The best things to do in Hong Kong this week (May 19-25)

From now to June 30, Nonfiction collaborates with Salisterra to present an exclusive afternoon tea experience that combines the brand’s refined aesthetics with exquisite culinary creations. This thoughtfully curated tea set invites guests on a sensory journey inspired by summertime moments and Nonfiction's citrus collection. The menu brings vibrant citrus notes to life through delicately crafted treats like the bergamot & honey tart, grapefruit pâte de fruit, and yuzu chocolate ganache with brown sugar shortbread – each showcasing the complexities of citrus paired with natural ingredients and aromatic flavours. A Nonfiction pop-up will also be available at The Upper House (The Tea Room, level six) until May 31. Visitors to the pop-up store can immerse themselves in the brand's calming world and explore a collection of signature perfumes, home fragrances, body and hand care products, and curated gift sets.   

From now to July 13, Airside is hosting ‘The World of ASMR’ exhibition that was at London’s Design Museum. This will be the Kai Tak venue’s first time collaborating with an international museum since its opening, and we’re so excited that it’s going to be this special exhibition on the euphoria or calm triggered by sound, touch, and movement. This immersive experience delves into the crackles, pops, feather brushes, whispers, and tappy noises that have become a whole culture and community around the world. Showing over 40 works by contemporary artists, ASMRtists, and designers, the Hong Kong edition also features newly commissioned works by local artists which capture our city’s unique auditory identity. The highlight of the show is a sculpture of wavy, bendy pillows woven together to form over a kilometre of squishy comfort, where visitors can lounge while watching various ASMR-related videos. There’s even an entire room dedicated to Bob Ross, who many in the community dub the ‘Godfather of ASMR’.  Don’t forget to try your hand at creating your own ASMR noises before you leave! Tickets to this exhibition at Gate33 Gallery cost $30.

The ‘Van Gogh Alive’ immersive art experience has travelled to over 100 cities around the world, and it’s returning to our shores on March 10. This exhibition stimulates the senses of sight, sound, and smell to fully bring visitors into Post-Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh’s artistic journey.  3,000 paintings and images including famous Van Gogh classics like ‘Sunflowers’, ‘Starry Night’, and ‘Wheatfield with Crows’ are waiting to be experienced in an elevated way, with approximately 30 giant screens working together to project, break down, and enhance the paintings. Projected simultaneously across walls, columns, and floors, visitors can feel like they’re actually wandering through the world created through his bold brush strokes. Apart from a redesigned layout that utilises more of the exhibition space than when the exhibition came to Hong Kong in 2019, this return also presents something new in the debut of ‘AI Van Gogh’; the technology brings the artist back to life and generates paintings in the Impressionist style for visitors to walk into. Classical music from Schubert and Bach will enhance the enjoyment of the artwork, while special scents are also used to heighten the immersive experience, evoking florals when viewing ‘Sunflowers’ or a fresh breeze in ‘Starry Night’. Early-bird tickets are available until February 27 for $160. Thereafter, the standard price will be $190, with concessions available. Note that tickets to ‘Van Gogh Alive’ do not include entry...

The Joyful Miniature Association (JMA) is presenting incredibly detailed dioramas of life in Hong Kong, including seven brand-new miniatures that have never been seen before. Peek into painstaking recreations of Sunday dim sum at Maxim’s Palace in City Hall, chaotic nightlife along Lan Kwai Fong, a moving model of the fifth generation of the Peak Tram funicular railway – and look out for the new dioramas like the legendary old Kowloon Walled City, aquatic animals on sale at one of the many shops along Goldfish Street, the cable car at Ngong Ping 360, and more. These miniature displays will be on show at The Peak Tower from April 25 to June 23 – JMA’s longest exhibition in the city.

