Catharina Cheung

The great thing about the annual Affordable Art Fair is that they’ve eschewed Hong Kong’s traditional Arts Month period, when the city’s biggest art events are all crammed into a week or so. Instead of struggling to decide which happenings to go to – and which to sadly give up on seeing – the Affordable Art Fair gives Hongkongers the choice of taking everything in at a leisurely pace. For the uninitiated, the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong was founded to make art more accessible, approachable, and inclusive for everyone – divorcing it from the rich, exclusive, and snooty image that this sector has long been saddled with. They believe art is for us all and that everyone can become an art collector, which is why as the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong celebrates its 12th edition in our city, they’re gathering 99 local and international galleries to present art pieces that are all priced under $100,000. Read on to see what to look out for at this year’s fair, as well as how to choose the right pieces for your space.

Hong Kong and Macau’s music scene has been thriving with activity. From homegrown talents performing at intimate venues to international stars taking on the big stage, there’s much to look forward to for eager concertgoers. If you want to be in the know on all the latest music performances, festivals, concerts, and gigs happening in Hong Kong and Macau, bookmark this page and come back regularly for more updates.  RECOMMENDED: In the meantime, check out our list of the best live music venues in Hong Kong. 

While you might associate the best Hong Kong films with acclaimed directors such as Wong Kar-wai and John Woo, Hong Kong filmmakers have never shied away from producing raunchier flicks (though they have nothing on what really happens in Hong Kong’s BDSM scene).First appearing in the 1960s, Hong Kong’s X-rated films peaked in popularity during the 1990s (following the establishment of the notorious Category III rating). While the 2000s saw Hongkongers gain an unparalleled level of access to adult material online (see: How Hongkongers use Pornhub), notable erotic films have kept coming, including ‘the world’s first 3D erotic movie’, 3D Sex and Zen, and more. Here’s our pick for Hong Kong’s best sexy movies. RECOMMENDED: Want more steamy flicks? Check out this list of Asian erotic films, or if it’s romance you’re after, check out Hong Kong’s best classic romcoms

As one of Asia’s major arts and cultural hubs, Hong Kong not only has fantastic art exhibitions and music concerts and shows, but also boasts a year-round line-up of superb theatre productions, comedy stand-up shows, and stage performances. Read on to find out which shows you should see – say hi if you see us in the audience too! RECOMMENDED: How about checking out some music gigs, concerts, and festivals coming up in town?

Whether it’s street photography spots or world-class art galleries, Hong Kong is a city that’s bursting with creativity – thanks to the incredible art scene filled with local and international talents. To narrow things down and help you be well on your way to true culture vulture status (and level up your Insta-feed along the way), here are some of the best ongoing and upcoming art shows to visit around town. RECOMMENDED: Discover Hong Kong’s coolest hidden art spaces or pay a visit to the city’s top museums.

Chocolates are a must-have for any occasion, so instead of settling for something you could easily grab from the convenience store, treat yourself to a decadent selection from one of these stores below. From irresistible truffles to crunchy pralines, follow our guide to discover the best chocolate shops in Hong Kong.  RECOMMENDED: Looking for more sweets? Take a look at our ultimate guide to traditional desserts in Hong Kong!

If you believe Hong Kong is a cultural desert when it comes to visual arts, think again! Explore nooks and crannies around town and you’ll find there’s actually art everywhere in our metropolis – as long as you know where to look. From art institutions that gather up-and-coming local talents under one roof to international galleries featuring works by established artists, there’s plenty to satisfy your cultural cravings. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a handy guide to some of the most interesting art spots to kick off your journey as a bona fide culture vulture. RECOMMENDED: Check out our pick of the best art exhibitions in Hong Kong for inspiration and discover an abundance of incredible art

As with any multifarious city in the world, Hong Kong presents plenty of riddles – the ambiguity and confusion make up part of our charm. Whether you’re a born-and-bred local or someone who’s been around enough to consider yourself a Hongkonger, there’s no doubt that we’ve all searched for answers to these questions at least once. Have we missed anything from the list? Recommended:  🍽️ Hong Kong oldest restaurants that you should visit 🎥 100 Best Hong Kong movies to watch 🙌🏼 Most incredible things to do in Hong Kong

