Your ultimate guide to Hong Kong

Great news for pet owners looking for a more convenient way to travel – MTR Corporation has announced that its ‘Cat/Dog Carrying Trial Scheme’ was a success, and their pet-friendly travel programme will officially be implemented starting this September! MTR first introduced the ‘Cat/Dog Carrying Trial Scheme’ on its Light Rail routes in May, testing a new initiative to enhance pet-friendly travel for owners and create a more inclusive environment on its trains. Under the three-month trial, cats and dogs were allowed to travel with owners on weekends and public holidays, provided they were transported in a pet carrier or backpack not exceeding the usual luggage restrictions of the MTR. More than 1,300 passengers purchased the trial pass. Positive feedback from passengers and continued smooth operations on the Light Rail have now led to the implementation of the pet travel scheme as an ongoing arrangement starting in September, the MTR Corporation announced on August 20. Photograph: Courtesy MTR Corporation Not much will differ from the trial period, as cats and dogs are still only allowed on Light Rail trains on weekends and public holidays, and they must remain fully enclosed in carriers – no pet strollers or carriers with wheels allowed, so invest in a good-quality travel carrier. Owners and pets must also continue to board and alight from the last doors of the Light Rail carriage, and stay at the rear of the compartment during their journey. Passengers are allowed to bring one cat or dog on board per person, but certain dog breeds – classified as ‘large dogs’, ‘fighting dogs’, or ‘known dangerous dogs’, such as pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosa mastiffs, Dogo Argentino, or Fila Brasileiro – are restricted as per the current Hong Kong government legislation. Owners must purchase a monthly ‘Cat/Dog Carrying Pass’ for $99 through the MTR Mobile app, which goes on sale on the 23rd of each month for the following calendar month. This means that for the scheme’s official launch in September, pet owners can purchase their pass starting from August 23. Passes are valid for one month only and do not renew automatically, so be sure to top up on a monthly basis!  Each passenger can only purchase one MTR pet pass monthly, which applies to one pet, though the animal can enjoy unlimited rides within that month. In addition to holding an electronic ‘Cat/Dog Carrying Pass’ for their furry friends, human passengers will still need to pay their own regular fare for the journey as well. Hong Kong’s Light Rail system operates in the northwestern part of New Territories, connecting neighbourhoods in Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai, and Yuen Long. Fingers crossed that this wonderful pet-friendly initiative continues to prove successful and that this programme will roll out to more MTR lines in the future! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Aeon closes 4 Living Plaza and Daiso Japan stores in one month The century-old Kam Kong Restaurant reopens in Mong Kok with old-school dim sum trolleys Hungry Ghost Festival origins, traditions, and why people burn paper offerings

Another four bite the dust this month amid a flurry of shutterings, and this time it’s budget lifestyle brands that are taking a hit. Retail giant Aeon is on track to close a handful of Living Plaza and Daiso Japan chains across Hong Kong in August, with three already shuttered and one more to come by the end of the month. Living Plaza and Daiso Japan are both fondly known as neighbourhood ‘$12 stores’ where you can pick up a wide range of affordable household items, from Japanese snacks, everyday home improvement items, and practical products at Living Plaza, to Japanese imported goods, stationery, personal care, and decor items at Daiso. Offering more for less seems not to have been the winning strategy, however, as parent company Aeon has closed one Daiso location in Tai Po’s Wan Tau Tong Shopping Centre and two Living Plaza locations – in South Horizons and Sheung Wan – so far this month. One final closure will take place at the end of this month on August 31, affecting the Living Plaza branch in Tai Hing Gardens Phase II, Tuen Mun. Bargain hunters can snag deals for up to 70 percent off as the store holds final closing sales before its last day. Discussions on social media have speculated aggressive competition from e-commerce platforms, such as mainland China’s Taobao and Pinduoduo, as well as ‘inconveniently positioned’ store locations as reasons for these closures. It’s not all grim news for folks who like bargain shopping. Aeon still operates more than two dozen Daiso Japan branches across the city, and almost 30 Living Plazas as well, primarily concentrated in Kowloon and the New Territories. Plus, Aeon is steadily maintaining an opening schedule for its other lifestyle specialty brand, Mono Mono, with two new openings in July and August – not to mention a new Daiso Japan appearing on the scene in North Point just last month. Perhaps the string of closures could mean coming back stronger. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: The century-old Kam Kong Restaurant reopens in Mong Kok with old-school dim sum trolleys Hungry Ghost Festival origins, traditions, and why people burn paper offerings Hong Kong citizens urged not to consume two popular cheeses due to listeria contamination

