Festivals and Events
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Hong Kong Fashion Week
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Chinese New Year parade
Hong Kong is one of the best places in the world for celebrations.
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Hong Kong Sevens
Internationally renowned seven-a-side rugby tournament.
http://www.hksevens.com -
The Clear and Bright Festival
Ancient tradition where families pay respects to their ancestors in Hong Kong’s cemeteries.
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Birthday of Tam Kung
One of the patron saints of the sea is celebrated with considerable devotion and fanfare at the Tam Kung Temple.
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Italy 2007
Quality and Lifestyle. A festival devoted to Italian industry, art and culture.
http://www.icc.org.hk -
Seven Sisters Festival
A major date in the Chinese calendar – a festival for unmarried girls and young lovers. Celebrations everywhere in Hong Kong.
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Hong Kong Food Expo
Open to both trade and consumers at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
http://www.hkfoodexpo.tdctrade.com -
Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair
At the Exhibition and Convention Centre.
http://hkwatchfair.tdctrade.com/ -
Mid-Autumn Moon Cake Festival
One of the most beautiful festivals of the year, commemorating a 14th century uprising against the Mongols.
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New Vision Arts Festival
A month-long cultural bonanza featuring artistes from Asia and the West.
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Festi... -
Hong Kong WinterFest
Christmas comes alive in the bustling Central district with special family events.
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/hkwf/eng
Click on to http://www.discoverhongkong.com for a comprehensive list of events.
Theatre, Cinema and Opera
Most theatre productions are in Cantonese or Mandarin although some of the larger theatres will put up English subtitles. The professional Hong Kong Repertory Theatre always does this. There are also local English-language drama troupes, but the quality is variable. Big name musicals like Mama Mia and Les Miserables periodically make it to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra perform regularly when they’re not on world tours. There is also the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. There are dozens of cinemas and multiplexes that show the latest Hollywood releases, local offerings and big-budget Japanese, South Korean and Thai movies. There are also several good art-house theatres with European and Asian productions. Almost all non-English films will come with English subtitles. There’s a vibrant dance scene in Hong Kong with performances by the home-grown Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Dance Company and the off-beat City Contemporary Dance Company. Listings and reviews of all arts events are given in the free magazines, HK and BC, which are available in bars and coffee shops. There’s also a pull-out section in the English language daily, the South China Morning Post.
Museums and Galleries
Hong Kong has some world-class museums. The Museum of History and the Heritage Museum offer great hands-on displays of life in the city in days gone by. The Space and Science Museums are fun places for children and frequently have excellent visiting exhibitions. A Museum Pass allows access to six museums for a week – the four mentioned above, as well as the Museum of Art and the Coastal Defence Museum. It costs $HK 30 and is available from any of the museums or from one of the Tourist Board’s information centres. Other museums in Hong Kong include those dedicated to film, horse racing and railways.
For Children
There’s a great deal on offer for children. Travelling on its public transport is adventure enough for some, with its trains, trams, taxis, minibuses, double-decker buses, ferries and junks. Some of the attractions we’ve already mentioned are tailor-made for children: the ride up to The Peak, the two theme parks, Disneyland and Ocean Park, and the six museums included in the discounted museum pass. There’s also a Tussaud’s wax museum and a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Odditorium. For a unique Hong Kong experience, take to the water to see the rare pink dolphins that live in the Pearl River Delta. www.hkdolphinwatch.com
