Your ultimate guide to Hong Kong

Music lovers are in for a treat early next year with what appears to be a belated Christmas present, because news has just reached our ears that R&B superstar Givēon will be coming to Hong Kong for a soulful show at Tides on January 31, 2026. For those not in the know, Givēon is an acclaimed artist from California who has racked up eight Grammy nominations, including Best R&B Album for Beloved and Best R&B Song for ‘Heartbreak Anniversary’, among others. Givēon catapulted to fame in 2020 with his song ‘Chicago Freestyle’ featuring Drake, which reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He also featured on Justin Bieber’s 2021 hit ‘Peaches’ featuring Daniel Caesar, which separately garnered another four Grammy nominations in 2022. His latest album Beloved was released in July and debuted on Billboard 200 at number eight. Givēon will be bringing ‘Dear Beloved, The Tour’ to Asia to promote his new album, making a stop in Hong Kong to perform at Tides, the new purpose-built live music venue in Whampoa, as part of the programme. It will mark the singer’s highly anticipated return to live performance following his successful ‘Give or Take Tour’.  Fans can look forward to a spectacular showcase of artistry and music, as Givēon plans to incorporate strings, horns, and a full backing band to create a rich, immersive atmosphere on stage. Based on the setlist he played this past October in Seattle at the debut show of ‘Dear Beloved, The Tour’, attendees can likely expect to hear a mix of Givēon’s biggest hits like ‘Chicago Freestyle’, ‘Heartbreak Anniversary’, ‘For Tonight’, ‘Lie Again’, ‘Lost Me’, ‘Twenties’, ‘Rather Be’, as well as new tracks from Beloved.  General ticket sales ($899 for all standing areas) are available to the public starting from November 26 at 12pm. Get yours at ticketflap.com before they sell out! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inboxRecommended stories: Everything you need to know before attending the 2025 MAMA Awards in Hong Kong MTR launches a Bruce Lee exhibition to celebrate his 85th birthday Driverless vehicles are now doing trial runs in two Hong Kong areas

The prestigious MAMA Awards have finally returned to Hong Kong after seven years and are set to rock K-pop fans worldwide in just a few days. Aside from CJ ENM’s music channel, Mnet, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, this year’s iteration of the ceremony is the first-ever Korean awards ceremony held at Kai Tak Stadium, making this year’s awards show bigger than ever. If you’re one of the lucky individuals who managed to snag tickets before they sold out, here’s everything you need to know before the two-day ceremony. When and where are the 2025 MAMA Awards? The globally renowned K-pop awards show will take place at Kai Tak Stadium on November 28 and 29 from 6.30pm onwards.  Who’s performing at the 2025 MAMA Awards? With the sheer number of artists confirmed to be at the awards shows, they’ll be performing on designated days, so be sure to check when your favourite group will take the stage!Day 1: Alpha Drive One (ALD1), Babymonster, BoyNextDoor, Bumsup, Enhypen, Hearts2Hearts, I-dle, Ive, Meovv, Mirror, NCT Wish, Super Junior, Treasure, Tws, and Yeonjun Day 2: Aespa, AllDay Project, Cortis, G-Dragon, Idid, Izna, JO1, KickFlip, Kyoka, Riize, Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), Wing, and Zerobaseone (ZO1)Additionally, mega stars like Park Bo Gum, Chow Yun Fat, and Michelle Yeoh, among others, will make appearances as presenters during the awards shows.  Where can I watch the 2025 MAMA Awards livestream? Don’t get FOMO because you couldn’t get tickets to the show. There are numerous channels for you to watch the awards show as it happens. Mnet will simultaneously air the show on its TV channel, as well as its YouTube channel and mobile app, Mnet Plus. Alternatively, both evenings of the awards show will also be aired on HBOMax.  How to get to Kai Tak Stadium MTRTaking the MTR is the most straightforward option to get to Kai Tak Sports Park. Passengers can alight at Sung Wong Toi or Kai Tak Station and leave via Exit D, then follow the signs to get to the Sports Park on foot.  Public transport Luckily, Kai Tak Sports Park is located near three of Hong Kong’s major bus stops: Kowloon City Bus Interchange, Argyle Street Playground Bus Stop, and the Kowloon City Ferry Bus Terminal; and over 60 bus routes are within reach of the Sports Park’s venue. For stress-free navigation, download the Kai Tak Sports Park mobile app on the App Store or Google Play to find recommended bus routes and accurate arrival times.Taxi/CarGetting to Kai Tak Stadium via car will be tricky, as passengers will only be allowed to alight at designated drop-off spots in the area, which will only be available before the concert begins. If you’re catching an Uber or a cab, you’ll have to alight at the Ma Tau Kok Road drop-off point, and then you’ll have to walk towards the stadium afterwards. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inboxRecommended stories: MTR launches a Bruce Lee exhibition to celebrate his 85th birthday A large-scale coffee festival is happening for two weekends this December Driverless vehicles are now doing trial runs in two Hong Kong areas

