Time to Visit Hong Kong
It's difficult not to be infatuated with Hong Kong at first sight—a beguilingly high-rise city situated on a dreamlike island. Then you realize how memorable the culinary scene is, how lively the nightlife is, and how extensive the shopping is, and you're instantly charmed.
Hong Kong is definitely one of the most iconic cities in the world, which is all the more astonishing considering it is relatively young, having grown from the roots of British colonialism to unimaginable heights of riches and prosperity.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board was glad to share with us the city's most recent tourism upgrades, including new attractions, perennial favorites, cutting-edge hotels, and celebrity-helmed eateries. The city continues to provide a wide range of activities for all visitors!
WHAT’S NEW IN HONG KONG –THE TOP 10!
1. Great Outdoors: Hong Kong’s Great Outdoors and Urban Oasis are the destination’s best kept secrets. There are over 250 islands in Hong Kong, and just a 30-minute boat voyage separates them from incredible adventures. The most popular islands are Cheng Chau, Lamma Island, Peng Chau, and Yim Tin Tsai.
2. M+: Overlooking Victoria Harbour and located in Hong Kong’s newest cultural landmark, West Kowloon Cultural District, M+ opened in November 2021. It has quickly established a reputation as Asia’s first global museum of visual culture.
3. Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) - Newly opened in July 2022, HKPM also sits on the beautiful coastline of Victoria Harbour, as the latest addition to the West Kowloon Cultural District, bringing over 900 treasures from Beijing’s Palace Museum to Hong Kong for an East-meets-West cultural exchange with visitors from around the world.
4. Street Art - Hong Kong is considered one of the world’s leading cities for urban street art. For instance, in the northwest of the city, the secluded Sai Kung neighborhood, which is home to many popular bayside seafood restaurants, now features 22 new and dynamic street murals of all styles and themes
5. The 6th generation Peak Tram - Having carried guests up and down the hill for 130 years, Hong Kong’s endearing Peak Tram is one of the world’s oldest funicular railways that can still be enjoyed by everyone who pays it a visit. It has become one of Hong Kong’s most popular tourist attractions, serving more than 6 million passengers a year. The railway received a facelift and now features larger panoramic windows that enable even more passengers to immerse themselves in the indescribable beauty of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline.
6. Amazing New Restaurants - Celebrity chefs opened eight terrific new restaurants in town during the pandemic. With the city’s restaurants making it to https://www.theworlds50best.com/ the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Hong Kong has also been lovingly dubbed as Asia’s top culinary destination.
7. New Award-Winning Bars – latest additions to your top-quality bar-hopping bucket list in Hong Kong
• Argo (Four Seasons Hong Kong): featuring a collection of the world’s most unique spirits, this new spot became Asia’s Top 3 best bar shortly after opening.
• Coa (Central): named 17th on the world-class list, Coa provides a diverse beverage offering, featuring 100% agave tequila, traditional mezcal and cocktails inspired by the exotic flavors of Mexico.
• Penicillin (Central): ranked 22nd, drinkers applaud this out-of-the-box bar for its “closed loop” sustainability approach.
8. New Hotels – Hong Kong hoteliers shower visitors with six new and innovative vacation options
Regent Hong Kong (Tsim Sha Tsui) - Opening early 2023
The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong (Wong Chuk Hang)
The Silveri Hong Kong (Tung Chung)
The Hari (Wan Chai)
AKI Hong Kong (Wan Chai)
WM Hotel (Sai Kung)
9. Hong Kong Disneyland has launched its Momentous night-time spectacular show, featuring 20 minutes of music, magic, and light projected on its reinvented Castle of Magical Dreams.
10. Water World Ocean Park, featuring 27 indoor and outdoor attractions, is Asia’s first year-round water park.
ASIA’S EVENTS CAPITAL
In a city as dynamic and multicultural as Hong Kong, there are several events taking place throughout the year. There are several cultural festivals, international athletic events, art exhibits, and concerts. As with so much in Hong Kong, the difficulty is in the selection process. Below are just some of the events happening in Hong Kong:
1. Wine and Dine Festival - The 13th edition of this annual event has returned, throughout the month of November. The citywide dining gala brings together about 700 bars and restaurants, many new experiences to the culinary scene of Hong Kong. Chefs across the city are featuring signature dishes from their usual menus and participating restaurants are offering promotional deals and exclusive creations that can only be experienced during the Festival. Thematic promotions for drink lovers “Creative Cocktails Citywide” and “Wine on the Waterfront” are also available
2. WinterFest – Each December, Hong Kong brings the holiday season to life with Hong Kong WinterFest, with a curation of Christmas celebrations across the city all month long.
3. New Year Countdown Celebrations - Hong Kong is world-renowned for its New Year’s countdown celebration, with a spectacular show across Victoria Harbour.
4. Chinese New Year - Happening on 22 –29 January 2023, the family-centric Chinese New Year is a key time in the year highlighting traditional Chinese culture with a local twist. In the weeks leading up to the event, Hong Kong is abuzz with activity as people prep for the holiday by stocking up food and buying new clothes from stores with great discounts, stuffing lai see envelopes with lucky money and arranging for the all-important reunion dinners – at home or in restaurants, with festive menus.
5. Art Basel - From 23 to 25 March, expect to see Hong Kong’s art cache continue to rise with its much anticipated Art Basel international exhibition.
Hong Kong is an amazing city that everyone should visit at least once in their life. As Hong Kong continues to eliminate its travel restrictions connected to the epidemic, optimism grows that the city is once again open for business and prepared to reconnect with the rest of the globe.
