Catharina Cheung

We often go through life with our senses being constantly assailed by sights, smells, sounds, and sensations, but us city folk are just desensitised so we’re not overwhelmed. Something eye-catching may easily draw our attention, or a particularly noxious smell might hit us in the face, but sounds tend to fade into the background of our consciousness, only to suddenly resurface as strong memories when we hear certain earworms again. Here are some particularly Hong Kong sounds and noises that all of us will instantly recognise. RECOMMENDED: 🗣️ Cantonese slang you should know🇭🇰 The 12 signs of being a true Hongkonger🍘 Hong Kong’s best local childhood snacks and sweets

Since the Lunar New Year occurred earlier this year, it might have felt like a while since we’ve had a good festivity. Well, the Ching Ming Festival is right around the corner! Celebrated on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this year Ching Ming falls on Friday, April 4 of the Gregorian calendar. As one of the most important and reverent festivals to Chinese people, it’s well worth knowing about so read on before the festival comes around! RECOMMENDED: Check out this list of public holidays coming up this year, and start planning your AL

Ask any Hongkonger and they will tell you that Leslie Cheung is one of Hong Kong’s lost gems, with debonair charm and striking presence, heightened by a baby-faced sweetness. This musical and film legend is also a major queer icon and was open about being bisexual in a time when ideals were more conservative. It’s been over 20 years since the singer-slash-actor passed away and so, to pay homage to ‘Gor Gor’ (a loveable nickname Leslie Cheung is often referred to), we’ve gathered a few of the most iconic films he has starred in over the years. RECOMMENDED: Check out our list of the 100 best Hong Kong movies – that’s many, many weekends’ worth of plans sorted!

When we saw that the newly reopened JPS Gallery is hosting an exhibition by Joe Foti, we jumped at the chance to see his work up close. Fashion plates may recognise Foti more as the designer overseeing the art and science division of luxury brand Chrome Hearts, but he’s also known as the artist who creates visually stunning, chaotic pieces of art that feature plenty of skulls, aliens, dinosaurs, genitalia, and more in a mashup of outlandishness that is as bizarre as it is familiar. It’s easy to imagine Foti, dressed in black with a long ponytail, as part of a motorcycle gang as much as the artistic type. He’s soft spoken but most definitely a storyteller and a yapper. Despite his aversion to smiling at the camera, there’s a vulnerable youthfulness to the 63-year-old’s eyes and a childlike curiosity in the way he expresses himself – and yet his art contains so much colourful sexuality that a mother would probably turn her kids around if they wandered into a Foti show. And even though he’s lived in Japan for years and is married to Japanese artist and his long-time collaborator Mayumi Foti, he’ll take pasta over a bowl of ramen any day. Read on to suss out this contradictory artistic name, his intriguing body of works, and how Joe Foti clearly longs for the days of old-school Americana.

With the relentless march of corporate globalisation and over-zealous bureaucracy edging out staples of Hong Kong’s societal tent-poles, it’s easy to forget about the traditional spots and pockets of culture that helped make this city what it is. From modest (in size) historical buildings to Hong Kong traditions and old-style eateries that are still among the best grub in the city, take a look at the top must-see local gems before they disappear forever.  RECOMMENDED: Feeling nostalgic? Go down memory lane and reminisce with us over things we miss from the Hong Kong of old. 

Art can be found just about anywhere, even in the unlikeliest of places. For those looking to step up their culture game in Hong Kong, we’ve scoured the city beyond mainstream galleries to reveal smaller art spaces and venues tucked away from plain sight. Check out some of our favourite spots below! RECOMMENDED: Get your cultural fix and explore Hong Kong’s top museums.

March in Hong Kong is typically known to be the most creative month in town thanks to Hong Kong Arts Month. From the return of the city’s biggest art fairs such as Art Basel and Art Central, to local affairs like HKwalls and other exciting art exhibitions, these artsy events below ought to get your creative juices flowing this month. RECOMMENDED: Experience more of Hong Kong’s arts and culture scene at the best jazz venues, or check out all the upcoming concerts and music performances in the city.

Thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones and digital cameras (oh, and Instagram), photography is now a near-constant presence in our daily lives. Obviously, it also helps that we’re in a place as beautiful as Hong Kong! While we have plenty of art galleries in the city, there are a handful of speciality galleries that dedicate themselves to discovering photographs worthy of being considered art. Here are just some of our favourites photography art galleries in Hong Kong.  RECOMMENDED: Fancy being the photographer yourself? Hit up some of these places for street photography, or go retro and pick up a film camera at one of these stores

Hong Kong has plenty of cultural experiences to discover, and the city’s finest museums are a great starting point. Whether you’re looking for historical artefacts and contemporary art, or niche interests like jellyfish and cup noodles, we have a wide array of museums specialising in all aspects of art, culture, and history — check out the best ones below! RECOMMENDED: Once you’ve ticked off all these museums, visit Hong Kong’s oldest buildings and structures

There’s a good reason people love food courts. They house a wide variety of cuisines under one roof so diners can pick and choose their culinary experience. Well, the same can be done for art. We love gallery hopping but it can get tiring popping into singular galleries, so why not visit one place that contains a good range of artists and pieces to peruse at the same time? Read on to find eight Hong Kong art hubs that are well worth exploring. RECOMMENDED: More interested in the actual exhibitions? Here are the art shows and events happening in Hong Kong

March is famously known as Arts Month in Hong Kong, with plenty of creativity-led events peppering the city’s social calendar throughout the 31 days, but it is always the end of the month, or Arts Week, that is the highlight of the season. The cornerstone event, Art Central, is celebrating its 10th edition this year, with new sectors, programmes, and a line-up of fantastic artists to look forward to. Read on to find out everything you need to know about Art Central 2025.

As one of Asia’s major arts and cultural hubs, Hong Kong not only has fantastic art exhibitions and music concerts and shows, but also boasts a year-round line-up of superb theatre productions, comedy stand-up shows, and stage performances. Read on to find out which shows you should see – say hi if you see us in the audience too! RECOMMENDED: 🖼️Art exhibitions and displays to check out in Hong Kong🎁Best Christmas markets in Hong Kong this year🎤Cantonese Christmas songs to check out if you’re sick of Mariah Carey

The city’s biggest street art festival is back! This year sees the 10th edition of HKwalls splashing brilliant artworks across Hong Kong, gathering a lineup of local and international artists who have painted murals around the Central and Western districts. Some digital artists have also created works to be shown on LED screens around the city – look out for six dazzling works that are being played from 6pm to 11pm every night until April 21 on the 4,000-sq-m Sino LuminArt Façade that stretches across the Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre. Additionally, PMQ is playing host to the brand-new HKwalls Rooms, consisting of 10 units that wiil showcase works from independent artists and galleries. Look out for the bright pink signs above the doors that signify a space belongs to this project! HKwalls has always been a discovery-based experience that encourages people to go out and find art in the city and we highly recommend spending a weekend doing so, but we also love that there’s stuff to do within air-conditioned surroundings.

Japanese hip-hop boy group Be:First is embarking on their very first world tour starting from April. Kicking off in Los Angeles, they will make their way to 15 cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Chicago, and Singapore – with Hong Kong also on their list. They’ve just released their latest single Spacecraft, only a couple of months after their previous single Sailing, which was used as the ending theme song for the One Piece Fishman Island arc. Catch the seven-member band’s high-energy performances on June 28. The venue and ticket prices for their Hong Kong stop have yet to be released, so keep an eye on our page.

Fans of third-generation K-pop groups will know of Gfriend as a girl group that garnered considerable success after debuting in 2015, despite being from a small record label. After their third studio album in 2020, the six-member group parted ways when their contracts ended in 2021, though members Eunha, SinB, and Umji later went on to form Viviz in 2022 under new management.  The girls are now reuniting as a group in celebration of their decade-long careers, releasing the single ‘Season of Memories’ as a reunion project in January. Catch them at their Hong Kong concert on March 14 – tickets range from $999 to $1,899. All concert-goers will receive an exclusive photocard, while the middle ticket tier can also be selected to attend the girl group’s send-off session, and the highest ticket tier will additionally have access to the soundcheck and receive a VIP ID and lanyard.

Popular K-pop boy group Infinite is celebrating their 15th anniversary with an Asia tour. Apart from cities like Seoul, Taipei, Yokohama, and Kuala Lumpur, they will also be playing in Hong Kong. If you didn’t get tickets to their Macau show last December, hopefully you can catch them in town on March 1. Since this is an anniversary concert, fans can most likely look forward to hearing Infinite’s most popular hits from across the years. Tickets range from $980 to $1,880 – the top two ticket tiers will receive a signed card and a signed Polaroid, as well as a group photo session with the band, while $1,880 ticket-holders will additionally get access to the soundcheck session.

