Jenny Leung

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and the pressure is on to find somewhere that will treat the leading lady in your life to something special. To save you the stress of scrolling through endless menus, we’ve narrowed down the city’s top offerings this year. From refined Cantonese feasts to seafood-heavy buffets and unlimited Champagne, here are the best places to book for a Mother’s Day meal she truly deserves. RECOMMENDED: Prefer something more intimate? Book a table at one of these secluded restaurants in Hong Kong.

A great steak relies on very little, which is exactly why the details matter so much. Whether it’s the origin of the cattle, the secret spice rubs, a specific rare cut, or the way it chars, Hong Kong’s chefs are finding plenty of ways to iterate on the classic. If you’re in the mood for a fine slab of meat, we’ve put together a list of our favourite steak restaurants in the city. Whatever your preference, you’ll find it right here. RECOMMENDED: Prefer something else instead? Grab a table at the best hotpot restaurants in Hong Kong.

We may live in a concrete jungle but nature has its way of enlightening us with its pops of colour. From dreamy pink cherry blossoms to fields of sunflowers, we’ve sorted out a list of flowers that bloom during different seasons and the best places to find them. Check them out below. Note: Blooming periods for different flower species may vary depending on external factors such as weather, location, and time of year. RECOMMENDED:  🌅 Lesser-known places to view Hong Kong’s skyline✨ Free things to do in Hong Kong💦 Best hikes in Hong Kong

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 way more conservative. It’s been over 20 years since the singer-slash-actor passed away, but every year on this anniversary of his death (April 1), fans still leave flowers, placards, and tributes outside the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central. To pay homage to ‘Gor Gor’ (a loveable nickname often used on Cheung, meaning ‘Elder Brother’ in Cantonese), 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!

You never really need an excuse for an indulgent feast – but an Easter long weekend with four days off sure is a pretty great one. Whether you're in the mood for a lavish buffet, a free-flow brunch, or a chocolate-filled afternoon tea, we've rounded up the best Easter menus in Hong Kong right now. Here's where to book.

Easter in Hong Kong means a long weekend, bunny-shaped treats, and quality time with the family. This year's holidays fall on April 3 to 6, and if you're looking to fill up the calendar with more than just chocolate eggs, we've got your back. From egg hunts to hotel packages, here's what's worth your time this Easter. RECOMMENDED: 🎒 5 best cities in China for a quick weekend getaway🏝 Best day trips to take in Hong Kong

This list is from 2024. Our latest ranking for 2025 is live here. In 2024, what exactly makes a neighbourhood cool? Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district. To create our annual ranking, we went straight to the experts – our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. Then we narrowed down the selection and ranked the list using the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global editors, who vetted each neighbourhood against criteria including food, drink, arts, culture, street life, community and one-of-a-kind local flavour. The result? A list that celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities – and all their quirks. Yes, you’ll find some of those international hallmarks of ‘cool’. But in every neighbourhood on this list there’s something you won’t find anywhere else. Ever been to a photography museum that moonlights as a jazz club? Or a brewery with a library of Russian literature? How about a festival dedicated to fluff? When communities fiercely support and rally around their local businesses, even the most eccentric ideas can become a reality. And that, in our eyes, is

This list is from 2025. Our latest ranking for 2026 is live here. People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest n

We all know how unpredictable the weather in Hong Kong can be – one minute it’s the perfect beach day, and the next rain is pelting down hard enough to hurt. But don’t let our bipolar weather stop you from having fun in the city. Whether you’re trying to dodge the summer heat or escape a sudden rainstorm, Hong Kong has an incredible lineup of indoor venues and activities that promise just as much excitement as hitting up a hiking trail or exploring a country park. Here are all the best places to go when the weather won’t cooperate, rain or shine. RECOMMENDED: 😍 65 things you need to do at least once in Hong Kong🎉 Free things to do in Hong Kong🛍️ Hong Kong shopping mall guide

You don’t need any occasion to show your appreciation for someone with some beautiful blooms, but they sure do make a celebration that much more special. Even if you don’t have a lavish present or a Michelin-starred booking in the works, a beautiful bouquet of flowers can still be a lovely gift to melt someone’s heart. From well-established spots to modern florists with a hipster spin, here are some of our favourite places to pick up blooms. RECOMMENDED:  🕰 The latest Hong Kong shopping news🛍 Places for cheap shopping

