The best things to do in Hong Kong in January

The popular Twilight of the Warriors exhibition is wrapping up its first phase at Hong Kong International Airport and has now relocated to Kowloon City, the very neighbourhood in which the hit film is set. Until April 13, visit Airside in Kai Tak to see an expanded exhibition with all-new set-ups and photo spots that were not available at the airport pop-up.

Apart from the existing barbershop, tea stall, and other locations from the movie, five new sets have been added, including a comic stall, tailor shop, a tit da bone-setting clinic, a shoemaker’s shop, and a dental clinic. All the designs and props, down to the price tags on items, were modelled on historical pieces from Hong Kong in the 80s to fully immerse visitors in the bygone era of the Kowloon Walled City. The dim alleys and indoor locations have been integrated with sound effects and actors’ dialogues, so if you enjoyed Twilight of the Warriors, then this exhibition will be a real treat.

Spot Easter eggs hidden throughout the exhibition such as miniature models of the movie characters, and don’t miss the dining and retail stalls, where you can buy iconic dishes from Hong Kong food stalls served in nostalgic takeaway containers.

The AIA Carnival is back again and we couldn’t be more excited! This year, the annual fun fest will be celebrating its 10th birthday – which means new rides, games, toys, more food options, a ton of photo ops, and plenty of surprises in store!

From December 18, 2024, to February 16, 2025, the spectacular event is set to bring a lineup of 28 classic and new rides, some of which have never been seen in the city before; more than 30 games with adorable, custom-made toys from huge blockbusters and anime favourites up for grabs; a multinational selection of bites featuring an even bigger selection of options for all tastes and age groups. The renowned Gandeys Circus will also return with six brand-new acts and a star-studded lineup of talents from 12 different countries. Early-bird tickets are now on sale with special discounts on regular ticket prices. Click here for more details about this year’s event.

This Chinese New Year, Sky100’s beloved mascot MoMo has flown all the way from Japan to Hong Kong’s tallest building to bring blessings to the city. From now until February 15, the MoMo Shrine, inspired by traditional Japanese torii gates, has been set up at the Sky100 observation deck to welcome all travellers. Visitors can enjoy blessings and rituals by writing their New Year wishes onto heart-shaped tags to hang onto the wishing pillar, as well as have the chance to meet the cute owl mascot MoMo in person. This unique blend of cultural traditions makes for an auspicious start to the Lunar New Year celebrations.

This winter, the Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong is premiering for the first time at AIA Carnival. Inspired by our city’s beloved old-school dining venues, this bustling pop-up is decked out in neon light and retro signs, with a bar that offers Blue Girl beer and crafted cocktails. While general entertainment is open to all AIA Carnival guests, the Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong also holds exclusive ticketed events like themed DJ nights, stand-up comedy, and clothes swaps that are not to be missed. 

Be sure to secure tickets for the Nodes Rec. Takeover on January 11, which promises a night full of house and techno tunes from one of Hong Kong’s hottest music collectives. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Schmoney Moves party on January 28 either, where you can catch local DJs as they spin hip-hop and pop anthems that’ll have you tearing up the dancefloor all night long.

To attend these ticketed events at Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong, simply purchase separate tickets on Eventbrite, which will also grant free access to the AIA Carnival.

The Peak Tramways Company, Limited and The Peak Tower Limited have joined forces to launch the 'It's Different Up here' campaign, offering a rich experience of Hong Kong's culture and cuisine for both local and overseas travellers. From now until February 28, 2025, make your way to 101 Peak Street to catch exciting performances, take snaps at various photo spots, taste authentic Hong Kong delicacies, and get your hands on well-designed gifts.

A highlight not to be missed has got to be the special hawker carts, include a Taxi Float by local craft cider brand Neon Cider, a Sugar Cane King Cart offering special edition bottled milk teas (available while stocks last), a Siu Mei Car with Hong Kong specialty products, the Mochi Cart and its Hong Kong-style gift boxes stuffed with local treats, and Chung's Tea House's Dim Sum Cart offering various Cantonese dim sum and special pistachio cream cones. As you explore 101 Peak Street, be sure to keep an eye out for the Dim Sum Squad – a crew led by Hai Gow, Siu Mai and Char Siu Bao – who will be making surprise appearances and bringing smiles to faces with lively dances.

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is currently holding a joint exhibition with the Palace of Versailles with approximately 150 magnificent pieces to peruse. This is the first time that treasures from the Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles – both World Heritage Sites – will be featured in one exhibition in Hong Kong.

With themes spanning culture, arts, science, technology, and beyond in the royal courts of France and China, visitors can expect to admire portraits, porcelain pieces, glassware, enamelware, textiles, books, scientific instruments, and more. Look out for first-grade national treasures from the Palace Museum in Beijing, such as a chrysanthemum teapot gifted to the Qianlong Emperor that was recently discovered to be made in France, and a quiver and bow case with French-made brocade. Highlights flown over from the Palace of Versailles include a perfume fountain – the only Chinese porcelain piece that Louis XV was known to have owned – and a portrait plaque of Qianlong that Louis XVI had displayed in his study.

Tickets for this special exhibition are priced at $150, with concessions available. Holders of HKPM’s Full Access Ticket can also access The Origins of Chinese Civilisation exhibition at a combined price of $180.

French cultural and educational organisation Visionairs is presenting its debut exhibition ‘Notre-Dame de Paris, The Augmented Exhibition’ at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Using both artefacts and immersive augmented reality (AR), this research-based project tells the story of the cathedral’s 850-year history and brings this French landmark to life for audiences.

Set to launch at the same time as the official reopening of Notre-Dame to the public in Paris, this exhibition transports visitors into a historically accurate recreation of the cathedral, spanning from its origins in the 12th century to the devastation of the 2019 fire and its subsequent restoration. Portable touch-screen tablets in 13 languages guide history lovers through 20 time portals to various grand events in time, such as King Henry VI’s wedding and the coronation of Napoleon.

Apart from a full-sized replica of one of Notre-Dame’s chimera statues and a sculpture of one of its rose windows which survived the fire, there will also be more virtual delights such as visitors being superimposed as the cathedral’s animal statues, as well as collecting stained glass shards in a digital treasure hunt.