To celebrate legendary martial arts icon Bruce Lee’s 85th birthday, the MTR Corporation has joined forces with the Bruce Lee Foundation and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum to host “The Formless Way: Memorialising 85 since Bruce Lee’s Birth”, a joint exhibition held between Central and Hong Kong Station.  Photograph: MTR/Facebook The exhibit allows passengers to learn about Lee’s life and legacy through four thematic zones – movies, martial arts, philosophy, and arts – all of which showcase the icon’s spirit and how his life philosophies continue to influence us today. The exhibition is divided into two sections, with an interactive experience zone at Hong Kong Station’s Living Art Stage running from today until December 8, and “Travelling by MTR: Connecting Bruce Lee Footprints across Hong Kong” by Exit J of Central Station, available until summer 2026.  Photograph: MTR/Facebook Visitors at the interactive zone can check out dynamic installations, including a 1:1 recreation of Lee’s torso, a philosophy dialogue phone kiosk, as well as receive limited-edition cards with unique designs and the martial arts star’s famous philosophical quotes. Over at Central’s Exit J, the themed exhibition showcases a collection of rare photographs, film stills, posters, and martial art philosophies, all of which display the international icon’s journey throughout life as an artist. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inboxRecommended stories: A large-scale coffee festival is happening for two weekends this December Driverless vehicles are now doing trial runs in two Hong Kong areasNight(mare) at the Museum: ‘Ancient Egypt’ exhibition plagued by crowd chaos

Coffee lovers (and self-proclaimed coffee snobs), this one’s for you. The Mills has teamed up with local market organiser group Biugorbiumui to host Urban Brew Summit, a large-scale coffee festival for two weekends, from December 5 and 7, to 12 and 14, which promises top-notch coffee, music, arts, and all-around fun. Throughout the festival, over 40 local and international coffee, lifestyle, and dessert brands, including Ghost Coffee from Tainan, Plot Roasting from Tainan, and Kyoto Express Coffee from Japan, among others, will display their products for attendees to sample and purchase. Additionally, The Mills’ tenants will offer exclusive drinks and desserts during the event, such as a black sesame Vienna coffee from Fleur, a dirty tiramisu from Koko Coffee Roasters, and a fluffy cloud cappuccino from The Uniek.  Photograph: Courtesy The Mills For those looking for hands-on experiences, Urban Brew Summit has invited Hong Kong Coffee in Good Spirit’s champion, Ricky Chan, to host an Irish coffee tasting workshop ($420 per person). Alternatively, participants can also sign up for My Little Coffee’s latte art workshops or join Koko Coffee Roasters’ exclusive roastery tour. To make the most of your experience, attendees can buy a limited coffee passport ($160), which includes an eco-friendly tasting cup to use, three tasting vouchers to sample 50-80ml portions of coffee or desserts, and a latte art-making experience (for December 5-7 only) or one voucher of your choice from exclusive retailers.  If you’ve got plenty of energy, The Mills has teamed up with local group 777runclub to hold two coffee runs during the festival. Participants can bring their furry friends along on December 6 for the pet-friendly runs, or sign up for a scavenger hunt around The Mills’ complex on December 13 instead. Both runs conclude with the Sunset Coffee Rave, which sees multiple DJs on the decks, spinning old-school Cantopop gems to keep the fun going as the evening progresses. Snag your coffee passports and find more details about the Urban Brew Summit on The Mills’ website. 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: Driverless vehicles are now doing trial runs in two Hong Kong areasNight(mare) at the Museum: ‘Ancient Egypt’ exhibition plagued by crowd chaos We tried Hutong’s fiery menu with five exclusive housemade chilli sauces, and here’s how we liked it