In a city where life moves at warp speed, plenty of people turn to palm readers, tarot cards, kau cim sticks, face reading, or even bird fortune telling to get a second opinion on love, money, career or just whether tomorrow will be less chaotic than today. It’s all part cultural habit, part harmless entertainment, and occasionally, part genuine comfort when the future looks a little foggy. Whether you’re a die-hard believer or just want to see what a bird picks out of a cage for a small fee, Hong Kong delivers every flavour of fortune telling imaginable. Here are some fantastic recommendations to get you started.  

Sure, there’s plenty to do when exploring Hong Kong, but if you’re planning for a big date – well, that’s a whole different game. Lucky for you, we’re here to point you in the right direction. Whether it’s a sweet first date, a special occasion, or something to reignite that spark, here are some great date ideas that will get those butterflies going. RECOMMENDED: 💕 Hong Kong’s most romantic restaurants💐 Best flower shops and florists in Hong Kong🍫 Chocolate shops we love in Hong Kong

Step into a world where imperial grandeur meets Impressionist beauty at ‘Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West, a massive new showcase at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Bringing together more than 100 sets of rare artefacts and paintings from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Palace of Versailles, the exhibition explores how nature has been shaped and celebrated by kings, scholars, and artists alike. The real highlight is the arrival of Claude Monet’s iconic Water Lilies (1906) and Water Lily Pond (1900), which are on loan from Chicago for a limited time. Alongside works by masters like Zhang Daqian and Wen Zhengming, visitors can wander through an immersive display and interact with virtual wine cups in a digital recreation of the famous Orchid Pavilion Gathering. Running until July 29 at HKMoA’s Special Gallery, the exhibition is completely free to enter – so there’s really no excuse not to visit.

After nearly a century of serving authentic dim sum at its Wellington Street home, Lin Heung Lau will soon relocate to its new premises in Tung Ning Building on Des Voeux Road Central – and they’re going out with a bang. Hot on the heels of its recent dim sum rave, Lin Heung Lau is turning up the volume one last time for its official farewell party on May 9. The event features a lineup of local talents, including DJ Yin, DJ Tak, DJ Bobo, DJ Etta, Ari, and KT, who will be spinning Canto-pop music and retro beats from 10pm until 2am. Early bird tickets have now sold out, but you can still get your hands on general admission tickets for $680 per person. Each entry includes a choice of drink – with options ranging from Heineken to a Kowloon Alcohol Tea Sour – paired with either a dim sum basket or a roast meat plate. Get your tickets now via Eventbrite or WhatsApp 6802 9100.

The Rescued Feast is back to prove that sustainability can be a high-end affair. Taking over the terrace at Terrible Baby on April 26, this Earth Day special marks the event’s first-ever weekend daytime slot. Eaton HK’s executive chef Alex Lee will lead his team through a high-stakes 24-hour window to assess donated food scraps and transform them into a gourmet spread for 200 guests. Since the menu is entirely dependent on what is ‘rescued’ in the hours leading up to the event, expect a creative, zero-waste mystery buffet that leans into Lee’s signature mix of Western techniques and Chinese influences. Tickets are priced from $500, and your entry includes the full buffet, a welcome glass of prosecco (or a soft drink), and a goody bag filled with vouchers and gifts. To truly close the loop on waste, guests are often handed takeaway boxes at the end of the session to ensure every last plate is cleared. Get your ticket now at chomphk.com.

Chef Teppei Zama of Okinawa’s Pastaione takes over the kitchen at Tsim Sha Tsui pasta bar Zozzona for two nights only. Trained at two-Michelin-starred Taverna Estia before opening his own restaurant in Denmark, Zama brings a distinctive approach that blends Italian tradition with Japanese precision and seasonal ingredients. The special menu features a selection of antipasti, handmade pasta dishes including mezzi paccheri ai frutti di mare with Japanese seafood, and pappardelle al ragù di Agu pork, followed by Japanese beef sirloin and an Okinawa tiramisu made with the region's signature chinsukō cookie. Reservations can be made via Bistrochat.