Emerging Korean boy band Boynextdoor has announced their first concert tour, with a Hong Kong stop on the cards. The group performed at KCon Hong Kong last year, but this show marks their first official concert performance in our city. The six-member act is the first male group to debut under Koz Entertainment, founded by hip-hop powerhouse and Block B member Zico, and they are all-round artists who produce their own music. Their third EP 19.99 came in at number 40 on the Billboard 200 and was crowned first slot on the emerging artists chart. Tickets range from $799 to $1,799, and all concert-goers will receive a poster. The highest ticket tier will also get access to the soundcheck session with an exclusive lanyard and badge, and have the opportunity to receive a limited-edition autographed poster, given out at random.

The SPCA Dogathon will be a 3.6-km charity walk along the Shing Mun River in Sha Tin, starting from the pet park at New Town Plaza and ending at the Sha Tin Racecourse. Taking approximately an hour to finish, this walk falls on April 4, which is a Friday and the public holiday for Ching Ming Festival and Children’s Day this year – so if you have a dog, there’s no real excuse not to join! The Dogathon charity walk requires an enrolment fee and a minimum donation to the SPCA, and those interested will need to sign up by March 28. All dogs will receive an event-themed reversible bandana while walkers get an event t-shirt, and those who finish the walk will be presented with a medal of completion (yes, including the dogs).  After the walk, attendees can take part in the pet festival at the racecourse, which will be specially open to dogs just for the day. There will be agility games, a pet playground, and a Woof Run – not to mention plenty of other furry friends – to keep your pup entertained, while owners can enjoy a charity marketplace and more activities.

King of Mandopop Jay Chou will bring his eighth concert tour, Carnival, to Hong Kong towards the end of June, marking his first-ever performance in our new Kai Tak Stadium. Fans will be treated to the Taiwanese singer-songwriter’s most iconic hits throughout his 25-year musical career. The official setlist for the concert has not been released, but judging from previous stops, he will perform beloved tracks such as Half-beast Human, Tornado, Unspeakable Secret, Give Me the Span of a Song, Mojito, and Loveable Woman. Chou’s Taiwan concerts also had a song-requesting portion in the show, so let’s see if he will break the record of singing more than 15 requested songs during his Hong Kong concerts. The Carnival tour will be in town for three consecutive nights from June 27 to 29. Tickets run from $680 to $1,880.

After a 25-year hiatus on Cantonese music in favour of his screen and celebrity chef career, Nicholas Tse is finally taking to the stage again this year, to the delight of his fans. The highly anticipated concert series will take place in the Kai Tak Sports Park from April 24 to 26 – the show on the 24th was added due to overwhelming demand. Tse will be the first male soloist to perform at the brand-new 50,000-seat stadium and the first local artist to headline a performance at Kai Tak. The ‘Evolution Nic Live’ show comes just a little over a week after British alt-rock band Coldplay plays their April concert in the same venue. Given that Tse’s last major performance in Hong Kong was back in 2020, with six sold-out shows at the Hong Kong Coliseum, it only makes sense that Hongkongers are greatly interested in attending. Tickets range from $680 to $1,380, with general sales opening on February 19 – last we checked, tickets were going like hotcakes, so act fast!

Visit this special exhibition at M+ to see more than 60 masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso spanning from the late 1890s to the early 1970s. Co-curated with the Musée national Picasso-Paris (MnPP), which holds the largest repository of Picasso’s work in the world, this is the first time that pieces from the MnPP are being shown together with works from an Asian museum collection. By placing Picasso’s work in dialogue with Asian contemporary art – approximately 80 works by more than 20 Asian and Asian-diasporic artists – the master’s enduring influence on art to this day is highlighted. Split into four sections that show how Picasso fits into four artist stereotypes – such as the genius in his self-mythologising works, and the outsider with how he consistently chose to upend artistic styles and traditions – this exhibition explores how Picasso became the quintessential modern 20th-century artist.  Tickets cost $240, with half-price concessions and adult-and-child combo deals available. Visitors with special exhibition tickets can also access the ‘Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination’ exhibition, as well as all M+ general admission exhibitions starting from March 15.