French May is in full swing, and Hong Kong is bustling with all sorts of Francophile happenings, including the highly anticipated return of Happy French Wednesday. Throughout this month, the Hong Kong Jockey Club is collaborating with the French Arts Festival and French GourMay Food and Wine Festival to present a French soirée at the Happy Valley Racecourse – it’s the place to be! In addition to weekly back-to-back live horse races and the Sauternes Cup on May 28, the racecourse’s French parties will feature live music performances from sensational acts. Be blown away by MsLolo’s powerful stage presence on May 7, get hyped with the live band Deluxe on May 14 and 21, and don’t miss Leanne Jackson’s velvety vocals on May 28. Each week will also showcase mesmerising dance performances; expect to see playful Moulin Rouge outfits chic 1960s Saint-Tropez stylings, and dancers decked out in retro costumes.  Come hungry, as there’ll be plenty of food trucks offering French gourmet options as far as the eye can see. Pick up glasses of rosé from Whispering Angel’s dedicated food truck, creative cocktails, fine wines, or beer from 1664 Blanc-themed food trucks. Plus, spend a designated amount on the French beer brand for a chance to win 1664 Blanc x CLOT crossover merchandise that blends French elegance with Eastern style. You can also win Whispering Angel coupons by posting photos of the racecourse’s French-inspired decor with Happy Wednesday’s Instagram story filter. Be sure to tag...

Hong Kong's first large-scale Crayon Shinchan interactive exhibition has landed in Kai Tak Sports Park from now to August 31. Spanning over 10,000 square feet, this playful experience lets you join Shinchan and the 'Kasukabe Defence Force' on a thrilling time-travelling rescue mission. The exhibition features nine immersive zones, including recreations of Shinchan's living room, a UFO spaceship, a futuristic city, and a ninja village. Visitors can enjoy interactive games, AR missions, and plenty of photo opportunities with 3D characters. There's also a special museum section showcasing 35 years of Crayon Shinchan history, complete with original artwork and movie memorabilia. After the adventure, be sure to stop by the pop-up shop to browse over 200 themed merchandise items or grab a snack at the themed food stall. Tickets start at $108 and are available on INCUTix, K11 Experience, and KKday.

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong, a large-scale exhibition has been set up at Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) from now to June 13. Created by internationally acclaimed artist Simon Ma, the exhibition features hundreds of inflated transparent 'water droplets' – with two giant water drop sculptures at heights of 28.8m and 18.8m respectively – to symbolise inclusion and vitality. Please note that advance online booking is required. Each person is allowed to book no more than one session (lasting 20 minutes) at a maximum of five quotas each day. 

Visit this special exhibition at M+ to see more than 60 masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso spanning from the late 1890s to the early 1970s. Co-curated with the Musée national Picasso-Paris (MnPP), which holds the largest repository of Picasso’s work in the world, this is the first time that pieces from the MnPP are being shown together with works from an Asian museum collection. By placing Picasso’s work in dialogue with Asian contemporary art – approximately 80 works by more than 20 Asian and Asian-diasporic artists – the master’s enduring influence on art to this day is highlighted. Split into four sections that show how Picasso fits into four artist stereotypes – such as the genius in his self-mythologising works, and the outsider with how he consistently chose to upend artistic styles and traditions – this exhibition explores how Picasso became the quintessential modern 20th-century artist.  Tickets cost $240, with half-price concessions and adult-and-child combo deals available. Visitors with special exhibition tickets can also access the ‘Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination’ exhibition, as well as all M+ general admission exhibitions starting from March 15.

Teaming up with Disney Hong Kong before the live-action movie Lilo and Stitch hits Hong Kong cinemas, Harbour City presents 'Stitch Arrives!!!', the biggest ever Stitch event in Hong Kong. Visitors will be transported to the monster's favourite Hawaiian beach, complete with five adorable photo spots and eight stamping stations throughout the mall. Strike a pose with Stitch at the Ocean Terminal Forecourt, or head up to the Ocean Terminal Deck to take pics with the seven-metre-tall Wisher Stitch against the beautiful Victoria Harbour. Fans can also take their pick from over 800 types of merch and snacks at the Stitch-themed pop-up store in the Main Concourse. Meanwhile, the little ones can unleash their creativity at the Ohana Craft Club (Ocean Terminal Atrium), where they can take part in Hawaiian-themed DIY workshops and activities – Stitch will even make a special appearance on Mother's Day for meet-and-greet sessions!  All proceeds from the event will be donated to Make-A-Wish Hong Kong after deducting costs.

The second edition of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) returns to Hong Kong this summer with over 280 performing arts programmes, film screenings, exhibitions, and other events.  Running from April 16 through to September 28, keep an eye on the schedule of upcoming CCF performances and events here. Tickets will open for sale from April 15, and prices will differ depending on the specific events, but there will be a limited-time discount of up to 30-percent off until April 30.