We often go through life with our senses being constantly assailed by sights, smells, sounds, and sensations, but us city folk are just desensitised so we’re not overwhelmed. Something eye-catching may easily draw our attention, or a particularly noxious smell might hit us in the face, but sounds tend to fade into the background of our consciousness, only to suddenly resurface as strong memories when we hear certain earworms again. Here are some particularly Hong Kong sounds and noises that all of us will instantly recognise. RECOMMENDED: 🗣️ Cantonese slang you should know🇭🇰 The 12 signs of being a true Hongkonger🍘 Hong Kong’s best local childhood snacks and sweets

Since the Lunar New Year occurred earlier this year, it might have felt like a while since we’ve had a good festivity. Well, the Ching Ming Festival is right around the corner! Celebrated on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this year Ching Ming falls on Friday, April 4 of the Gregorian calendar. As one of the most important and reverent festivals to Chinese people, it’s well worth knowing about so read on before the festival comes around! RECOMMENDED: Check out this list of public holidays coming up this year, and start planning your AL

Ask any Hongkonger and they will tell you that Leslie Cheung is one of Hong Kong’s lost gems, with debonair charm and striking presence, heightened by a baby-faced sweetness. This musical and film legend is also a major queer icon and was open about being bisexual in a time when ideals were more conservative. It’s been over 20 years since the singer-slash-actor passed away and so, to pay homage to ‘Gor Gor’ (a loveable nickname Leslie Cheung is often referred to), we’ve gathered a few of the most iconic films he has starred in over the years. RECOMMENDED: Check out our list of the 100 best Hong Kong movies – that’s many, many weekends’ worth of plans sorted!

When we saw that the newly reopened JPS Gallery is hosting an exhibition by Joe Foti, we jumped at the chance to see his work up close. Fashion plates may recognise Foti more as the designer overseeing the art and science division of luxury brand Chrome Hearts, but he’s also known as the artist who creates visually stunning, chaotic pieces of art that feature plenty of skulls, aliens, dinosaurs, genitalia, and more in a mashup of outlandishness that is as bizarre as it is familiar. It’s easy to imagine Foti, dressed in black with a long ponytail, as part of a motorcycle gang as much as the artistic type. He’s soft spoken but most definitely a storyteller and a yapper. Despite his aversion to smiling at the camera, there’s a vulnerable youthfulness to the 63-year-old’s eyes and a childlike curiosity in the way he expresses himself – and yet his art contains so much colourful sexuality that a mother would probably turn her kids around if they wandered into a Foti show. And even though he’s lived in Japan for years and is married to Japanese artist and his long-time collaborator Mayumi Foti, he’ll take pasta over a bowl of ramen any day. Read on to suss out this contradictory artistic name, his intriguing body of works, and how Joe Foti clearly longs for the days of old-school Americana.

The internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil is coming to town on the first stop of their Asia tour – this will be the troupe’s first appearance in Hong Kong since 2018. Their Kooza show first started in 2007 and toured in more than 70 cities across 23 countries before being relaunched in 2022 with new production elements. Expect to see high-flying acrobatics and whimsical characters amidst gorgeous sets, highlighted by the lavish costumes and powerful music that Cirque du Soleil has always been known for. This new production also includes a solo aerial silk performance, a repertoire of Icarian games, and a high-octane diabolo act with a triple world champion – all never seen before in Hong Kong.  Since there has been overwhelming demand, the Cirque du Soleil has extended Kooza’s run for an additional three weeks, so the show will be in town until July 13. Tickets run from $450 to $1,998 – VIP ticket holders can enjoy the exclusive bar and appetisers an hour before the show starts and during intermission. 

NCT subunit boy group NCT Dream is coming back to town after their Hong Kong concert last summer. After kicking off their ‘The Dream Show 4: Dream The Future’ tour in Seoul, the seven-piece band will move on to Bangkok before coming to us, then performing in Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur until the end of this year. This also marks the first time that a K-pop act will hold a show in the Kai Tak Stadium, so mark your calendars for August 30! Ticketing details will be announced at a later date.