From now to July 13, Airside is hosting ‘The World of ASMR’ exhibition that was at London’s Design Museum. This will be the Kai Tak venue’s first time collaborating with an international museum since its opening, and we’re so excited that it’s going to be this special exhibition on the euphoria or calm triggered by sound, touch, and movement. This immersive experience delves into the crackles, pops, feather brushes, whispers, and tappy noises that have become a whole culture and community around the world. Showing over 40 works by contemporary artists, ASMRtists, and designers, the Hong Kong edition also features newly commissioned works by local artists which capture our city’s unique auditory identity. The highlight of the show is a sculpture of wavy, bendy pillows woven together to form over a kilometre of squishy comfort, where visitors can lounge while watching various ASMR-related videos. There’s even an entire room dedicated to Bob Ross, who many in the community dub the ‘Godfather of ASMR’.  Don’t forget to try your hand at creating your own ASMR noises before you leave! Tickets to this exhibition at Gate33 Gallery cost $30.

The Sunbeam Theatre, one of Hong Kong’s last bastions of Cantonese opera, has recently closed down, but at least there’s still the Xiqu Centre to carry the torch of Chinese operatic shows. Curated and directed by the legendary Cantonese opera artist Law Ka-ying, the Tea House Theatre Experience programme is designed for newcomers to Cantonese opera, featuring show excerpts and songs ranging from romance to martial arts. Highlights of the season include ‘Rain-soaked Clothes’ from A Mirror Seal, ‘Love and Struggle’ from The Warrior’s Marriage, and operatic performances in archaic Mandarin. Audiences will also be served traditional tea and dim sum during the performances, a hark back to Hong Kong’s early 20th-–century tea houses. Tickets run from $300 to $342, inclusive of food and drink.

Billed as a ‘circus sound theatre for all the senses’, Murmur is a performance by the acclaimed Belgian circus company Grensgeval combining dance, movements, and the sensory experience of noises. Performer Camiel Corneille pulls tiny speakers from his suit through the performance, conjuring situations and worlds with ease. As he goes through the sound of bees buzzing, cats purring, cars running, waves crashing, and more, the choreography also becomes increasingly bold. As Corneille jumps, swings, and flies around the performance space, audiences are absorbed into being a part of his swirling landscape. Tickets for Murmur are available for $220.

Our long wait is finally over – after months of hyping up the city, British alt-rock band Coldplay will finally take the stage in Hong Kong for four nights this week! This marks the band’s first time back in Hong Kong since their Viva La Vida tour back in 2009, so everyone’s understandably excited about seeing the quartet perform live. Read on for everything you need to know about the Music of the Spheres concerts before you head out. Can I still buy tickets for Coldplay’s Hong Kong concert? To no one’s surprise, the original three dates for the Hong Kong leg of the concert have long since been sold out. Even after adding one more concert date and two rounds of ticket drops, Coldplay tickets have been rapidly snapped up by eager Hongkongers. If you’ve managed to beat the online queues, good for you, and if not, then look out for posts and stories as we’re sure social media will be flooded with Coldplay clips this week. Photograph: Courtesy Warner Music What time will the doors open for the concert? Hong Kong fans will be gathering to see this legendary band at the main stadium of the brand-new Kai Tak Sports Park on April 8, 9, 11, and 12, 2025. The doors open at 5pm, and you’ll definitely need to arrive early to get through security and ticket checking.  What time does Coldplay start performing? Special guests will open for the main act starting at 6.10pm – see below for who these artists are. Coldplay will take the stage at 8pm, so make sure you’re present and ready well

After adding Hong Kong to their Music Of The Spheres world tour in September, British alt-rock band Coldplay’s concerts have proven so popular in our city that they’ve just announced the addition of one more night here! This marks the band’s first time back in Hong Kong since their Viva La Vida tour in 2009, so everyone’s understandably excited about seeing these British rockers perform live. Here’s everything we know about the Coldplay concert so far. When and where is Coldplay’s Hong Kong concert? Hong Kong fans will be gathering to see this legendary band at the main stadium of the brand-new Kai Tak Sports Park on April 8, 9, 11, and 12, 2025. So far in their world tour, Coldplay has brought on a supporting act as a mystery guest at every city, but Hong Kong’s has yet to be confirmed. Can I still buy tickets for Coldplay’s Hong Kong concert? To no one’s surprise, the original three dates for the Hong Kong leg of the concert have long since been sold out. But due to overwhelming demand, the band has decided to add one more night on April 8, and tickets for this additional show will drop on December 6. If you didn’t manage to get tickets the first time round, this will be your last chance! How much are tickets to Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres concert in Hong Kong? Tickets to see Coldplay can be purchased for as low as $399, which is a win for many who were worrying about being priced out of seeing a band this famous. According to the organisers, the price tiers will range