Even though Hong Kong’s wave of business closures seems to be continuing, we’re seeing a spark of delicious hope with Kam Kong Restaurant bucking the market trend to recently reopen in Mong Kok. Taking over a space of almost 8,000sq ft in Gala Place, Kam Kong focuses on handmade nostalgic dim sum as well as authentic ‘kung fu’ dishes – delicacies that take a good deal of time and effort to make. All of Kam Kong’s dim sum varieties are handmade by their dim sum chefs, which is rather a rarity nowadays. The cherry on top is that the wooden steamers are piled into dim sum trolleys to be wheeled around the restaurant – again, an old-school touch that is sadly disappearing in the city. Dim sum dishes are sorted into five categories of small, medium, large, extra large, and top-tier, with prices ranging from $25 to $42. Apart from your standard har gow and siu mai, Kam Kong also serves up old-school dim sum varieties that are not readily available elsewhere, such as pig’s stomach siu mai, birds’ nest-shaped taro puffs, duck’s feet and pomelo peel, cured sausage rolls, and more. Photograph: Ann Chiu Hongkongers of a certain age who remember these dishes will no doubt get a kick out of seeing them on the menu again. What’s more, the restaurant has also launched promotions, including waiving the 10-percent service charge for senior citizens dining in the mornings, and only charging $2 for tea and condiments. Kam Kong has hired the previous chef of siu mei roasted meats at Duddell’s as well as a chef from Lin Heung Tea House to be in charge of the food, so diners can expect plenty of enticing flavours. We’d recommend going for the roast duck, the Pipa roast goose, the roast chicken liver and fatty char siu known as Golden Coin Chicken, steamed beef patty with dried mandarin peel, the braised pork belly and tendons, boneless chicken with Jinhua ham, braised pomelo peel with shrimp roe, and pigeon stuffed with shark’s fin.  Photograph: Ann Chiu The restaurant management has also revealed plans to collaborate with long-standing local food brands to feature sauces, cheung fun, tofu, and other Hong Kong-made products. To attract a younger crowd, Kam Kong will even host busking and Canto-pop events to diversify their offerings and inject a breath of fresh air into the traditional tea house setting. Kam Kong Restaurant was founded in 1909 in Guangzhou, before setting up shop in Hong Kong at 117-119 Wellington Street. It is now being run by the Ngan family, who are the founders of another time-honoured establishment, the Lin Heung Tea House. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Hong Kong citizens urged not to consume two popular cheeses due to listeria contamination The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (August 25-31) More than 50 percent of Hongkongers plan to work past retirement age

There’s little else better than a baked, gooey soft cheese to make for a perfect snack. Unfortunately, two popular creamy cheeses sold in Hong Kong are being recalled from shelves due to possible contamination with listeria monocytogenes, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has warned the public not to consume them if purchased. The two products in question are both from the Mon Ami brand, and are the Petit Camembert and the Petit Brie. If you’re not sure whether that little wheel of soft white-rind cheese in your fridge falls into the contaminated batch, just check if they are the 125-gram pack, with lot or batch numbers C4314092, C5073065, or C5084081 for the camembert, and C5084093 for the brie. Photograph: Courtesy Uhrenholt The European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed notified Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) that there was a possible listeria contamination with these two cheese products, which are produced in France, but by then two importers had already purchased from the affected batches and brought them into Hong Kong. The importers – JJ Global Sourcing and Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) – have stopped sales and removed these products from shelves, but there’s still a chance that some citizens have already bought the camembert or brie. In general, the listeria bacteria does not pose a big danger to healthy individuals, with symptoms including fever, muscle aches and pains, headache, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea for a few days. That said, some people have a higher risk of developing serious problems from listeriosis, such as septicaemia, meningitis, or even death in babies, the elderly, and those with a weaker immune system. If a pregnant woman gets listeriosis, there’s a risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.  Listeria monocytogenes can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature, but luckily can easily be destroyed by cooking. Still, it’s best to bin that Mon Ami for now and buy from another brand – no matter how devastating it can be to throw away what looks like perfectly good cheese. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (August 25-31) More than 50 percent of Hongkongers plan to work past retirement age 5 more typhoons are forecast to hit Hong Kong until end of 2025