Hong Kong’s first homegrown IP and pop culture festival lands at AsiaWorld-Expo on April 4 and 5, bringing together anime, music, immersive experiences, and a whole lot of Japanese and local pop culture. The two-day event is split into three zones: Mix Some NOISE! features heavyweight IPs including Gundam, Godzilla, Jujutsu Kaisen, Haikyuu!!, and Yu-Gi-Oh! with large-scale installations and photo spots. Mix Some FUN! offers hands-on experiences from Sony, J.League, JAL, KADOKAWA, Kodansha, bilibili, and Pepsi, plus voice actor meet-and-greets, cosplayer interactions, and a lineup of Asian creators speaking on panels. Lastly, Mix Some MUSIC! brings a stacked roster of J-pop and J-rock acts, including Takahashi Yoko, Okui Masami, MIYAVI, Do As Infinity, FLOW, and Goto Maki, alongside Hong Kong's own AK@MIRROR and Tyson Yoshi. Tickets range from $228 for exhibition-only access to $2,288 for a two-day pass covering both the exhibition and music festival.

Hong Kong’s biggest street art festival is back for its 11th edition, taking over Central and the Western District from March 21 to 29. More than 20 local and international artists from 14 countries will transform the neighbourhood into an open-air gallery, creating large-scale murals in real time. This year’s lineup includes Italian artist Fabio Petani with his geometric botanical style, Indonesian artist Hardthirteen painting a Bruce Lee portrait, and Hong Kong’s Enoch Wong bringing his signature realism to city walls. Irish artist Asbestos will also roam the streets throughout the week with a three-metre roving character named BORN. For 2026, HK is also collaborating with GoGoX for “Art on the Move”, turning cargo trucks into mobile exhibitions that visitors can step inside. The festival kicks off on March 21 with an opening night at PMQ featuring live art battles, while HKwalls Digital lights up the Sino LuminArt Façade along the harbour and Kai Tak Mall’s LED screens throughout the week. Guided mural tours depart from PMQ on March 28, and the whole event wraps on March 29 with a grand finale on Chater Road, where live painting, art trucks, and hands-on workshops bring nine days of dazzling street art to a close.

The Pizza Project is giving indecisive diners exactly what they want this March: the 3-in-1 Pizza alla Pala. This long, Roman-style pizza lets you pick any three flavours from the menu and get them side by side on a single base! Go for a classic Margherita next to something bolder like the Frutti di mare seafood pizza, pair the meaty Carnivore with a creamy Carbonara, or let the table build its own dream combination from the full menu – everything from the ‘Orgogliosa’ with burrata and pesto to the creative Pistacchiosa with pistachio paste and mortadella. The 3-in-1 Pizza alla Pala is available daily throughout March on the à la carte menu at both the Wan Chai and Central locations.

Century-old teahouse Lin Heung Lau has teamed up with digital bank ZA Bank on a limited-time collaboration that brings fortune-themed dim sum to Central. From now until April 18, diners can order three special dishes: ZA Golden Eggs (quail egg siu mai with gold foil), ZA Treasure Bowl (ingot-shaped custard bun) and ZA Piggy Bank (piggy-shaped steamed bun), each at a discounted price of $25 with a ZA card. Beyond the food, there are photo spots at the venue and a lucky wheel check-in booth where diners can win limited-edition ‘Foodie Series’ plush blind boxes while stocks last (until March 31). ZA Bank users dining at the venue can also participate in flash ‘God of Wealth Opens the Vault’ events for a chance to share $2,000 in a group lai see, along with additional perks like rebate coupons and a 12 percent discount on bills over $300 paid with ZA card. 

In the lead-up to the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony on March 25, the 50 Best Signature Sessions is coming to town to bring a series of exclusive culinary collaborations. Guests will be able to enjoy one-off menus hosted across some of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants, each pairing local talents with visionary chefs from around the world for one night only. These carefully curated menus will blend distinct culinary worlds in the most innovative and delicious ways. Expect boundary-pushing takes on Chinese traditions with Joseon-era Korean royal influences, organic seasonal cooking fused with Himalayan reinterpretations, French foundations mixed with innovative Indian accents and standout pastry work, as well as modern southern Chinese classics with contemporary twists.  Find out more about the 50 Best Signature Sessions events here.

