Best things to do in Hong Kong during Chinese New Year

To celebrate the release of the animated film The First Slam Dunk in Hong Kong, Times Square is bringing a pop-up store of the popular basketball manga from January 12 through to March 31. Located on the fifth floor of the shopping mall, the pop-up features over 100 store-exclusive items, including collectibles straight from Japan and Taiwan, as well as locally-designed limited-run products such as coffee mugs, clocks inspired by basketball scoreboards, home essentials, caps, tee shirts, shoelace locks, and more. In addition, the Open Piazza of Times Square will transform into an insta-worthy Slam Dunk-themed basketball court from January 11 to 15 for fans to take a pleasant trip down memory lane with the classic anime.

To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, Lee Tung Avenue is amping up the CNY ambience with 688 hanging red lanterns covering its street. The lanterns will light up at 5pm every evening from January 13 to April 10, so visit in the evening and soak in the festive feels with your loved ones this holiday! In addition to the eye-catching lanterns, sculptures of rabbits holding small lanterns can be found on lamposts, and a light installation of a family of five rabbits – symbolising 'ng fook lam moon' (five blessings entering one’s home) – will be at the Central Piazza to greet visitors. 

What's more, Lee Tung Avenue will host a series of various programmes for the public to celebrate CNY and immerse in traditional Chinese culture, while those off on a shopping spree can redeem one set of eight limited-edition red envelopes by spending $500 or more at Lee Tung Avenue with an electronic payment method.

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M+ is turning one this November and to celebrate, the museum is hosting a special exhibition featuring over 200 awe-inspiring creations by Yayoi Kusama, one of the most influential and inspiring artists of our time. Held from November 12, 2022, through to May 14, 2023, the exhibition – titled Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now – is the largest retrospective of Kusama in Asia outside of Japan. 

Through six different themes – Infinity, Accumulation, Radical Connectivity, Biocosmic, Death, and Force of Life – visitors will be able to view the artist's work spanning over seven decades, from her earliest work to the most recent output, inclusive of paintings, installations, sculptures, drawings, collages, moving images, and archival materials. The exhibition will also present three brand-new works to audiences for the first time: Death of Nerves (2022)​, a large-scale installation connecting the museum’s ground floor and basement levels; Dots Obsession—Aspiring to Heaven's Love (2022), an immersive environment that includes one of the artist’s signature mirrored spaces; and Pumpkin (2022) two large sculptures available for public viewing in the Main Hall.

Starting from November 12, 2022, visitors are required to purchase tickets in advance ($120 for adults; $60 for concession) to access all M+ exhibitions – except for the Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now exhibition, which you will have to buy tickets for separately ($240 for adults; $150 for concession). Admission to Pumpkin (2022) and the Hong Kong: Here and Beyond exhibition will remain free of charge. Tickets are now available for online purchase on M+ and West Kowloon Cultural District's official websites. 

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Korean digital design company d’strict, is heading to Hong Kong this October with Arte M, a special digital art show showcasing selected highlights from its renowned immersive media art exhibition Arte Museum.

Opening on October 7, 2022, to January 7, 2024, at K11 HACC, Arte M takes on the theme of 'Eternal Nature' and will consist of four individual spaces displaying unique media artworks that reinterpret elements and nature. From the life cycle of flowers and crashing swells to boundlessly stretching seashore and the tropical rainforest, the works will take audiences on a surreal immersive experience through a combination of visual effects, sensuous sound, and elegant aromas.

Following its 15-month showcase at K11 HACC, the exhibition is expected to relocate to 11 Skies as a permanent exhibition with more works added to the collection in a much larger space. If you can't wait that long, get your tickets to the current show now.