Make like the ancient Chinese literati and sit down to enjoy an hour of tea and music – you have permission to feel cultured and superior while doing it. Aptly held at the Tea House Theatre in the Xiqu Centre, a string quintet from the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will play several pieces from classic Chinese music, from delicate harmonies to thunderous melodies. The auditory experience will be enhanced by tea master Lu Yuanyuan, who will offer different types of Chinese tea to be paired with different musical pieces. Head to West Kowloon on May 31 – tickets are available for $260.

British rising pop artist Henry Moodie is embarking on his first-ever headline tour in Asia, starting off in Kuala Lumpur before taking the stage in Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. At just 21 years old, he has already been one of the most-viewed UK artists on TikTok in 2022 and 2024 (joining the likes of Central Cee, Charli XCX, and Coldplay), and following on from his second EP Good Old Days last October, is planning on releasing his debut album this year. Catch Moodie at the Kitty Woo Stadium on July 28 – tickets start from $599, with meet-and-greet VIP packages available. 

M+ rounds off their spring season with everyone’s favourite late-night museum party on June 6. There’ll be a mix of pop, jazz, and a capella live performances this time, featuring local singer Serrini, jazz collective Fountain de Chopin playing music from the Blue Giant score, and more. The organisers of several Cantopop party events will also be spinning behind the decks, so expect a good amount of retro Cantonese music on the DJ setlists. As unusual, M+ at Night partygoers can also access all general admission galleries in the museum – tickets will be on sale for $280 from May 26 onwards, with early-bird and student discounts available.

This month marks the Hong Kong debut of ‘Corps extrêmes’, a show of extreme sports and dance by Rachid Ouramdane that has been named one of the best dance performances of 2023 by The New York Times. 10 talented artists, including acclaimed Italian highliner Luca Chiarva and American climber Ann Raber Cocheril, will explore the human desire for weightlessness by leaping, twirling, flying, and scaling walls. The production is also enhanced with projections, spoken word, and a musical score that will probably put the fear of vertigo in you. Tickets are available from $320 to $580.

Italian restaurant Casa Sophia Loren has launched an entertainment programme that blends high-energy theatre with the flavours of southern Italy. Inspired by the 1955 romantic comedy Scandal in Sorrento (starring Sophia Loren, of course), this theatrical supper will run on the last Saturday of every month, featuring dancers playing the role of fishermen’s wives, dynamic routines, and sultry vocals. Guests are invited to join in the revelry or, if you’re not a fan of audience participation, soak in the enchantment from their tables. Tickets go for $888 per person, which includes appetisers, mains, and a shared dessert platter, with the option to add on a three-hour free-flow package.

The Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) presents a new production of Giselle, starring a lineup of world-renowned guest dancers and accompanied by the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong under the baton of Fayçal Karoui. HKB’s artistic director Septime Webre and South African ballet artist Charla Glenn team up to breathe new life into this story of love, betrayal, and redemption, for nine performances only at the end of this month. This new show will feature beautiful costumes and sets by the designer Jérôme Kaplan, including a castle inspired by the Château de Pierrefond and cottages modeled after Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine hamlet at Versailles. Giselle is to be staged on Fridays to Sundays from May 30 to June 8 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

When is Chinese calligraphy not actually calligraphy? Well, when it comes from Xu Bing’s brush, apparently. This Chinese artist is well known for what he calls ‘square word calligraphy’, which he developed in 1993 – it looks remarkably similar to Chinese characters but a closer look will reveal English words that have been deliberately designed and drawn to confuse the mind. This exhibition includes linguistic features and greetings unique to Hong Kong, as well as the Square Word Calligraphy Classroom, which provides writing tools and copybooks for visitors to attempt Xu’s special writing system.

Among the three recent Oi! Spotlight exhibitions is renowned Japanese contemporary artist Toyofuku Ryo’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. His Golden Tearoom is an elegant space filled with over 200 drawings of elements in Hong Kong life. Take your time identifying everything from local dishes to the clown motif for Ocean Park’s Hair Raiser rollercoaster. There is also the Golden Playroom, where visitors are invited to interact and engage with each other through board games and electronic elements. This area is also full to the brim with distinctly local items such as Red A plastic lampshades, golden dragon sculptures often seen in banquet restaurants, metal containers for ‘airplane olive’ snacks, and more.

