Hong Kong University's antique buildings do more than educate the institute's students, they offer a glimpse into the city's past.

The university's campus tour, launched in 2004, is a free one-hour walking excursion led by Green Gown Guides - the university's student ambassadors in traditional emerald attire. During the tour, visitors learn the history and features of the college's antique buildings and about university life.

With the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Government's Antiquities & Monuments Office, the tour has had 11,500 visits since its opening, and seen 24% growth in visitor numbers in the last two years. It now sees up to 4,000 visits a year with 40% of the participants from overseas.

Time travel: Hong Kong University's Main Building is the oldest of its four antiquities. Green Gown Guides Elizabeth Chan and John Lee lead a campus tour for students from Dubai and take a picture with Fahmida Habib. Photo Gallery

Historic monuments

The university is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong and the only local college with declared monuments on campus.

John Lee graduated in 2006 and has been a guide since 2004, returning regularly to his alma mater to guide the tours. He told news.gov.hk the Main Building was opened in 1912 and is the university's oldest building.

"The Main Building is the most widely known of the university's buildings. Many movies such as Lust Caution and City of Glass were filmed there," he said.

Its style is post-renaissance employing prevalent red brick and granite construction. It has a symmetrical design with towers, balconies and red brick walls on both sides and a central plaza in the middle. It was declared a historic monument in 1984 and is now home to the Arts Faculty.

The other three historic monuments on campus are Hung Hing Ying Building, Tang Chi Ngon Building and University Hall. They are still in use as department offices or student dormitories.

Elizabeth Chan became a Green Gown Guide last year and said the tour can help visitors learn about Hong Kong history.

"The university is nearly 100 years old and so reflects the growth of Hong Kong. For example, during World War II the Main Building was destroyed and later rebuilt and extended."

Overseas participants

The tour has seen participants from across the world and recently saw college students from Dubai taking part.

Fahmida Habib said she and her students were fascinated by the historic campus.

"The campus we come from is new, only 20 years old, and very modern. So we wanted to see a university which is old."

She said the tour helped her learn more about Hong Kong's colonial past, its ties with the Mainland and about the life of Dr Sun Yat-sen - the father of modern China and arguably the university's most famous graduate.

The Green Gown Guides are not only knowledgeable of the university's history but also participate in docent skill training courses provided by the Antiquities & Monuments Office. They guide tours independently after passing a written test and joining demonstration tours - up to two years of training.

Tours are conducted in English, Cantonese and Putonghua with other languages available by reservation. Tours are held Saturdays at 11am and 2pm. Wednesday tours are available by appointment. Click here for details.