Everyday we inch closer to the futuristic world predicted in Wall-E. For good or for bad, mainland Chinese multinational technology company Baidu Apollo International Limited has commenced its driverless private car trial runs across the Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts from early November, while the Airport Authority has commenced its driverless public light bus trials between 11Skies and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Hong Kong Port.  Since 2019, autonomous vehicles (AVs) have been gradually integrated into everyday life in the city, starting with the use of automatic operational vehicles at the Hong Kong International Airport. To date, three pilot proprietors have been allowed to operate AVs in specific areas in Hong Kong, including North Lantau, the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Southern District, and at the airport. Photograph: Courtesy Baidu Apollo To minimise disruptions to normal traffic in the city, Baidu Apollo has been cleared by the Transport Department to trial its autonomous cars between 1am to 5am, 10am to 4pm, and 8pm to 11pm from Mondays to Saturdays, and between 8am to 10pm on Sundays. Out of the 10 cars scheduled for trial, no more than three will be allowed to operate on the trial route at the same time.  These driverless cars’ routes will encompass several major streets in the urban districts, including Shing Fung Road, Shing Kai Road, Muk On Street, Kai Shing Street, Concorde Road, and Muk Yuen Street in Kowloon City, and Kai Wah Street, Wang Kwong Road, Kai Shun Road, Wang Chiu Road, Kai Cheung Road, Sheung Yuet Road, and Sheung Yee Road in Kwun Tong. AVs on trial will make stops at Runway 1331, Muk On Street, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters, Skyline Tower, Sheung Yuet Road, Zero Carbon Park, and Muk Yuen Street. If you’re deeply wary of such technology, then at least you know which areas to avoid! Photograph: Courtesy Baidu Apollo This marks the first unmanned vehicle trial within commercial and residential districts in Hong Kong. While the Transport Department has yet to announce additional AV trials in other districts, it seems adamant to introduce this mode of travel to the city. Despite this tech push, concerns over road and pedestrian safety remain, especially following recorded collisions involving driverless vehicles at the airport. Here’s hoping Baidu Apollo’s auto automobiles can safely navigate the dense traffic in Kowloon City and newly constructed roads around Kai Tak.  Stay up to date with the upcoming AV trials on td.gov.hk.  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:Night(mare) at the Museum: ‘Ancient Egypt’ exhibition plagued by crowd chaos We tried Hutong’s fiery menu with five exclusive housemade chilli sauces, and here’s how we liked it An urban zen garden with large art installations takes over the Hong Kong Palace Museum grounds

Hong Kong’s luck with large-scale events and high-demand openings seemed to have taken another turn for the worse this past weekend. Remember the major debacle surrounding the hotly anticipated AIA International Hot Air Balloon Festival in September that ignited a social media storm? And who could forget the Messi controversy of 2024? It was Hong Kong Palace Museum’s turn this time. On Saturday, November 22, the long-awaited ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums’ exhibition at HKPM ran into major human congestion issues halfway through the day following a relatively smooth morning. Excruciatingly long queues, unclear instructions on-site, and massive crowds caused unhappiness among visitors, with many demanding refunds. As a result, HKPM offered Saturday’s ticket holders the chance to revisit the exhibition on another day within the next three months free of charge, and extended its opening hours to 9pm that day to provide some crowd relief – but the same problem was to repeat itself less than 24 hours later.  Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Palace Museum Yesterday, on Sunday, November 23, HKPM had to suspend on-site ticket sales for ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’ for almost five hours to manage crowds, granting admission only to those who had purchased their tickets in advance. For those who stuck around, on-site ticket sales were resumed from 3.30pm onward. Additionally, the museum remained open for another two hours until 8pm to give visitors more time to view the ancient Egyptian artefacts.  HKPM shared on Monday, November 24, that it had welcomed more than 16,000 visitors to ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’ in just four days since the exhibition’s opening – now that’s as good an endorsement as you’re likely to get for the show. A series of themed plush toys in the shape of cats dressed as pharaohs – souvenirs for the exhibition fashioned after the Egyptian goddess Bastet – have also already sold out. HKPM indicated there will be more on the way, but for now, visitors must submit an online reservation form at the gift shop to be informed of new stock. Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Palace Museum HKPM is mulling over the possibility of temporarily extending its opening hours to cope with the exhibition’s high demand, as demonstrated by the substantial number of visitors over the weekend. Perhaps ‘Night at the Museum’ could become a thing after all… 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: We tried Hutong’s fiery menu with five exclusive housemade chilli sauces, and here’s how we liked it An urban zen garden with large art installations takes over the Hong Kong Palace Museum grounds This Hong Kong hotel has two of the world’s top restaurants, according to La Liste