We don’t want to lean in, we just want to lie down – but that’s looking increasingly unlikely as Hong Kong residents near retirement age. A new survey by T. Rowe Price, an asset and retirement investment management firm, reveals that 52 percent of participants in the 2025 T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Retirement Survey feel the need to continue working past the traditional retirement age of 65 instead of leaving the workforce for good, while 47 percent are open to exploring alternative forms of retirement. Considering the fact that respondents estimate needing more than $5 million in savings as a tool for comfortable retirement in order to match Hong Kong’s high-cost living expenses, this news may not come as a shock. In the survey, 62 percent of participants confirm that maintaining a stream of income is their reason for ‘unretirement’.  80 percent of those who want to work past retirement are attracted to flexible retirement models, such as ‘micro-retirement’ – taking conscious breaks from professional life between careers – to relieve pressure, pursue an improved work-life balance, and meaningfully engage in personal interests without exiting the workforce completely. But even before embarking on ‘micro-retirement,’ Hongkongers feel that they should already have $2 million in the bank. In fact, 40 percent of respondents plan to return to work merely six months post-retirement – give yourselves a break, we beg! A whopping 40 percent of interviewees have not set themselves a target for retirement savings, but this is not all down to poor preparation – knowledge gaps about suitable retirement options and lucrative investment strategies is definitely a hurdle. While high-reward investments require a learning curve, conventional low-growth investment pathways such as time deposits and bank savings just aren’t cutting it either, as these methods may not be enough to achieve a secure retirement. However, money is not the only reason why some respondents are considering working past the age of 65. 69 percent cited remaining mentally active as a compelling motive – even more so than sustaining a steady source of income – and they are willing to earn less in their post-retirement period if that means they can keep themselves busy. Well, we suppose it’s time to return to the grind… Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: 5 more typhoons are forecast to hit Hong Kong until end of 2025 Cantonese opera legend Fung Wong-nui’s classic films are returning to the screen Hong Kong’s first large-scale balloon parade floats into town this year

If you’ve been longing for a bright and sunny Hong Kong summer spent dawdling on the beach or cruising on a junk boat, we’ve got bad news for you. More storms are brewing in the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, and the Hong Kong Observatory has forecast that as many as five typhoons may still approach the city before the year is out. Earlier this year in March, the Observatory issued a notice expecting a ‘normal to above normal’ number of tropical cyclones – about five to eight – to enter the 500-km range of Hong Kong in 2025. However, on August 15, the weather forecast agency revised its assessment to ‘above normal’ with an updated total count of seven to 10 tropical cyclones expected to pass through Hong Kong within the calendar year. Hong Kong’s typhoon season typically starts in May or June, and runs all the way until November. Hong Kong has already been battered by five typhoons this year, with the strongest one, the T10-rated Typhoon Wipha, slamming into the city in July.  Compared to last year, where we experienced seven typhoons severe enough to require the hoisting of tropical cyclone warning signals – including the Super Typhoon Yagi in September 2024 and three successive typhoons in November 2024 – 2025 is on track to surpass the previous year’s annual count until typhoon season ends, should the Observatory’s prediction hold. Considering the power of the mythical Li Ka-shing force field and a dominant pattern of typhoons commonly affecting our shores on weekends – with tropical cyclone warning signals hoisted accordingly – we might just have to kiss the summer sun and fun goodbye. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Cantonese opera legend Fung Wong-nui’s classic films are returning to the screen Hong Kong’s first large-scale balloon parade floats into town this year Pret a Manger has released mooncake-inspired scones for Mid-Autumn Festival