Hong Kong's Lunar New Year flower markets are in full swing, transforming parks and playgrounds across the city into colourful, bustling bazaars that capture the festive spirit like nothing else. From February 11 to 17, these 14 markets offer a mix of auspicious plants, festive decorations, toys, handicrafts, gadgets, and plenty of street food stalls.  Victoria Park in Causeway Bay remains the biggest market with a total of 400 stalls this year, including a special 'Red Hot Chef' collaboration between HSBC and Korean star chef Anh Sung-jae featuring over 20 festive bites from top local restaurants. All markets vary in size with different opening hours each day, so pop over to our complete guide for the full rundown.

Swire Coca-Cola HK is closing its 60th anniversary celebrations with ‘The Bottling Hunt’, an exclusive public guided tour of the newly upgraded Hong Kong Coca-Cola Museum on March 7. The one-hour experience takes place inside the world’s tallest Coca-Cola bottling plant in Sha Tin and takes on a time-travel theme to follow the brand’s ‘Made in Hong Kong’ story since 1965. Highlights include vintage collectables, a scent challenge in a recreated 1886 pharmacy, views of the production lines, sustainability insights, and interactive moments. Admission is completely free, but only 30 places are available per session (1.30pm-2.30pm, 3pm-4pm, and 4.30-5.30pm). Online registration opens at 2pm on February 12 on a first-come, first-served basis – so set your reminders.

The Harbourside Swing Fest is back from April 24 to 26 for a three-day celebration of swing dancing and jazz culture. Produced by Rhythm Studio, this festival brings together world-class international instructors for inspiring workshops, alongside dance parties, competitions, and live jazz music curated by renowned local music director Nate Wong. The event welcomes dancers of all levels, but if you're a complete beginner, then be sure to check out the 'Dance in a Day' programme, where you'll get an introductory session before dancing the night away at the Harbourside Swing Fest Saturday Night Social. Registration is now open with a range of passes, while details of venues and the full schedule will follow soon. 

We can’t help but feel a sense of pride whenever Hong Kong’s name is etched onto the map, and the latest results from the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2026 have given us plenty of reason to brag. For the first time, all eight of our publicly funded universities have made their way into the top 100! At the very top of the Asian list, mainland China’s Tsinghua University continues to wear the crown for the eighth year in a row, with Peking University following in second place for the seventh year running. Singapore’s National University of Singapore rounds out the top three, while Nanyang Technological University and the University of Tokyo both share the spotlight in fourth place. On the home front, the University of Hong Kong continues to lead the pack, maintaining its position at number six. The Chinese University of Hong Kong has slipped slightly from ninth to 10th, while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University remained in their respective ranks at 12th and 18th. City University of Hong Kong climbed up two spots to number 14, and Hong Kong Baptist University made an impressive leap by jumping up 10 spots to number 40. While there’s already lots to celebrate, the headline-grabbers this year are the two debuts from the Education University of Hong Kong, which made its first-ever appearance in the top 100 by securing a respectable 37th spot for its debut ranking, and Lingnan University, which joined the eli

If you want to inject a little botanical bliss into your weekend, the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) has just unveiled a new exhibition that brings the world’s most famous gardens to Tsim Sha Tsui. Titled ‘Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West’, this is a sprawling look at how kings, nobles, and legendary painters have been captured by the beauty of nature for centuries. Photograph: info.gov.hk Featuring over 100 sets of selected paintings and artefacts, the show is a major collaboration between the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Palace of Versailles. It’s an impressive assembly of history, moving from the royal grounds of King Louis XIV to the imperial summer retreats of Emperor Qianlong. Visitors can expect to see masterpieces like Leng Mei’s Imperial Summer Resort and Wen Zhengming’s Spring Ablution at the Orchid Pavilion, alongside ink-and-colour works by Zhang Daqian from the HKMoA’s own collection. Photograph: Courtesy LCSD The star of the show, however, has got to be the arrival of Claude Monet’s iconic work. Two of the French painter’s most iconic pieces – the Water Lilies (1906) and Water Lily Pond (1900) – have made the trip over from Chicago, giving us a rare, front-row seat to see the artist’s famous brushwork without the need to hop on a long-haul flight. Photograph: Courtesy LCSD The exhibition is split into sections that explore everything from green spaces for quiet contemplation to gardens used as symbols of gra