If you’re a chilli fan or just want something spicy to warm yourself this winter, then look no further than Hutong! The Chinese restaurant with the famously gorgeous harbour view has recently launched a new menu celebrating the fiery flavours of northern Chinese cuisines. Titled ‘Qian Jiao Bai Wei – The Essence of Heat’, the menu spotlights five dishes elevated with a secret ingredient: Hutong’s housemade chilli sauces. Crafted using five chilli varieties native to Northern China, each sauce brings a distinctive kick to traditional recipes.  Start the meal easy with the crispy eggplant in a nutty almond sauce which only has a hint of spiciness, as well as the king crab with Yunnan pepper and kumquat chilli sauce, an appetising dish that bursts with aromas of the green line chillies of the region and where spice and citrus notes balances the richness of Alaskan King crab meat. Photograph: Courtesy Hutong Our favourite dishes are by far the mains: flaming A5 Japanese Wagyu beef with roasted Sichuan Erjingtiao chilli – a flavourful, smokey creation that spotlights two premium ingredients – as well as the wok-tossed lobster with Guntur chillies and Hutong’s signature chilli oil. The latter is enhanced greatly with umami-laden fermented black beans and crispy garlic bits, making the dish so moreish we almost licked the plate clean. While three of the above sauces are only available to taste while dining in at Hutong with the ‘Qian Jiao Bai Wei’ menu, chilli lovers can take home the signature Hutong Chilli Sauce and Hutong Peppercorn Oil. Made with aromatic ghost peppers and accented with a range of dried seafood, the chilli sauce offers a distinctive kick to just about any home-cooked meal. Meanwhile, the peppercorn oil – made with high-quality Sichuan green peppercorns – offers a mild numbing sensation that elevates a dish to new heights.  Photograph: Courtesy Hutong To offset the heat on the menu, diners can order two non-alcoholic teas as a palate cleanser between courses. The Red Lantern is a sparkling Da Hung Pao tea enhanced with the zestiness of ginger, lemon, and Sichuan peppercorns, while the Spicy Ginger Lemon Soda sees the ordinary soda uplifted with ginger, chilli, and peppercorns.  The ‘Qian Jiao Bai Wei’ menu is available at all Hutong locations worldwide until January 18, 2026, so even if you’re out of town this season, chances are you might be able to catch these dishes at Hutong’s global branches instead. Meanwhile, the Hutong Chilli Oil and Hutong Peppercorn Oil are made fresh daily and priced at $200 each.  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: An urban zen garden with large art installations takes over the Hong Kong Palace Museum grounds This Hong Kong hotel has two of the world’s top restaurants, according to La Liste A Pinocchio-themed night parade with giant puppets is coming to Hong Kong

It’s common knowledge that Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading dining capitals. Not only are you spoilt for choice, but the city is also flush with quality. Hong Kong restaurants are recognised by the Michelin Guide, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants – we could go on. Paris-based restaurant ranking guide La Liste recently released its results for 2025, and two Hong Kong restaurants garnered the highest honours – they also happen to both be housed in the same hotel in Hong Kong. Photograph: Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong La Liste’s Top 1000 Restaurants for 2025 honoured Lung King Heen and Caprice at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong with scores that put them tied in first and second place, respectively, with other exceptional restaurants around the globe. Lung King Heen achieved a remarkable 99.5 score out of 100, placing them at No. 1 with eight other restaurants. It is also the only restaurant specialising in Chinese cuisine to be recognised at the top. Caprice scored 99, putting them at No. 2 with 11 other restaurants. Lung King Heen’s success stems from the guidance and vision of its executive Chinese chef, Chan Yan-tak. His refined take on Cantonese cuisine, built on meticulous ingredient sourcing and seasonality, represents the pinnacle of modern Chinese gastronomy. Lung King Heen was also the first Chinese restaurant in the world to have been awarded three Michelin stars – it currently holds two. “We are extremely happy and grateful to be recognised by La Liste once again, achieving a near perfection score of 99.5 out of 100 and being the only Chinese restaurant ranked at No. 1,” says chef Chan. Photograph: Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong Caprice has long been a bastion of outstanding fine dining worth splurging for. As one of only seven restaurants in Hong Kong holding three Michelin stars, this temple of foodie goodness maintains its excellence thanks to chef Guillaume Galliot, whose masterful understanding of technique, flavour, and skill elevates French cuisine to new heights. Chef Guillaume states, “I’m thrilled for Caprice to be recognised by La Liste once again, with a remarkable score of 99 out of 100. It’s particularly significant this year as La Liste celebrates its 10th anniversary,” noting that the recognition belongs to the entire team. See the Top 1000 Restaurants list by La Liste here. 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: A Pinocchio-themed night parade with giant puppets is coming to Hong Kong American fast food giant Dairy Queen is opening 60 locations in Hong Kong Here are Hong Kong’s best Christmas displays this year

