The best things to do in Hong Kong today

Hong Kong’s annual winter celebration returns to Central Harbourfront this December, paying tribute to Hong Kong’s cultural heritage with performances from local talents, local cuisine, and photo ops inspired by the city’s beloved landmarks and neighbourhoods. As always, thrilling rides, carnival games, and limited-edition prizes at over 30 different attractions await you, as well as Gandeys Circus’ brand-new winter-themed show, “The Winter World Circus,” a new act that adds a delightfully frozen flair to Gandeys’ signature choreo numbers and acrobatics.  AIA Carnival will take place at Central Harbourfront from December 22, 2025 to March 1, 2026.

Louis Vuitton is celebrating its store expansion at Lee Gardens One with a limited-time bar pop-up, partnering with none other than the World’s Best Bar of 2025, Bar Leone. From now until March 15, the Bar Leone x Louis Vuitton pop-up bar will serve new cocktails, mocktails, and food created specifically for the collaboration, taking inspiration from the iconic Yum Sing Bar at the historic Lee Gardens Hotel. Bar Leone-made drinks such as the Kir Royal with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, raspberry cordial, and violet; the gin-based Lee Gardens Special with moutai, elderflower, cucumber cordial, and soda; and the Yum Sing Café, featuring coffee, salted cream, and cardamom. Paris With a View offers a non-alcoholic experience of grapefruit and raspberry flavours, while the Bar Leone signature, Masa Margarita, combines toasted corn-infused tequila, sloe gin, and lime cordial. There are also three food sets available, loaded up with caviar, Balik salmon, lobster, foie gras, and more indulgences to pair perfectly with the cocktails without weighing the stomach down. Read more details about the pop-up and how to book.

In a landmark collaboration between the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt, 250 treasures and relics from the land of the Pharaohs will be on display in Hong Kong for nine and a half months. Named ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’, this exhibition is the largest, most comprehensive, and longest-running display of ancient Egyptian artefacts Hong Kong has ever seen, displaying archaeological finds loaned straight from Egypt, many of which are being shown outside of their home country for the very first time. Some of our favourite highlights include a set of canopic jars used to store internal organs in the mummification and burial process; statues of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut and Rameses II; painted coffins of wood and stone; a Book of the Dead papyrus scroll; and even an ancient Egyptian toilet seat. Swing by the gift shop to find a wide range of Egypt-related merch, including an adorable series of blind box plushies created by HKPM which depict pharaohs, canopic jars, mummies, and more.

Globally popular Korean girl group Blackpink has announced the highly anticipated Asia leg of their Deadline world tour, and Hong Kong’s on their schedule! The last time Blackpink was in town was during their Born Pink world tour, when they played three concerts at the AsiaWorld-Expo in early 2023. That was the highest-grossing tour by a girl group, and with the release of several successful solo projects from Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa since then, we can only expect even more people to want to see them perform live now. Since Hong Kong is the final stop on their Deadline tour, we’re also keeping our fingers crossed they end things with a bang and jazz things up for our shows. Due to huge demand, Blackpink has added an extra date to their Hong Kong shows, so they’ll take the stage at Kai Tak Stadium on January, 24, 25, and 26.

Chiikawa and friends are returning to town as baby versions of themselves! From January 23 to March 2, Niko-Niko Lifestyle Store in Mong Kok’s MOKO shopping mall is hosting the Chiikawa Baby Hong Kong pop-up store, giving local fans a chance to enter the world of Chiikawa Baby for photo opportunities, pick up licensed merchandise and new releases, and immerse themselves in the official pop-up store experience.  At the 2,000-sq-ft pop-up, you can get your hands on the new Chiikawa Baby Series 2 merchandise, featuring baby Chiikawa, baby Usagi, baby Hachiware, and more. From the Chiikawa Baby Crawling Baby Plushies and Chiikawa Baby Mini Bibs to dress up the dolls to the Chiikawa Baby Star Mascot, Chiikawa Baby Swaddle Plushies, Chiikawa Baby Quilted Tote Bags, and more, there’s so much to choose from that fans of these cute critters will probably get dizzy from whipping their heads around too much. During the first week of the limited-time pop-up, there’s a reservation system in place, which opens on January 15 at 11am for visits between January 23 and 29. If you miss the opportunity to reserve a spot, be prepared to wait until January 30 to swing by.