We’re used to seeing weird and wonderful things in Hong Kong, but this one is officially for the history books. A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has identified a new species of box jellyfish, and it’s a 24-eyed creature that’s easily one of the most fascinating things we’ve seen in the city for a while. Meet the Tripedalia maipoensis. Discovered in the brackish shrimp ponds of the Mai Po Nature Reserve, this tiny invertebrate is the first of its kind ever recorded in Chinese waters. Measuring a mere 1.5cm, this cube-shaped colourless creature has a total of 24 eyes, divided into four groups of six. Each group is tucked inside a sensory organ called a rhopalium, containing two eyes capable of forming images and four that are essentially light sensors, allowing it to navigate the murky waters with surprising accuracy. The researchers, who collected samples over three summers between 2020 and 2022, found that this species is also a bit of a speedster. Unlike the average drifting blob that’s usually left at the mercy of the current, this box jellyfish features paddle-shaped structures called pedalia at the base of its tentacles. These act like mini oars, making it a much faster and more agile swimmer than the common jellyfish. To confirm the find, the HKBU team used a mix of morphological and molecular methods. They found that while it looks similar to its cousins in the tropics and subtropics, the Mai Po species has a unique anatomical blueprint – speci

Get ready for more footie action this summer as four of Europe’s heavy hitters – Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Juventus – are arriving on our shores for this year’s Hong Kong Football Festival. Running from July 31 to August 5, the festival will put these world-class teams head-to-head, taking to the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium for two exciting pre-season fixtures. In a repeat of the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final, Manchester City, the only club to win four consecutive Premier League titles, will face off with three-time European champions Inter Milan on August 1 (8pm) for the Asahi Super Dry Trophy. The action then continues just a few days later on August 5 (7.30pm), when 2025 FIFA Club World Cup winners Chelsea take on Juventus, who remain the most successful club in Italian football history with 36 league titles, to compete for the Herbalgy Trophy. While we’re still waiting on the official team sheets, organisers are promising plenty of star power with players from more than 35 nations. Even with the 2026 World Cup schedule, which means some players may be on mandated rest, we’re still crossing our fingers for a glimpse of top talents like Erling Haaland, Reece James, and Lautaro Martínez, among others. Fans can now register for exclusive pre-sale access at TEG Sport and receive the latest news and updates for the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026. The official pre-sale begins on May 13, followed by the general public sale on May 14. There are six price tiers a

A weekend jaunt from Hong Kong to Macau is about to get a little more costly as both major ferry operators, TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet, are hiking their fares by approximately 10 percent starting April 25. The price jump covers the main routes connecting the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui’s China Ferry Terminal to both the Outer Harbour and Taipa terminals in Macau. If you’re heading over on a standard weekday, a one-way economy ticket on TurboJet will now set you back $194 (up from $175). On weekends and public holidays, that price rises from $190 to $212, while night sailings – those scheduled for 6.30pm onwards – are set at $242. Similarly, a standard weekday trip on Cotai Water Jet will cost $192, while weekend travel moves up to $209. Their night sailings will also match the $242 rate. According to the operators, the bump up in prices is a result of the rise in fuel and operational costs, as well as the pressures of general inflation, making this the first significant fare revision in recent years. It’s not all bad news, though. If you’re a Macau resident, a senior (65+), or travelling with kids under 12, TurboJet is keeping its existing $18 discount in place. As for those of you who don’t mind splurging a little to get across the pond, the fares for Cotai First (Cotai Water Jet) and Super Class or Premier Grand Class (Turbojet) remain unchanged. The new rates kick in on April 25. If you have a trip planned for the Labour Day Golden Week