One of Hong Kong’s most unforgettable and unique creatives, local first-generation performance artist Frog King has an intriguing exhibition in Mercury Recalls. This Causeway Bay bar is housing a range of two-dimensional ink art as well as some dizzying multi-dimensional new media art, inspired by the Akashic records – believed by the Theosophical religious group to contain all universal events and thoughts that have and will occur. Swirls, lights, and shapes reflect the intangible concept of collective subconsciousness, and since it’s being hosted in a bar, there will also be a special range of cocktails to accompany the art. To gain access, guests at Mercury Recalls must show a token to unlock the speakeasy-style space Corsican Stars hidden inside, where Frog King’s works lie in wait.

Split across the three stories of Kiang Malingue’s building, artist Ho Tzu Nyen alludes to the realms of heaven, earth, and the netherworld with three bodies of work. Night March of Hundred Monsters features video installations that are an animated encyclopedia of monsters and yōkai from Japanese folklore; meanwhile, O for Opium uses materials across various mediums to present the image of opium and its trade. The final section consists of 43 individual screen-based ‘Timepieces’ that explore how time can be paradoxically physical and all-encompassing. A truly expansive and thought-provoking collection of work.

Be absorbed into the vastness of space at the Hong Kong Space Museum, which has launched a brand-new sky show in their circular dome-like Space Theatre. The ‘Starmap to the Unseen Universe’ show takes audiences on a journey that traverses space and time across 13.8 billion years in search of the universe’s origin. The Milky Way is a galaxy that comprises hundreds of billions of stars, including the solar system that we exist in. Our Sun is just one of the stars within this immense cosmic system – how’s that for feeling like an inconsequential speck? This space show, however, explores beyond the boundaries of the solar system and out towards the spiral arms of the Milky Way. Audiences can experience the birth and death of stars, see the all-consuming power of a black hole, and witness the collision and merging of galaxies into an even larger galaxy. Photograph: Courtesy To the Unseen Universe Production Committee Catch ‘Starmap to the Unseen Universe’ in the Hong Kong Space Museum until November 14. Tickets are priced at $30 for front seats and $40 for stalls, available on Urbtix and the museum box office. Do note that the museum is closed on Tuesdays, and check out details of the show here. 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: Bar Leone’s Lorenzo Antinori to open a Cuban-inspired bar in Hong Kong Jimmy O. Yang movies and shows to watch if you aren’t going to his Hong Kong s

How did the scramble for Jimmy O. Yang tickets go for you? If you managed to grab tickets to see the Hong Kong-American comedian’s first Asian show, then good for you! If, however, you’re part of the many fans who were left disappointed, then at least we’re in the same boat. Read on for a list of movies and TV shows to watch starring O. Yang – at least you’ll still get some chuckles this way! Crazy Rich Asians (2018) Arguably the one movie that put Jimmy O. Yang on most people’s radars. This romcom box office hit put Singapore on everyone’s travel bucket list, and was the first film out of a major Hollywood studio to feature a majority cast of Chinese descent. For those who haven’t yet seen it (where have you been hiding?) the film follows Rachel Chu (played by Constance Wu) who meets her boyfriend Nick’s (Henry Golding) family, only to find out that they’re wealthy enough to be modern-day Singaporean royalty. Jimmy O. Yang stars as Bernard Tai, Nick’s obnoxious friend. Love Hard (2021) Christmastime is full of cheesy movies, and this one should be on your list. A portmanteau of two of the most-loved Christmas movies – Love Actually and Die Hard – Love Hard follows Natalie (played by Nina Dobrev) who travels to surprise her online crush for Christmas, only to find she has been catfished. Josh is actually Jimmy O. Yang, using photos of his hunky friend Tag (Darren Barnet), but he asks Natalie to pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays in return for setting her up with

