Sensory heritage encompasses culturally valued practices, rituals, and everyday activities experienced through the senses. While sight often dominates, hearing and smelling are generally more immersive and pervasive. Soundscape research is a well-established field within urban studies; however, smellscape remains insufficiently recognised. This study is part of Multimodal Hong Kong, a project aimed at documenting sensory cultural heritage across the city by capturing the complex interplay between soundscape, smellscape, urban experiences, everyday activities, and memory. We investigated the multisensory environment at Wong Tai Sin Temple through acoustic measurements and perceptual ratings of soundscape and smellscape across 197 locations within and around the site. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with visitors (N = 54, 15,015 words of transcript), which were analysed using content analysis and natural language processing. The results indicate that elevated noise levels mainly arise from human voices and pipe music within the temple compound, as well as traffic noise in the surrounding area. The smell of incense dominates near the temple altars, whereas natural, grassy odours prevail in the adjacent park. Interview responses confirm that incense burning constitutes a traditional religious practice forming a distinctive olfactory marker for Chinese temples, but it is also perceived as having adverse health implications. This study contributes to the growing body of sensory heritage research, underscoring the importance of both soundscape and smellscape in fostering culturally inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable urban environments.

The sensory cultural heritage creates identity and cohesion in a community. The Multimodal Hong Kong (MMHK) started in January 2023 and aims to build a database of soundscape and smellscape at culturally significant sites. This paper will introduce the project and its objectives, present results from a pilot survey, and describe the development of a field work methodology. Data collection methods include Ambisonics audio, 360 video, and 'smellprints', together with on-site observations based on the Soundscape Indices survey protocol and the Dravnieks-McGinley-Zarzo 'smell atlas'. Currently having data from 20 sites, MMHK aims to reach 100 within the project's duration, as well as conduct outreach such as sensory walks, interviews, and workshops with stakeholders. The overall goal is to produce in-depth knowledge of how information, via multiple sensory modalities, constitute the perceived quality of places, and thence, how an intangible cultural heritage emerges in Hong Kong. This knowledge will enable future research and applications in urban spatial design, experiencescape, and virtual tourism.

Many people in Hong Kong regularly visit Chinese temples, and see this not necessarily as a religious activity, but as a traditional practice. Temples represent the local intangible cultural heritage. The dense urbanity and mixed population characterise Hong Kong and make it valuable to study its sounds and smells. Most temples existed earlier than modern urban areas, which grew around them. The temple soundscape consists of drums, bells, coin donations, ventilation fans, as well as chanting, especially during festivals. The smellscape consists of ritual burning of incense and paper, fruit offerings, and building materials e.g., wood and cement. The burning causes particle pollution, health concerns, and residential nuisance, that may conflict with the wish for sustaining a valuable heritage. Smells and air quality have recently become debated, raising the question of the need for a specific regulatory framework. There is currently a lack of official provision that directly protects the sounds and smells of these temples in Hong Kong. This paper reviews the current state of Hong Kong policies in regard to soundscape and smellscape, with comparison to China and France, because of the latter's progressive agenda in preserving sensory heritage in the countryside.

Sensory heritage is constituted by culturally valued practices, rituals, and everyday activities as experienced through all the senses. Hearing and smelling are our two most immersive and pervasive senses. While soundscape is a major field within urban studies, the contribution of smellscape to the design of sustainable cities is not fully appreciated. This study is part of Multimodal Hong Kong, a project that aims to document sensory cultural heritage across the city by capturing the complex interplay between soundscape, smellscape, and urban experiences. We investigated the multisensory environment at Wong Tai Sin in Hong Kong through measurements and perceptual ratings of the acoustic and olfactory environment at 197 locations within and around the temple compound, as well as conducting semi-structured ad hoc interviews with visitors on site (N = 54, 15015 words). Analysis reveals how sensory components influence environmental perception and people’s appreciation of the site’s cultural values. The study contributes to the growing body of research on sensory heritage, and underscores the importance of soundscape and smellscape to developing vibrant and inclusive cities. We discuss the implications for future policy recommendations aimed to preserve and promote the sensory heritage and inform sustainable urban design that prioritises cultural values, public health, and community well-being.