HK courts tourists with Cultural Kaleidoscope program

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 ◆ HK courts tourists with Cultural Kaleidoscope program

Cultural Kaleidoscope, a program featuring free cultural tours in Hong Kong, will be extended worldwide, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced recently.

The program, launched in late 2000, was originally tailored to appeal to the US and Canadian long-haul tourist markets. The positive feedback on the program made the HKTB decide to promote it in all major markets.

Through the Kaleidoscope, visitors can join free classes on Chinese tea appreciation, antiques appreciation, pearl and jade grading and Chinese clothing, unravel the mysteries of feng shui and Chinese martial arts, and practise tai chi.

They can also take a guided Cantonese opera tour or a series of architectural and heritage walks, join a guided tour of "the Hong Kong Story" at the Hong Kong Museum of History, or sail Victoria Harbor on board the Duk Ling, a real Chinese junk.

"Tourists may think they know a great deal about Hong Kong, but there is more to discover than they ever realized. We want to provide something new, fascinating and a little unexpected for our visitors, and give them the chance to explore Hong Kong's unique way of like for themselves," said Clara Chong, executive director of the HKTB.

Both groups and independent travelers can book the Kaleidoscope tours on a first come, first served basis, through HKTB Visitor Information & Services Centers at Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong International Airport.