Hong Kong-American comedian and actor Jimmy O. Yang visited our city for a short trip back in March and got a good deal of attention for his videos on food, experiences, as well as meetings with local stars Dayo Wong and Chow Yun-fat. Fans were in his comments clamouring for a Hong Kong leg on his tour, and O. Yang has now finally confirmed his first stand-up show in our city.  Has Jimmy O. Yang added another date to his Hong Kong show AGAIN? Yes, he has! With both pre-sales and general sales for his shows selling out in minutes, O. Yang has very graciously appeased his Hong Kong fans by adding another two more shows on Sunday, June 15, at 3pm and 8.15pm. When do tickets for this round of additions get released? Unlike before, there will no longer be any pre-sale sessions for this final round of additional shows. All tickets will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday, May 20 – so let’s all take a deep breath before diving into the horror of online ticketing queues again. Top tips for scoring Jimmy O. Yang tickets With loads of fans left unsatisfied through two rounds of ticket sales, it looks like tomorrow might be a bit of a blood bath. Here are some tips to help maximise your chances for getting your hands on tickets to O. Yang’s comedy show! All tickets will be sold on Urbtix, so if you haven’t done so already, make sure you’ve created an account and are signed in before sales open. No faffing around to input your email and password when you’re on a time crunch! Make sure your in

Hongkongers of a certain age might remember the Haw Par Mansion and its adjoining Tiger Balm Garden, a green space built in the mid-1930s by a wealthy Chinese-Burmese family that was later open to the public as an amusement park. The grounds were filled with sculptures and dioramas of scenes and characters from Chinese mythology, but the pièce de résistance for many was its gory depictions of the levels of hell. Those who have experienced it will remember seeing artwork of grimacing sinners being fried in vats of boiling oil, climbing a mountain of blades, being tied to red-hot pillars, having their tongues ripped out, and more. The Tiger Balm Garden was eventually demolished in 2004, but now, a whole new generation of Hongkongers also gets to go through this traumatic lesson on karma!  The Haw Par Mansion guided tour is launching a brand-new exhibition titled ‘Virtual Reality: The ‘Ten Courts of Hell’ of Tiger Balm Garden’, which reconstructs the former fiery exhibit using a VR metaverse platform. Through VR headsets, visitors can explore the details of the old murals, as well as interact with them to learn about the cultural and historical contexts behind the Buddhist concept of hell. There will also be displays and video works to accompany this new exhibition. Interested visitors can sign up to join the guided tours of the Haw Par Mansion for free, held four times each day from Fridays to Sundays. This includes being brought through the private garden and the mansion’s int

Most people who’ve been in a museum will know that you’re not supposed to take pictures in these institutions because flash photography can be harmful to artefacts. However, this new exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) positively welcomes visitors and their selfies, specially creating rooms full of immersive photo spots inspired by Chinese art. ‘The Ways in Patterns’ is jointly organised by the HKPM and the Palace Museum in Beijing, themed around traditional patterns from the Palace Museum’s architecture, ceramics, and textiles. Instead of having artefacts, artworks, and historical objects on display, this exhibition features seven immersive spaces that burst into life with projections of colourful Chinese motifs like waves, clouds, florals, birds, and more. Make peaches and flowers bloom, observe crashing waves, see a dragon emerge from a caisson ceiling, and walk along the crimson-walled alleys of the Forbidden City (plus, look out for the resident cat). Don’t leave without creating your own bird or fish to let loose onto the digital canvas, where it will live on the walls of the exhibition. Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Palace Museum While fun to interact with, a closer look into these thematic spaces will reveal motifs and patterns that carry auspicious meanings and therefore are often used in Chinese designs. A great way to continue the art journey is to head into other exhibitions in the HKPM to see where else you can find these common patterns. ‘The Way

Hong Kong’s favourite outdoor international music festival Clockenflap is gearing up for its return once again. Though the festival is always held towards the end of the year, they’ve just announced the first round of musical acts, and released a limited number of early-bird tickets. The initial lineup includes Indonesian rap star Rich Brian, legendary Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, British singer-songwriter Jacob Collier, indie folk singer Passenger, and former Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons. Artists from closer to home include Taiwanese star Yoga Lin, Hong Kong’s own Panther Chan, Japanese indie pop group Chilli Beans, Thai indie singer Phum Viphurit, and more – as well as the return of local mythical post-punk legends, Bitter Tea of General Yeng, after 40 years away from the stage! Early-bird tickets are on sale right now, available until the end of the day on May 23. Three-day passes are available at the early-bird price of $1,790, while single-day tickets can also be purchased at $1,150 each. Festivalgoers under 18 years old can also get tickets at a discounted price. Keep an eye out for more lineup releases, news, and other Clockenflap details 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: Crayon Shinchan takes over Kai Tak Mall with huge Interactive exhibition French Impressionism inspired this surreal, dream-like parade in Tai Kwun Jimmy O. Yang announces an add

