Hong Kong attracts 15 million tourists every year, and 14,999,999 of them miss the best bits. Time Out staff get off the tourist trail to reveal the hidden gems that make Hong Kong the coolest city in Asia. But shh! Don’t tell the tourists! Photography by Calvin Sit and Brett Elmer

Historic Heritage
Classic Culture
Food & Beverage
City Shopping
Outdoors

Historic Heritage
A testament to our city’s fascinating past

Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail
This trail follows the history of a Jiangxi province clan that settled in the area at the end of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368 AD). Enter Kun Lung Wai through its ironed gates and be amazed by the fortified stronghold. Then head over to Wing Ning Tsuen located on the north-west portion of the trail to see homes with a 300-year history. Lastly head over to the Shek Lo mansion. Its beautiful east-meets-west-design has a picturesque rounded entrance. Remember to take your mozzie spray because the villages have a lot of waterways for their farming needs. From the Fanling MTR, take the 54K bus or cab it to Lung Yeuk Tau. Sha Tau Kok Rd, Fanling.

Shing Mun Redoubt and the Gin Drinker’s Line
Climb, duck and crawl your way through these fascinating Second World War trenches that have a lofty reservoir view to boot. These concrete bunkers linked by over-ground paths were built to defend against the incoming Japanese troops but, as history shows, proved to be a catastrophic failure. Once you reach Shing Mun Reservoir, continue on foot up the road in the direction of the public toilets until you reach stage six of the MacLehose Trail, which will lead you into the mountains. Shing Mun Country Park, Shing Mun.

Tung Wah Museum
Hidden within the Kwong Wah Hospital courtyard lies a small but mighty building. The Tung Wah Museum is actually the only remaining structure from the first hospital complex dating back to 1911. Originally called the Main Hall Building, it housed hospital beds to meet the overwhelming demand. Now the main room displays some impressive wooden couplets given to the Tung Wah Group to commemorate their donations over the years. Two side rooms follow the group’s long and charitable history with photographs, archaic medical equipment, school books and more. 25 Waterloo Rd, Yau Ma Tei. 2770 0867, www.tungwah.org.hk.

Tai Fu Tai Mansion
Built in the Qing dynasty (1865), this former residence is considered to be one of the city’s most beautiful Chinese buildings. You’ll be greeted by a spacious courtyard, perfect for picture-taking and leisurely cartwheels. An array of adornments, figurines lining roofs and an honour board hang in the main hall with Manchurian and Chinese characters. It’s the only one of its kind in Hong Kong. Walk around the mansion and see how people used to cook, clean and spend a penny (seriously – there are historical bathrooms here). Take Bus 76K or minibus 76 to reach this hidden village. Castle Peak Rd, San Tin.

Béthanie
When this striking neo-Gothic house was passed from the French Mission to the Dairy Farm Company shortly after it was built in 1875, two octagonal cowsheds were added and have since become an iconic part of the space. Béthanie was formerly used as a sanatorium, by HKU Press and, most recently, as a branch of the HK Academy for Performing Arts. But the cowsheds still remain, re-purposed as a theatre and exhibition hall of this much-loved building. 139 Pokfulam Rd, Pok Fu Lam. 2584 8633.

Ping Shan Heritage Trail
The Tang clan (one of the ‘Five Great Clans’ of the New Territories) have lived in this area since the 12th century and this route is a testament to their history here. The elaborate shrine in the Tang Ancestral Hall shows how devoted the community is to their departed family members. Head to the Kun Ting Study Hall and admire the beautifully cut-out lattice panels that allow glimmering rays of light to shimmer through. Then wander through the narrow passageways of the community to see how the modern villager lives. Tsui Sing Rd, Tin Shui Wai.

King Yin Lei
This classic residence (circa 1937) is one of the few remaining examples of Chinese Renaissance architecture. After changing hands a number of times, the last owner in 2004 began demolishing King Yin Lei for redevelopment. A huge uproar from the community ensued and the building was eventually saved – a major victory for conservation-kind. While it’s currently not open to the public, King Yin Lei is awaiting re-adaptation and will hopefully be up and running soon. Meanwhile, admire its refurbished exterior from street-level. 45 Stubbs Rd, Wan Chai.

Public Records Building
This is every history buff’s paradise – hundreds upon thousands of documents, records, microfilm copies, maps and plans, some dating back to the mid-1800s, but mostly from 1945 onwards, due to the extensive loss and destruction of records during the Japanese occupation. Some of the notable records include a diary kept by a Hong Kong police inspector during his internment in Stanley Camp and the very first full survey map drawn of Hong Kong in 1845. Some of the records can be viewed online (secret virtual museum?) while others must be viewed in situ. 13 Tsui Ping Rd, Kwun Tong. www.grs.gov.hk.