There’s no more arguing whether Keanu Reeves’ John Wick actually died as it has been announced at CinemaCon in Las Vegas earlier this week that everyone’s favourite assassin will be coming back for John Wick 5. The film studio Lionsgate has also confirmed that Hong Kong’s own Donnie Yen will reprise his role and also direct the spinoff for the blind assassin Caine. The last time we saw Caine, he had critically injured Wick in a duel, earning his freedom from the High Table. In an official statement from Lionsgate, chairperson Adam Fogelson revealed, ‘While the logline is being kept under wraps, the new film will continue Yen’s story arc following the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, as Caine has been freed from his obligations to the High Table.’ Though it seems like Caine can finally leave the assassin’s life behind, a post-credits scene showed Shimazu Akira walking menacingly towards him with a knife. Fans of the action franchise might remember that Yen’s character had previously killed Akira’s father Shimazu Koji (played by the inimitable Hiroyuki Sanada), so the spinoff film will probably see Caine dealing with the Japanese assassin’s revenge and its repercussions. Photograph: Courtesy Lionsgate The new film is scheduled for shooting in Hong Kong and Macau within this year. Being in the director’s chair and lead role makes Yen the first Asian actor to helm a major Hollywood production in such a wide-ranging way, surpassing even Jackie Chan and Jet Li’s involvements in th

We’re sure everyone’s getting increasingly hyped for the Coldplay concerts happening next week – after all, the British alt-rock band is the first major international music act to grace the stage at our new Kai Tak Stadium. Get even more amped up by decking yourself out in merch before heading to the concert, as the Airside mall is hosting a pop-up with exclusive items and immersive experiences. Running from April 6 to 27, the Moon Music pop-up will carry Coldplay’s CDs and vinyl records, as well as tour t-shirts, hoodies, headwear, jewellery, bags, tour programmes, concert posters, and more. We’re not kidding when we say you can probably rock up to the concert in head-to-toe band merch. Their rainbow-hued, space-themed poster showing ancient ruins – or the version with Hong Kong landmarks – is particularly cool, and so is their light blue water bottle with the Music of the Spheres tagline ‘Everyone is an alien somewhere’. All proceeds from the Hong Kong-exclusive t-shirt will be donated to the ChickenSoup Foundation. Apart from merchandise, there will also be a ‘message wall’ where fans can leave messages of support (for the band or anyone else), as well as a ‘Coldplay cover wall’ displaying a backdrop themed after the band’s album covers. Stick around to see Coldplay’s short film A Film For The Future, which features 150 global artists about the intersection of music and the future.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the c

Korean-American rapper, singer-songwriter, and dancer Jay Park has got Hong Kong JWalkerz in a tizzy as he announces the Asia leg of his ‘Serenades & Body Rolls’ world tour, with our city on the schedule. From June to August this year, the 37-year-old hip-hop artist will be playing in cities such as Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Osaka, Melbourne, and more. This series of concerts is made all the more special by the fact that it will be Park’s first world tour in six years. Mark your calendars for July 9, when he will take the stage at 7pm in the AsiaWorld-Expo. With R&B serenades and electrifying sensual beats, Park usually has no small amount of stage charm and we can’t wait to see what he will bring. Since this tour also celebrates the 10th anniversary of his hit song Mommae, fans can probably expect to hear this track with its earworm-y hook, and possibly some more of his throwback songs. You can most likely also look forward to plenty of, well, serenading and body rolling (the man sure knows his brand well). Ticket prices and details have yet to be announced, but those interested can sign up to receive the earliest access to the ticket link. It should also be noted that if you have a valid ticket to Jay Park’s ‘Sexy 4Eva’ 2019 world tour in Hong Kong – which ended up being postponed – then the ticket will also be valid for this tour, granting access to the same tier as the old ticket. To redeem this, you’ll need to contact ticketing@onionproduction.com before May 31. Stay i