Running until October 31, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) is staging a centenary tribute to Fung Wong-nui, the Cantonese opera legend, to celebrate her impact on Chinese performing arts. Screenings of 16 classic films starring the seminal actor will be shown as part of ‘Phoenix on the Silver Screen – A Centenary Tribute to Fung Wong Nui’ in the HKFA’s Morning Matinee series, making Fung’s influential work accessible to a wider audience. Fung Wong-nui hailed from the Guangdong province, and got her start in Cantonese opera at the age of 13. Her first major opera role came in 1947 in The Romantic Monk, but it was her role as antagonist in Lust Is the Worst Vice (1963) that made her a household name. In addition to starting her own Cantonese opera troupe and performing live on stage as the female lead of other groups, she also entered the world of black-and-white films in the 1950s, ultimately starring in over 250 movies over the course of her career. Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Film Archive Hong Kong Film Archive has curated a selection of Fung’s films under four categories – ‘Gems of Cantonese Opera,’ ‘The Unforgettable Villainess,’ ‘Martial Heroine,’ and ‘Comedy and Drama’ – to give audiences a comprehensive overview of the actor’s accomplishments and versatile style. From her signature Cantonese opera repertoire, Luring the Girls On (1959) and Red Shoes Solves the Mystery Case (1959) provide an introduction to Fung’s talent, while her masterful grasp of portraying villains is showcased through The Magic-Eyed Queen Spots the Prince, Part One (1959). Fung’s ability to embody heroines will also be demonstrated through Girl Martyr (1957) and Lady General Fa Muk-lan (1961), among others, while her comedy and drama chops are on full display in Loving Enemies (1957) and The Illegitimate Lover (1959). Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Film Archive Post-screening talks will take place after select screenings, led by notable figures in the performing arts industry such as Cantonese opera veteran Professor Yuen Siu-fai and Ko Lai – a disciple of Fung’s – of the Ko Lai Sum Cantonese Opera Troupe. Screenings will be held in the Cinema at the Hong Kong Film Archive, and tickets are now available for $40 via Urbtix. Click here to see the full list of films on offer. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Hong Kong’s first large-scale balloon parade floats into town this year Pret a Manger has released mooncake-inspired scones for Mid-Autumn Festival Hong Kong employers’ groups call for a minimum wage freeze for foreign domestic workers

Get your heart pumping for a good cause and get rewarded with free pasta at Pici’s annual fun run this October! Hong Kong’s favourite handcrafted pasta chain is back with the fifth edition of their fun run on October 19. As with previous years, contestants can participate in either a 5km or a 10km course, both starting at different locations across town at different times.If you’re feeling up for the challenge, all 10km runners will need to check in at Pici’s Kennedy Town location at 8.30am, with the race kicking off at 9.30am. Want to have a chill time while working up a sweat? Pici’s 5km run departs from Harbour Fun Restaurant & Bar by Wan Chai Harbourfront, with the check-in time starting at 9am and the race beginning at 10am. The finish line for both runs will be at Pici’s Taikoo Place branch in Quarry Bay, where a massive Italian feast awaits, serving up piping hot pasta, bombolini, decadent tiramisu, and refreshing bevs all ready to be demolished by hungry runners. All participants who cross the finish line will receive a medal and Pici goodies. Plus, the best-dressed teams can win exciting additional prizes, so this’ll be the perfect opportunity to dust off any eyebrow-raising Halloween costumes lying around. Applications for the Pici Pasta Run are now open, with early registrations priced at $200 per person from now until October 5, and standard registrations from October 6 to 18 costing $250 per person. All registration fees will be donated to Mind HK, a local charity that promotes improving and understanding mental health awareness in Hong Kong.Sign up for the Pasta Run here and find out more information about the run on Pici’s website.

If you’ve always looked on in awe and jealousy at the kinds of balloon and float parades that take place in the US, be green no longer, as Hong Kong will have our very own large-scale balloon parade for the first time! Beloved international and local characters such as Spongebob Squarepants, Toy Story figures, and dogs from Paw Patrol will be blown up into giant balloons and set to soar over our city’s iconic Victoria Harbour. In addition to the balloons, the organisers will also set up festive surprises around the city’s bustling streets and quieter corners to transform things into a dream playground even past the waterfront. Photograph: Courtesy Merry Balloon Expect treasure hunts through Hong Kong’s major attractions as well, with festivities culminating in a grand finale parade. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a marching band, floats, and song-and-dance numbers à la Ferris Bueller, but let’s see what the celebration ends up bringing us! Merry Balloon will run this year around Christmas time, so check back for precise dates, ticketing details, and more. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Pret a Manger has released mooncake-inspired scones for Mid-Autumn Festival Hong Kong employers’ groups are calling for a minimum wage freeze for foreign domestic workers Pop Mart is releasing mini Labubu charms for mobile phones very soon