Alright, carnivores – it’s time to sharpen those steak knives. The World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants 2026 ranking has just been unveiled, and for the first time ever, Hong Kong has secured three spots on the list! The global crown this year was claimed by Spain’s La Cúpula de El Capricho, followed by Margaret in Sydney in second place, and another Spanish gem, Laia Erretegia, in third. As for our city, open-fire specialist Fireside leads the pack with a spectacular leap from last year’s 50th place to number 18. Also joining the ranks of the global greats are Italian steakhouse Carna by Dario Cecchini at number 78, and The Steak House at Regent Hong Kong, which maintained its position from last year at number 80. Photograph: Ann Chiu Organised by the London-based media group Upper Cut Media House, these annual rankings are determined by a team of 21 anonymous ‘steak ambassadors’. The experts evaluate more than 900 restaurants worldwide based on 28 strict criteria, ranging from meat quality and sourcing to ageing techniques, cooking methods, service, and overall authenticity. Photograph: Courtesy Regent Hong Kong Of the three Hong Kong venues to make the cut, Carna by Dario Cecchini at Mondrian Hong Kong made an impressive debut under the helm of the legendary master butcher Dario Cecchini, who hails from a charming little village called Panzano in the Chianti region of Tuscany. The restaurant operates under a nose-to-tail philosophy, championing sustainability and a deep

The Three Musketeers might be one of the most famous stories ever told, but you’ve certainly never seen it quite like this. A new Franco-Hong Kong collaboration is about to take a 105-year-old cinematic masterpiece out of the archives and throw it onto a live stage, complete with a Chinese-style storyteller, a feminist second act, and a score played by students of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). The production, titled Alexandre Dumas’ Three Musketeers: When East Meets West, is a stage revival of the 1921 silent film Les Trois Mousquetaires directed by Henri Diamant-Berger. Reimagining the original 12-episode cinematic serial, the show shakes the dust off the French classic for a modern audience with a heavy dose of Eastern philosophy. For those who might be unfamiliar, the original story is the ultimate 17th-century bromance, following the hot-headed D’Artagnan as he joins forces with the legendary musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together, they navigate a web of royal intrigue, powerful enemies, romance, and backstabbing to protect the honour of the French crown. The upcoming production also has its own powerhouse trio behind the scenes, with local director Stephen Tang Shu Wing, acclaimed French composer Béatrice Thiriet, and filmmaker Jérôme Diamant-Berger – the grandson of the original 1921 director – teaming up for this cross-cultural project. Photograph: Courtesy HKAPA Tailored specifically for Hong Kong, the play brings in a traditional Chine

Hong Kong has some big plans for local football fans this year. Following the announcement of the six-month FIFA Museum opening in Causeway Bay this May, two of Europe’s legendary football clubs – FC Bayern Munich and Aston Villa – have recently confirmed they will be playing in the city this summer. Set to face off at the Kai Tak Stadium on August 7, the fixture marks a significant return for both teams. The reigning German champions FC Bayern last set foot on a Hong Kong pitch in 2007, while seven-time FA Cup winners Aston Villa will be returning to Hong Kong after 15 long years. This Hong Kong stop serves as the second leg of FC Bayern’s 10th Audi Summer Tour. The team will first touch down on the South Korean island of Jeju to take on Jeju SK FC on August 4, before flying into Hong Kong for their friendly match with Villa. According to the club, the decision to return to Hong Kong was driven by the region’s massive following, with over half of Bayern’s billion-strong global fanbase located in Asia. As for Aston Villa, the English club has hinted that further fixtures in the region may be announced soon. Photograph: Facebook / FC Bayern München / Aston Villa FC Fans can expect to see the full Bayern team led by head coach Vincent Kompany, with the presence of England captain Harry Kane and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to draw a sell-out crowd. The match may also be a significant one for the team’s South Korean defender Kim Min-jae, as some recent reports suggest the c

One of the city’s go-to electronic payment app PayMe is introducing some firm new rules for its users, and if you haven’t updated your details yet, you might find your digital wallet a lot less useful by the middle of next month. HSBC has announced that users who top up their accounts using the bank’s credit cards must now provide their Hong Kong identity card details by May 14, or they will be locked out of almost all key features. This update is part of a move to beef up security and ensure the platform stays in line with local digital payment regulations. While many of us have already gone through the verification process to unlock higher spending limits, a specific group of users who only use linked HSBC cards for quick top-ups without submitting official identification are now being asked to meet the same requirements as everyone else. If you don’t meet the deadline, the app will essentially go into a dormant state, where you’ll lose the ability to send or receive money from friends, pay for your lunch at local shops, or settle any outstanding bills – so, all the essentials that we use PayMe for everyday in Hong Kong. Even the digital red packets and handy features like Apple Pay, UnionPay, and FPS transactions will be suspended until the identity verification is complete. Fortunately, getting it sorted is a fairly straightforward task within the app itself. You just need to head into the settings menu, select the option to view your transaction limits, and follow the pr