Cinephiles everywhere were seething when a special director’s cut of Wong Kar-wai’s iconic In the Mood for Love was released for Valentine’s Day this year – but only for mainland China. Well, be green no more, as Hong Kong is finally getting our chance to see this version of the film for ourselves soon! To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this seminal melodrama, this special edition that’s hitting our screens has been restored in 4K and, most importantly, contains nine minutes of previously unseen footage which Wong has called a ‘reunion present’ for fans of the film. Will the question about the extra ticket be answered? Will we find out what gets whispered into the tree at Angkor Wat? Or will we get to see that deleted scene of Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung dancing? Photograph: Courtesy Jet Tone Films/Emperor Cinemas However, some new posters of the film have shown Maggie Cheung’s character Su Lizhen out of her beautiful cheongsam, and walking into a modern convenience store – which begs the question: what would it be like if In the Mood for Love was set in the 21st century? The only way to answer these burning questions is to watch the director’s cut for yourself. Mark your calendars for April 12 and 13. The first screening will be at Emperor Cinemas in iSquare, with tickets costing $320 and dropping for public sales at 1pm on April 2. VIP members of the cinema chain can purchase tickets at a special price of $288 and also receive an anniversary edition A4 folder. The Apr

The last time we had a major football club come to Hong Kong was when Inter Miami CF played in an exhibition match early last year and, well, we all remember how well that went. But footie fans have much to celebrate this year, as it’s been confirmed that Premier League clubs Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, and Tottenham Hotspur FC, as well as the Serie A club AC Milan will all be playing pre-season friendly matches in Hong Kong this summer. Liverpool will face off against AC Milan on Saturday, July 26, to compete for the Standard Chartered Trophy, before making their first-ever visit to Japan. The last time the Reds were in town was back in 2017, though they were in the Asia-Pacific region more recently for a Singapore trip in 2023. It’s been even longer since our footie fans have seen the Rossoneri on our turf, as the Italian giants last played a game here in 2004. This Hong Kong match is also going to be the first stop of the Milan men’s First Team’s pre-season tour this year. Afterwards, Arsenal will play against Tottenham on Thursday, July 31. This will be a fantastic opportunity to see the two north London rivals playing outside the British capital city, and the event is made even more memorable by the fact that it’s going to be their first match against each other outside of the UK. The last time Hong Kong saw Arsenal was 13 years ago in 2012. The three Premier League clubs will also be holding open training sessions on July 24, 29, and 30 – these will be open to watch in ad

Hongkongers and travellers of a certain age will most definitely remember airplane landings at our old Kai Tak Airport, and even if they weren’t old enough to experience it, they’ll certainly have heard stories. Kai Tak was notoriously difficult to fly in and out of, being the only major international airport in the world that necessitated a 47-degree turn below 500 feet to make it onto the runway – having to fly this route among our city’s buildings meant that successfully landing in Hong Kong was a sign of excellence in pilots. As a passenger, descending into Hong Kong meant whizzing by Kowloon City so close that you could almost peer into people’s homes, vaguely worrying that the plane’s wings would take out someone’s laundry. Our city is now commemorating the 100th anniversary of aviation history at Kai Tak, right as the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens wraps up in the brand-new Kai Tak Stadium. On Sunday, March 30, a Cathay Pacific A350 passenger jet will fly low across Victoria Harbour as a throwback to the days of planes roaring by almost right over our heads.  Photograph: Courtesy Cathay Pacific / Facebook The flight route will take the plane past Central, Wan Chai, and North Point, before it loops around the southeastern end of Hong Kong Island near Shek O and Cape D’Aguilar, and flies back across Victoria Harbour through Kai Tak. Hong Kong’s flagship airline wrote in a Facebook post, ‘The thundering roar of the engines, the bustling neighbourhood right underneath… These col

