welcome to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Central. You should be facing the Pedder Building, with your back to the road. It is the grand grey stone building with three archways across the road. The main archway entrance leads up stairs to a main hall which has housed some of the finest boutiques in Hong Kong, and there are two smaller archways on the left and right.

Before we go anywhere, look down the alley on the right of the building, between it and the Central MTR. We're going to head down it after you have a look inside the Pedder building.

But for now, let’s take the archway on the right. It leads to a small flight of stairs into the Pedder building lobby. I'll tell you more as you take a leisurely walk around the various spaces within. Don’t forget to take a look through their libraries as well.

My name is Bronwen, and I will be taking you on one of my favourite routes of the city. We'll be exploring the unique ways in which Hong Kong, with its high-end boutiques and shining façades, is both a first world metropolis as well as a beacon to the old days of Chinese trade markets and antiques.

The Pedder Building is one of the last surviving pre-war buildings on Pedder Street. What I find beautiful about it is how it feels on the inside. It's like a time capsule that takes you back to a decadent era. Its attention to detail and smells of rich wood are incredible.

It was completed in the early 1920s and was typical of the art deco style. It has stone cladding on its base and neo-classical elements such as arches, mouldings, a triangular-shaped pediment, columns and sculpted medallions. Many years ago there were gargoyle masks flanked on the two ends by two giant bronze figures. Unfortunately these fell off and were never replaced.

This symbol of antiquity is the first of our melting pots. For housed within its walls are some of the world’s most cutting edge, high-end contemporary art galleries. The exhibitions are always changing, and the curators are conscientious about presenting a good mix of eastern and western artists. One of my favourite spaces inside has to be the Gagosian. The space is versatile because it has moveable wall panels. It’s also amazing how it feels like a warehouse inside such a small, almost delicate building.

Before I leave you to wander around this space, let me tell you how VoiceMap works.

It uses your location to play commentary automatically, so you can just put your phone away and focus on your surroundings. I'll give you directions to keep you on track. There might be a bit of silence now and again, but you can just keep walking and my voice will kick in at each location.

So you can take your time inside the Pedder building. When you’re ready, go back outside and head down the alleyway I pointed out. The tour will play automatically when you get there. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

Listen as many times as you like

You can listen to your tours as often as you like using both the VoiceMap app and website.

Take virtual tours anywhere, like a podcast

Select Virtual mode in the VoiceMap app to listen to tours like a podcast - at home or in transit.

Buy for less on voicemap.me and sync

Once you've purchased a tour, it's added to your VoiceMap library. To access it in the app, just sign in using the same account.

Do tours without paying for data

Tours work offline, so you don't have to pay roaming fees. Just download them over WiFi before you get started.

Major Landmarks

Man Mo Temple
Central-Mid-Levels Escalators

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
12 Pedder St, Central, Hong Kong
Total distance

1km
Final location
Hong Kong
Distance back to start location

785.33m

Directions to Starting Point

Our journey begins in front of the Pedder building, Central MTR exit D2, on Pedder Street.

Show Directions

Gift vouchers

Buy tours for friends and family who delight in discovery

Buy Now

Buy for a group

Get 15% to 50% off when you buy for a group

Buy Now

License this tour

Adapt this tour to use your brand and suit your guests

Find out more

Tips

Places to stop along the way

There are many! The route is dotted with cafes, restaurants and coffee shops, and outside most of the major landmarks are benches where we can relax and take in the sights.

Best time of day

Anytime! I can suggest starting in the late morning, stopping half way for lunch, and then continuing the tour in the afternoon.

Precautions

Wear comfortable shoes, sandals and flip flops are also fine.

Get The App

Download tours to use them offline

Listen hands-free with GPS playback

Get turn-by-turn directions

Scan the QR Code

“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

Google Play Store

Questions and Reviews

4.3 / 5

13 Ratings

Display:

Sort by:

Relevant

Recent

Loading…

Loading...