The cooler weather means it’s the perfect time of year to go traipsing around outside, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum has the perfect chill activity with its first outdoor exhibition. ‘The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Art Plaza Project at the Hong Kong Palace Museum’ is a multimedia initiative that extends the museum’s cultural and artistic reach into everyday life while celebrating local talents. Beyond the exhibition, the museum will also host a series of talks and workshops that explore the concept behind this inaugural outdoor showcase.  With traditional Chinese garden aesthetics as the main inspiration, the exhibition features installations by five local artists and an architect. Each creative brings a unique contemporary interpretation of traditional zen garden elements to the showcase, where iconic pavilions, flowing water, and aesthetic rock formations are reimagined with materials found in our bustling city, such as bamboo, metal, and fabric.  Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Palace Museum The most visually-striking piece is acclaimed Hong Kong architect Rocco Yim’s Dancing Bamboo. Crafted with bamboo poles retired from the scaffolding industry, Yim skillfully arranges bamboo poles to create a mock forest in celebration of the material’s strength and adaptability. Another homage to bamboo, artist Inkgo Lam expands her expertise on the material with Arrow – a mesmerising piece inspired by the bamboo arrow that reflects the tension between tradition and modernity. Meanwhile, visitors should consider viewing the exhibition after sundown, where pieces by artists Chloë Cheuk, Tung Wing Hong, and Eastman Cheng doubles as stunning luminous installations. ‘The Art Plaza Project’ exhibition is now open to the public until November 2, 2026 at the Museum Plaza at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, so there’s plenty of time left to visit! Entry is free of charge during the museum’s opening hours. 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: This Hong Kong hotel has two of the world’s top restaurants, according to La Liste A Pinocchio-themed night parade with giant puppets is coming to Hong Kong American fast food giant Dairy Queen is opening 60 locations in Hong Kong

Every year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade turns the streets of New York into a fabulous celebration of elaborate floats, jumbo balloons, and entertainment, making the last weekend of November always one to look forward to. Hong Kong may not have a Macy’s, or a Super Mario-shaped balloon, but that’s not to say the end of this month’s going to be any less exciting. We’ve got the return of Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Night Parade, and this year’s event is designed to be a spectacle of colour, light, and rhythm! On the night of November 29, from 8.30pm to 10pm, visitors can marvel at an impressive illuminated procession dreamed up by local artists, who have come together to bring this year’s Night Parade to life. Inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio, the spectacle will feature five giant puppets, eight creative carnival costumes, and four dance groups.  Photograph: Courtesy Hysan Development Company Limited Almost 100 performers will gather in Causeway Bay for this occasion, journeying from Lee Garden One along Yun Ping Road, Pak Sha Road, Lee Garden Road, and Kai Chiu Road to Hysan Place and back. Naturally, the highlight will be the larger-than-life puppets, including characters like the story’s protagonist Pinocchio and the woodcarver Geppetto. Additionally, on the evening of November 29, visitors can join face-painting sessions at Lee Garden One and Lee Garden Two to look the part for the Night Parade, and dress the part with complimentary Pinocchio hats too! Leading up to the Night Parade, Lee Gardens will also host engaging workshops and activities. Families can participate in Pinocchio Storytelling and Jumping Puppet Workshops on November 22 and 23 at Playdot, Lee Garden Two – these sessions will include 20 minutes of storytelling and a 30-minute puppet-making activity. Lee Gardens is also offering a one-hour Headdress Workshop on December 6 for families to create illuminated wearables. Register for these activities on the Lee Gardens app. 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: American fast food giant Dairy Queen is opening 60 locations in Hong Kong Here are Hong Kong’s best Christmas displays this year This Island East rooftop bar has relaunched with Hong Kong cinema-inspired drinks