The former runway area of Kai Tak has always felt like a bit of a transport dead zone – because let’s be honest: who’s walking all the way to the end of the cruise terminal? – but it looks as though that will soon change as the government has officially given the green light to a new 3.5-km transit system that will zip passengers from the heart of the district right down to the tip of the pier. The Smart and Green Mass Transit System (SGMTS) is set to feature six dedicated stations, with a proposed route going from Kai Tak Station Square to Kai Tak Sports Park, Shing Fung Road Park, and the Kai Tak Sky Garden, before passing over Shing King Street and finishing up at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. This new link is essentially the glue for the entire district, designed to strengthen the connectivity between residential areas, commercial hubs, as well as sports and community facilities that have been popping up along the waterfront. The SGMTS will utilise elevated tracks and autonomous electric vehicles, meaning the transit system will bypass traffic on Shing Fung Road entirely. Commuters and weekend explorers can expect to traverse the entire length of the line in approximately 10 minutes, which is a significant upgrade for anyone who has ever been stranded at the cruise terminal waiting for a bus. While the project is moving ahead, a little patience will be required before the first trains hit the tracks as the actual commissioning is set for 2031. It’s been a long wait for tho

Football fans in Hong Kong are finally getting a dedicated space to celebrate the beautiful game. With the Cristiano Ronaldo museum soon to wind down its run, this new six-month exhibition at Times Square arrives just in time to fill the void. Opening on May 28, the FIFA Museum Hong Kong brings a heavy hit of sporting history to Causeway Bay, serving as a lead-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026. More than just a few dusty old boots in glass cases, the museum offers a curated journey through the history of the biggest sport in the world, created by the same team behind the FIFA Museum in Zurich. The centrepiece of the exhibition is an installation called The Rainbow, a display featuring the jerseys of all 211 FIFA Member Associations, designed to show the sport’s diversity and how it connects people from every corner of the globe. You’ll also find original objects from the official FIFA Museum collection, trophies, and multimedia installations from the most iconic FIFA moments in both the men’s and women’s games. The Hong Kong edition also features a purpose-built cinema space, where visitors can catch screenings of short films like The Final and The Path of Champions. Local fans should also look out for other items and stories connected specifically to football in Asia and Hong Kong. While the original FIFA Museum occupies a three-storey site in Zurich, this residency is the first time the institution has staged a large-scale, long-term exhibition in East Asia. Tickets can be purc

The Hong Kong Sevens 2026 is officially here, and we’re ready for some serious sporting action. Returning to the Kai Tak Stadium, this year’s event marks its 50th anniversary, so you know there’s plenty in store to keep everyone entertained. Whether you’re a hardcore rugby fan or just here for the fancy dress and beers, here’s everything you need to know to survive the three-day spectacle. When and where is the Hong Kong Sevens 2026? The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is taking place from April 17 to 19, with world-class rugby and top-tier entertainment hosted at the Kai Tak Stadium within the Kai Tak Sports Park. Can I still get tickets to the Hong Kong Sevens 2026? If you have yet to secure your spot, there’s still a slim window to grab tickets via the official Hong Kong Sevens website: Hong Kong Sevens 2025 ticket prices Three-day weekend pass for adults (general admission): $2,250 per person Three-day weekend pass for children aged 12 or below (general admission): $1,100 per person Adult single-day: $550 for Friday, $1,250 for Saturday and Sunday Child single-day: $300 for Friday, $625 for Saturday and Sunday The South Stand FastPass and Carlsberg Clubhouse are all sold out at this point. However, a new premium option, The Pavilion Pass, has been introduced this year, offering a terrace overlooking the South Stand with free-flowing Aperol and Pimms, as well as queue jump access for those aged 18 and over. Photograph: Courtesy HKCRSpain vs Kenya on the day one of the C