Yau Ma Tei: The Heart of Kowloon

Name: Yau Ma Tei: The Heart of Kowloon
Brand: VoiceMap
SKU: 666
Price: 4.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (32 reviews)
Author: Lindsey

(32 reviews)

Hong Kong audio tour: Yau Ma Tei: The Heart of Kowloon

This is a 1.1mi walking tour

It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong (China)

$4.99

Access all 30 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

Buy for a Group

Reviews

About the Tour

Yau Ma Tei is the very heart of Kowloon. Time-worn and authentic, this vibrant and colourful enclave lies just beyond the glitz of the Tsim Sha Tsui harbour front. Choc-a-bloc with historical buildings, 100 year-old markets and charming themed streets and shops, a visit to Yau Ma Tei is like stepping back in time.

Tour Producer

Lindsey Gordon

1 tour

I am currently living in Hong Kong where I am editor of the American Women's Association AWAre magazine. Prior to moving here in 2014, I lived in Mumbai for six years. I have written for many newspapers and magazines in both cities and indeed for publications across the globe, having trained as a journalist in the UK.

Preview Location

Location 1

Start of route

You should be standing outside Exit B2 of the Yau Ma Tei MTR stop. Like most of Hong Kong, it's probably pretty busy here, so just find a spot out the way of the crowd to wait while I explain how this works.

Hi, and welcome to this VoiceMap tour of Yau Ma Tei. My name is Li... You should be standing outside Exit B2 of the Yau Ma Tei MTR stop. Like most of Hong Kong, it's probably pretty busy here, so just find a spot out the way of the crowd to wait while I explain how this works.

Hi, and welcome to this VoiceMap tour of Yau Ma Tei. My name is Lindsey Gordon and I've lived in Hong Kong for 18 months. As editor of an expat magazine here, I have made it my business to explore the city as much as possible, accompanying locals and long-term expats alike on tours of their favourite neighbourhoods. Of of all the places I have visited in this fascinating city, I like Yau Ma Tei the best because it’s like stepping back in time. If you are interested in art, design and local culture, it’s all here. For me, this is the very heart of Kowloon.

We're about to set off, and I'll tell you more as we go. But first, let me explain how this works. VoiceMap uses your GPS location to play commentary automatically so you can now put your phone away and focus on your surroundings. There might be a bit of silence between tracks, so if you don't hear from me, just keep going. I'll stop you if we have to cross a major road, but I don't want to stop you on every block, so just be careful when crossing the little side streets. If you get lost or stuck, there's a map on your phone's screen.

OK so let's get going now. With your back to Exit B2, cross over the side road called Portland Street and start walking straight. Waterloo Road is on your left.

So here we are! Beyond the glitzy Tsim Sha Tsui harbour front, is this wonderfully vibrant enclave - Yau Ma Tei. The name actually means ‘Oil Sesame Ground’ presumably because the oil sesame plant was cultivated here at some point in time.

I love this area. It’s chock-a-block with historical buildings, crowd-pulling markets and charming, themed streets and shops. There’s a café run by crazy cat lovers for people who love to play with cats while they are eating. We'll also pass a wholesale fruit market selling the perfectly peeled skins of oranges for use in Chinese Medicine. It smells divine! I’ll show you around all the spots that make Yau Ma Tei special for me.

Keep going straight on. You'll hear from me up ahead. 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

Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple
Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market

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
Waterloo Rd, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Total distance

2km
Final location
Shop A1, G/F, Wing Tak Building, 9-11 Waterloo Rd, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Distance back to start location

132.43m

Directions to Starting Point

Take the MTR to Yau Ma Tei (green Kwun Tong Line and the red Tsuen Wan Line) Leave the MTR station and start the tour on the street outside Exit B2.

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

The Toy and Hobby Museum, Café Mido, Temple Street Night Market, Capital Embroidery, Wu Jue Nong Tea, Cheng Shing Fan Factory, Baraha Jewellery, Nam Cheong Wooden Handicraft, Jade Company, Jade Hawkers' Market, Tin Hau Temple, Café Kubrick, Broadway Cinematheque, Reclamation Street Market, Wholesale Fruit Market

Best time of day

Interesting and fun at any time of the day. Temple Street Night Market opens after 4pm. Café Mido is good for an authentic taste of Hong Kong but if you prefer something more western, Café Kubrick is your best bet.

Precautions

Just be careful crossing the streets and be aware of your surroundings.

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.”