The popular Japanese mascot series Namagaki is taking over Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong with a themed installation! Since Namagaki characters began popping up inside claw machines and arcades across town, so many hearts have been captured by their simple yet lovable designs and adorably blank expressions. The Namagaki Festival features a series of installations and exhibits for fans to take pictures with, as well as a charming merch pop-up with exclusive items for sale. Photograph: Courtesy Yell / Festival Walk At the centre of the installation is a four-metre-tall giant oyster can, where Namagaki characters spill out alongside rainbow-coloured sweets. Right next door is the pastel-coloured Namagaki Washoku House, where cute oyster characters act as chef and waiter at this makeshift traditional Japanese eatery. See if you can spot the pink pumpkins dotted around the space – it’s the installation’s discreet nod to the upcoming spooky season.  Beyond photo ops, fans will definitely delight in browsing through the themed pop-up store housing over 100 exclusive Namagaki products, including 80 first launches in Hong Kong that span everything from stationery to t-shirts and tote bags. Don’t forget to stop by the Namagaki claw machine and the collectible trading card capsule machine for an adorable surprise!  Photograph: Courtesy Festival Walk In the spirit of Halloween, Festival Walk is inviting visitors to trick or treat around designated stores in the mall. Exclusive to My Festival members, take part in this seasonal activity by purchasing a $1,000 gift card to receive a limited-edition Baby Namagaki birthstone bag charm and candy can clutch – where you can store your hard-earned sweets.  Namagaki Festival will be at Festival Walk from October 24 to November 13. See footage of the Namagaki Festival pop-up here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk) 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: 18 hotels in Hong Kong and Macau have been awarded 2025 Michelin Keys OneRepublic is coming back to Hong Kong in February 2026 The best Halloween parties in Hong Kong this year

Remember when we all saw a giant Doraemon sitting unexpectedly at the dockyard along Tsing Yi last week? Well, the news is out and it’s not that a robotic cat is invading Hong Kong – instead, a fleet of floating inflatable sculptures will be making their appearance along Victoria Harbour next month. AllRightsReserved, the local creative brand behind last year’s thousands of panda sculptures and the recent Chiikawa exhibition in Tsim Sha Tsui, is putting on the Water Parade, where a set of four giant, floating inflatable figures will be making a debut at sea. In the lineup is Doraemon, perched on his favourite dorayaki snack; Elmo from the Kaws & Sesame Street collaboration; McDonalds’ purple blob-shaped mascot Grimace; and Labubu, the globally viral Nordic-inspired monster by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. After a trial run in the waters of Tsing Yi on September 20, these four figures will be set afloat along Victoria Harbour on October 25, and will be shown in brand-new poses. Visit them just off of Tamar Park in Admiralty and snap plenty of photos, because when else are you going to see such universally recognised and different cartoon characters all sitting together? Photograph: Courtesy AllRightsReserved On November 1, the floating sculptures will be taken on a water parade between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, sailing along both sides of Victoria Harbour, before departing from our waters on the evening of the same day. For the entire duration of the sculpture display, there will also be a Water Parade Market at the promenade near Tamar Park. Aside from pop-up stores, F&B stands, game booths, photo spots, and a capsule toy zone, the market will also feature other internationally popular IPs from KPop Demon Hunters, season five of Stranger Things, Squid Games, Snoopy and the Peanuts, as well as Hong Kong’s classic TOLO Founding Duck, which is marking its 40th anniversary. Early-bird tickets to the festivities will be available at $50 for adults, starting at 12 noon on September 26. Walk-in tickets can also be purchased on site, subject to availability. All tickets include a $20 merchandise voucher, which can be redeemed cumulatively on purchases of every $200. Attendees can also buy a viewing platform special ticket at $150, which includes entry to the Water Parade Market. See some footage of the Water Parade here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk) 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 Oktoberfest events happening in Hong Kong this year The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (September 22-28) Super Typhoon Ragasa: Hong Kong braces for the strongest typhoon of the year as it approaches the city

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!