City in Time: Relive the panoramic scenery of Hong Kong’s past

Travel through time and enjoy an immersive Hong Kong heritage experience using your smartphones, complete with lively animations and special sound effects. The Tourism Commission of Hong Kong recently launched the City in Time tourism project, integrating augmented reality (AR) and multimedia technologies to present perfect combinations of historical panoramas and real-life surroundings.

Hong Kong’s City in Time

To experience 360-degree historical panoramas featuring heritage photos or illustrations by young Hong Kong artists, you can scan the AR markers installed at designated locations using your smartphones, with the “City in Time” mobile app downloaded.

The mobile app has a selfie function, enabling you to share your City in Time experience with your friends on social media platforms.

You can also understand more about the history of Hong Kong by browsing photos and information of the iconic spots within the mobile app.

“City in Time is a key project to promote cultural, creative and smart tourism, in which locals and tourists can enjoy a unique 360-degree AR experience easily with a dedicated mobile app along with redesigned visitor sign poles. Despite the disruptions to travel because of the epidemic, we will continue to strengthen the appeal of Hong Kong’s attractions to prepare for the return of visitors by showcasing the city’s distinctive culture and history,” said Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

Where to experience City in Time

The first phase of the City in Time project has been rolled out in seven designated locations in Central and six designated locations in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The seven locations in Central are Edinburgh Place, Chater Road (near the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong), Des Voeux Road Central (near Chater Garden), Statue Square, Pedder Street (near World-Wide House), Hollywood Road (near PMQ) and Pottinger Street (near Tai Kwun), while the six locations in Tsim Sha Tsui are Kowloon Park Drive (near the YMCA of Hong Kong), Nathan Road (near the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers), Salisbury Garden, Salisbury Road (near the Hong Kong Cultural Centre), the Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower and the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade.

The AR markers are installed on redesigned visitor sign poles at these locations. Each sign pole has a different color combination to complement elements of local architecture and reflect the tastes of Hong Kong.

The mobile app is available for free download at the Apple App Store and Google Play. Locals and tourists can also embark on virtual journeys on the City in Time website. 

The Yeung Kin Man Chair Professor of Media Art at the City University of Hong Kong, Professor Jeffrey Shaw, and his team were commissioned by the Tourism Commission to develop and produce the City in Time project, which will be gradually rolled out in other locations.

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