Head to the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) to find our city’s first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Mughal art. The Mughal empire was one of the world’s most powerful kingdoms that encompassed much of modern-day Indian, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, ruling from the 16th to the 17th centuries. Though they ruled a mainly Hindu population, the Mughals were Muslim with Mongol origins, and were known for their rich culture and architecture – the Taj Mahal is one such legacy from this empire. Over 100 artefacts from the golden age of the Mughal dynasty, from paintings and jewellery to weaponry, architectural segments, and even some rare surviving textiles from this period are now on show – Hong Kong is this exhibition’s only Asia venue after its London premiere in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Under the rule of three emperors, the Mughal court greatly fostered artistic development and embraced cross-cultural influences, shown here in jade pieces that have incorporated motifs from the Chinese court. Highlights include a casket with mother-of-pearl inlays, a thumb ring from Emperor Akbar’s reign with western enamelling that shows the Mughal court’s hybrid aesthetic, and a beautiful dagger sheath and hilt lavishly decorated with gold and red gemstones. ‘Treasures of the Mughal Court’ runs until February 23, 2026, and tickets are priced from $150 which also grants access to HKPM’s thematic exhibitions in galleries one to seven.

‘Luminous Neon’ is a new exhibition at the DX Design Hub in Sham Shui Po that shares the radiant world of neon signage and the beauty of the traditional art form with visitors for a dose of nostalgia and collective reminiscing. Presented by the Hong Kong Design Centre, Serious Staging, and Tetra Neon Exchange, ‘Luminous Neon’ brings together a collection of painstakingly restored neon signs and new creations, creating a visual dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and modern creativity.  Endlessly photographable but balanced with educational and informative elements, the exhibition contrasts the different generational approaches to neon art and its legacy as an enduring cultural symbol of Hong Kong. Check out the historic ‘Golden Phoenix Restaurant’ and legendary ‘Tai Ping Koon Restaurant’ signs that once illuminated two of the city’s most prominent soy sauce western establishments, the ‘Nam Cheong Pawn Shop’ with its unique silhouette, and the Ray-Ban-shaped ‘Tai Cheong Eyeglasses’ sign, and more, all of which highlight the hard-earned skills of neon masters.

The golden age of Hong Kong cinema saw the production of blockbuster titles like A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Conman (1998), and Infernal Affairs (2002). Packed with action, suspense, and good ol’ “nonsense” humour, these iconic crime films not only offer gripping stories but also capture the essence of life in 70s and 80s Hong Kong. Now, cinephiles can relive their favourite scenes from these classics at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station. ‘Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey’ delves into local cop film classics through reconstructed sets, collectibles, original scripts, and much more.  This nostalgic exhibition is now open at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, 627 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei. Tickets are priced at $30 per person, with concessionary tickets available at $10 per person. Children aged six or below can enter the exhibition for free. Make sure to book your tickets online at cultural.cityline.com, as there will not be tickets onsite. Find out more at fpf.ccidahk.gov.hk. 

A good dose of laughter is a great remedy for the stressors of hectic urban life, which is why comedic comics have been so well-received since they appeared in Hong Kong in the early 20th century. By the 1950s, local comics truly began to take off, giving rise to iconic characters like Old Master Q, My Boy, and Sau Sing Chai. Visitors can see beloved comic works spanning from the 50s to modern-day characters used in our everyday group chat stickers.

Running until February 20, 2026 at Tai Kwun, ‘Book of Changes: The Art of Basil Pao’ is a thematic photography exhibition that explores the profound impact of the ancient I Ching text on Chinese life and cultural heritage through abstract visual dialogue. As one of the Five Classics in Chinese literature, the I Ching – also known in translation as the Book of Changes – is a divination and philosophy text that fortune-seekers refer to for moral guidance and wisdom. Basil Pao is best known for his photography work on Michael Palin’s BBC travel programmes, which were later published as large-format books. In this exhibition of images, he interprets the concepts explained in the I Ching through two photography series: The Great Walls of China and Glimpses of Silence. If your curiosity is roused by the I Ching and you’d like to gain a glimpse into the future, you can seek your own fortune through the ‘Consulting the Book of Changes’ interactive experience on-site. Visitors can also pick up an exclusive postcard featuring artwork from Pao’s The Great Walls of China photography series as a keepsake. If you’re a TK Fan member, you can make use of Tai Kwun’s special mailing service – just scribble down your message on the postcard and send it off to a local address!