There’s still a couple of months before the big day of Mid-Autumn Festival, but we’re sure most Hongkongers are already scrambling to get their hands on the city’s best mooncakes. While there’s definitely no shortage of lotus seed paste with egg yolk mooncakes and lava custard options to choose from, we reckon this unique gift set takes the (moon) cake as one of the wackiest interpretations of the festive treat. Photograph: Courtesy Pret a Manger This year, Pret a Manger has released a moon scone gift box, which comes with two fluffy scones along with individual portions of clotted cream and strawberry jam. In celebration of the Chinese holiday, one scone is flavoured with salted egg yolk, while its counterpart features aromatic Earl Grey tea. Each gift box also includes a drink coupon to redeem a regular-sized coffee or tea from any of Pret’s grab-and-go locations. This Mid-Autumn exclusive gift will be available for purchase at all Pret a Manger branches around town from September 3 to October 7, costing $58 a pop. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories:Hong Kong employers’ groups are calling for a minimum wage freeze for foreign domestic workers Pop Mart is releasing mini Labubu charms for mobile phones very soon McDonald’s new BTS Happy Meal is coming to Hong Kong

Do you remember an exhibition last summer that displayed miniature scenes of the Central and Western districts in Pacific Place? In case you missed it, the Joyful Miniature Association (JMA) is back once again, this time with more incredibly detailed dioramas of life in Hong Kong, including seven brand-new miniatures that have never been seen before. The 24 art pieces will highlight some of Hong Kong’s famous landmarks, cultural customs, and unique lifestyles. Peek into painstaking recreations of Sunday dim sum at Maxim’s Palace in City Hall, chaotic nighttime revelry along Lan Kwai Fong, the customs of worship and pin wheel buying at Man Mo Temple and Wong Tai Sin Temple, a moving model of the fifth generation of the Peak Tram funicular railway, views of Victoria Harbour complete with boats sailing and fireworks, and more.  Photograph: Courtesy Joyful Miniature Association The new miniatures at this show include the Kai Tak Sports Park, the legendary old Kowloon Walled City, night scenes of Temple Street, horse racing, aquatic animals on sale at one of the many shops along Goldfish Street, the cable car at Ngong Ping 360, and Hong Kong’s transhipment history at the Insta-famous Western District Pier. The JMA brings together over 100 Hong Kong artists who collectively integrate the traditionally European craft of miniatures with our distinctly local culture using cutting-edge technology. If there’s one way to stroll through the most iconic sights and experiences of Hong Kong in just a few steps, this exhibition is definitely it. ‘Hong Kong: Through the Looking Glass Miniature Exhibition’ will be on display at The Peak Tower from April 25 to June 23 – JMA’s longest exhibition in the city. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Hong Kong ranked as the 10th most walkable city in the world; 1st in East Asia Hong Kong Airport Express proposes fare increase of 9.4 percent The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is hosting a carnival this Sunday

We sit down with artist and designer Joe Foti before his new exhibition in Hong Kong

March in Hong Kong is not complete without a trip to the Wanchai Convention Centre to spend a day or two at Art Basel. This year’s fair gathers 240 global galleries, with large-scale installations, paintings, sculptures, digital art, live performances, video works, and more to see!

From a world without colours to her love of big city metros, we caught up with British artist Monster Chetwynd for a round of quick-fire questions while she's in town for her new installation at Pacific Place! 

Free on Tuesdays? Head over to Hugo's in TST for their unlimited steak and frites night, which also come with Caesar salad, a dessert, and plenty of tipples – just remember to wear loose pants.

G'day foodies! Renowned chef Shane Osborn has just opened a laidback Aussie-style cafe inspired by Australian pit stops. Perfect for a casual meal when in Central.

This arts month, don't miss Hong Kong's first ASMR exhibition that will give you all kinds of tingles.

This ‘Picasso for Asia’ exhibition is the first time that masterpieces from the Musée national Picasso-Paris are being shown alongside works from an Asian museum collection. Find out what makes the Spanish master of Cubism so influential – you have until mid-July!

These cool (and just a tad creepy) faceless sculptures are here for the whole of Hong Kong Arts Month, so make time in your diary to visit this month

What is villain hitting and why are old ladies beating paper with a shoe for $50? Of all the weird and wonderful traditions we have in Hong Kong, this one is definitely up there.