Lord led a similar tour several years ago. Since the area has grown so much recently, she decided a new tour was due. “So much had changed, even if you took our previous tour, you’ll see lots of new [sights],” she tells us. “We were calling it the New Chinatown tour, but we’ve changed it to New Asiatown because there are lots of [nations] represented in the area.”
Bring some spending money. The tour starts and ends with time for a snack at Kim Son on your own. You’ll have time to shop at Hong Kong City Mall, which is filled with shops offering tapioca tea, jade, jewelry, fabrics and medicinal herbs. You’ll walk through the enormous Hong Kong Food Market, where you’ll see 100-year-old eggs, live seafood and a huge assortment of exotic produce.
Lord is experimenting with free tours (if tips generate enough income to cover the costs, she’ll add more), and the New Asiatown schedule includes a free tour on April 4. “I love showing people around, and if I could cover my expenses, I would do them all for free.” Space is limited and reservations are encouraged.
1 to 5 p.m. April 4, 12, 19 and 26. Kim Son Restaurant, 10603 Bellaire. For information, call 713-222-9255 or visit discoverhoustontours.com. Free to $40.
Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Starts: April 5. Continues through April 26, 2015