Thailand’s Songkran Festival, which celebrates the traditional Thai New Year, is bringing its celebrations to Hong Kong once again this year. The festival traditionally runs across three days, so hit up Kowloon City from April 11 to 13 to check out ‘Day X Night Vibes @ 18 Districts - Thai Festival: Songkran 2025’. The football and basketball courts at Carpenter Road Park will host food stands, performances, and several interactive experiences. Expect a market filled with all things Thai, like authentic dishes, drinks, desserts, handicrafts, and even Thai massages. There will also be muay Thai demonstrations and a boxing match on April 12, followed by training sessions on April 13. When dusk falls, festival-goers can also enjoy a show of traditional Thai dance on both days. Photograph: Courtesy Songkran HK / Facebook And of course, the star of the show is the water-splashing party, which will be held on April 12 and 13. Traditionally, Thai people will don new clothes, bathe their Buddha statues, express their gratitude for the blessings they have received in the previous year, and pray for continued prosperity in the new year. The bathing of the Buddha is usually followed by water fights, when major roads are closed off to make way for this lively activity that everyone takes part in. You can take part in this Thai festival right here in Hong Kong, and since Kowloon City is home to a large enough community of Thai people for it to be nicknamed ‘Little Thailand’, this is the

Yes, everyone, the madness of Arts Week is upon us, and the upcoming weekend is bound to be a doozy where the international arts crowd descend onto our city and we emerge at the end of March, reeling, smelling slightly of acrylic paints and plaster dust, but a good bit more cultured for it. One of the biggest art events every year is Art Basel, and it’s huge with a tonne to look at, so here are some highlights that you shouldn’t miss. When and where is Art Basel Hong Kong 2025? Art Basel will take place from March 28 to 30. If you’re confused about already seeing clips online, that’s because March 26 to 27 are designated days for VIP and media guests, so part of the city has already seen previews of the show.  As usual, the fair will be held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, across floors one and three. Opening hours for the general public run from 2pm to 8pm on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday’s hours run from 12 noon to 6pm. Photograph: Courtesy Art Basel How much are tickets to Art Basel Hong Kong? Art Basel tickets run from $1,180 for a two-day pass for Friday and Saturday, up to $12,800 for the Premium+ Discovery ultimate VIP package, which includes exclusive visits to renowned corporate collections and private collections, guided tours, and even a temporary membership to Soho House Hong Kong during the duration of the fair. There are also single-day admission tickets that run from $400 to $730. Are tickets still available? They are indeed still avail

Following on from the news earlier this month that MTR is considering letting passengers travel with their pets, it has now been confirmed that the railway operator will soon run a trial period for dogs and cats to be allowed on board. The two-month trial will commence in May, allowing commuters to travel with pets only on the light rail trains. This is the part of Hong Kong’s rail network that covers parts of Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, and Tin Shui Wai in the northeastern New Territories. Travellers who wish to take part in this scheme will need to purchase an electronic pass every month for $99 – these will be available on the MTR mobile app from April 11. This pass will allow passengers to bring one pet along on unlimited rides over weekends and public holidays. Of course, pet owners will still need to pay their own human travel fares as usual. The scheme is only limited to cats and dogs, and owners must keep their furry friends inside a pet carrier or a backpack, and ensure it is fully closed before entering the platform area. You can’t cheat by bringing a huge bag either, as the carrier must be compliant with MTR’s luggage restrictions – so the total dimensions cannot exceed 170cm and the length of any one side of the carrier cannot be longer than 130cm. There’s more: passengers who travel with pets can only board and alight from the last door of the light rail trains, and must remain at the rear of the compartment throughout their journey. This last one sounds like a bit of o

The crème de la crème of Asia’s food and beverage industry gathered in the South Korean capital last night, where Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants hosted a live awards ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Seoul to crown the best eateries of 2025. Hong Kong has held our own against the 16 cities whose restaurants made it onto the list, with seven eateries representing the pinnacle of our industry.   Photograph: Courtesy The Chairman   Contemporary Cantonese restaurant The Chairman has been ranked number two on the list, with a culinary approach featuring luxury ingredients that have been forgotten in time represented once again with creativity. There’s a definite reason why tables at this restaurant are booked out months in advance. Close on The Chairman’s heels at number three is Wing, which serves up contemporary Chinese dishes that utilise local ingredients propped up by European techniques. Wing’s chef-owner Vicky Cheng also received the peer-voted Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award during the event. Last year’s list saw The Chairman at number 4, while Wing was number 5.   Photograph: Courtesy Caprice; Ando; Estro; Mono   Further down the 2025 list, Caprice comes in at number 18, making a 14-spot jump from last year’s 32nd rank. French restaurant Neighborhood ranks at number 21, while LatAm diner Mono is at number 24. Meanwhile, Neapolitan eatery Estro makes it onto the Asia’s 50 Best list for the first time, at number 32. And wrapping up Hong Kong’s representative restaurants is Ando’s