Year in review: 2023's most-read stories on Time Out Hong Kong

Since Hong Kong reopened its borders, visitors have been gradually returning for tourism. According to the latest report from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, by the end of November, the city had welcomed over 30 million visitors, with nearly 24 million coming from mainland China. Although this is a significant decrease from the pre-pandemic figure of around 56 million, it's encouraging to see the city's tourism sector recovering. Many of these visitors have been using Time Out Hong Kong as their go-to guide for the best things to do in the city, and our ultimate Hong Kong bucket list has been the most popular feature of the year.

To boost tourism, the government's Hello Hong Kong campaign distributed free airline tickets in collaboration with airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong Airlines, and Greater Bay Airlines. These tickets were available to overseas travellers as well as Hong Kong residents. It's no surprise that our guide on how to apply for these free airline tickets became the go-to source for updates on ticket distribution. After all, who doesn't love no-cost air travel? 

Hong Kong is a foodie haven. From a diverse range of Chinese regional cuisines to flavours from Europe, India, and Southeast Asia, there's something for everyone. Our constantly updated 'Time Out Eat List' showcasing the best restaurants in the city is a must-read for both locals and visitors, making it a hit feature in 2023.

With travel on the horizon, people are eager to enjoy the top attractions in the city, and we've got everyone covered with our guide to the many amazing sights. Whether it's getting a glimpse of Hong Kong's iconic skyline, delving into historic landmarks, or visiting the best museums, our list of attractions includes all the classics that can make anyone fall in love with Hong Kong.

So, when folks weren't scoping out the city's best eateries and attractions, they were mostly Googling Hong Kong's sauciest films. Our list of the top 12 sexiest movies from the 1970s to the 2000s was a hit with our readers. 

As one of the last cities to ease pandemic restrictions, travellers coming to the city for the first time since the borders closed were all seeking information on the latest travel requirements to enter Hong Kong. Our regularly updated arrival guide assisted residents and tourists in preparing for entry to the city until the restrictions were fully lifted. 

This year, the city went through some rough weather. Typhoon Saola hit on September 1, prompting the Hong Kong Observatory to issue Hurricane Signal No. 10 for the first time since 2018. Not long after dealing with that, Hong Kong was hit with a black rainstorm warning for the first time since October 2021. Our editorial team kept our audience updated with the latest news on disruption of public transit services, work and class suspension, and the latest on Observatory updates.   

Weekends in Hong Kong are usually buzzing with activity as both tourists and locals head out to enjoy their time off. Whether it's trying out new eateries, exploring the diverse neighbourhoods, or checking out the latest events, week after week, we made sure everyone got a good list of the best activities to help them make the most of their days off.

We're finally able to head back out and enjoy live music in Hong Kong and Macau. This year, there's always something exciting happening, from homegrown talents performing at intimate venues to international stars taking on the big stage. We've made sure our audience doesn't miss out on all the must-watch shows. Make sure to bookmark our guide and come back regularly for more updates for 2024.

We take our dim sum seriously in Hong Kong. Locals and visitors hit up every corner of the city daily to get their dose of yum cha. We've always got you covered with the best spots in town to dig into siu mai, har gow, spring rolls, buns, and more, whether you're craving Michelin-starred eats or affordable bites that won't break the bank.