As part of the French May Arts Festival, Tai Kwun is bringing a touch of European splendour to the heart of Hong Kong. Over the course of several evenings, head to the main Parade Ground inside the heritage compound of Tai Kwun to see dreamy performances and sumptuous costumes inspired by the Impressionist artworks of Renoir and Degas. The street parade-like Le Bal is produced by Remue Ménage, a company specialising in visual arts, circus, dance, and puppetry, under the command of founder and artistic director Loic Delacroix, who has worked as a professional circus artist himself – so if there’s a group that knows about putting on a transportative performance, it is this one. Featuring lampshade-like costumes that light up, horse-drawn carriages, stilt-walkers, mysterious dancers, and circus performers, Le Bal transports visitors back to the late 1800s’ elegance of La Belle Époque. This era in French and European history was characterised by enlightenment, romanticism, and cultural innovation when the arts, literature, music, and theatre all flourished – and this special performance is a surreal and sublime tribute to French beauty. Entrance to Le Bal is free, so make your way to Tai Kwun from now to 18, where the street performance will take over the main courtyard between 6pm to 6.30pm, followed by 7.30pm to 8pm. 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: Jimmy O. Yang announces

The last time we had a major football club come to Hong Kong was when Inter Miami CF played in an exhibition match early last year and, well, we all remember how well that went. But footie fans have much to celebrate this year, as it’s been confirmed that Premier League clubs Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, and Tottenham Hotspur FC, as well as the Serie A club AC Milan will all be playing pre-season friendly matches this summer as part of the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025. When will tickets for Liverpool and AC Milan be released? Tickets for the Standard Chartered Trophy match between Liverpool and AC Milan will be on sale as scheduled: Friday, May 2, at 10am: Pre-sale for Liverpool and AC Milan’s official fan club members – for their respective fan zone seating only Friday, May 2, at 12 noon: Pre-sale for Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong credit card holders Friday, May 9, at 12 noon: TEG Sport pre-registered fans access Monday, May 12, at 10am: Tickets open to general public Some tickets to the match will also be available as part of Trip.com’s ticket, travel, and accommodation packages – these will be released from Wednesday, April 30. Photograph: Courtesy Paul Ellis / AFP How much are tickets to the Liverpool vs AC Milan match? There are six ticket tiers in total to choose from. Category A: $2,499 Category B: $1,999 Category C (including Liverpool fan zone 1, and AC Milan fan zone): $1,699 Category D (including Liverpool fan zone 2): $1,299 Category E: $799 Category F:

Lady Gaga might be going to Singapore for her concert, but the queen is making an appearance in Hong Kong in another way: with the much-awaited launch of her own cosmetics brand Haus Labs. For ages, Hongkongers have seen beauty influencers beauty influencers raving about the products on social media but never had a chance to purchase them on our shores, until now. Beauty retail giant Sephora is stocking Haus Labs by Lady Gaga products exclusively in Hong Kong, and the products can now be found in stores at IFC, Windsor House, and K11 Art Mall, as well as online on the Sephora website. Haus Labs is known for its clean, scientifically driven, vegan, and cruelty-free formulas. The full lineup of 125 products include fan favourites such as the Triclone Skin Tech Foundation, the PhD Hybrid Nourishing Lip Oil, and the Color Fuse Blush Powder. In particular, Haus Labs’ bestseller is their foundation which contains over 20 skincare ingredients including fermented arnica, known to reduce redness and inflammation. It’s a medium coverage formula, but apparently feels lightweight and gives a dewy finish that looks like you just naturally have good genes. Along with their popular lip oil, the brand has launched the new PhD Hybrid Plumping Lip Glaze, a product with ‘polyplumper peptide complex’ and vegan collagen that claims to be a lip oil, balm, plumper, and gloss all in one. Which of Haus Labs’ products are you swatching first in Sephora? Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out

You’re not really a true Hongkonger until you tick off certain boxes, and one of them is that you should always have an umbrella in your bag. Hong Kong’s weather can be unpredictable, intensely sunny one moment and then pouring it down the next – like today, for instance. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has issued a thunderstorm alert and warned that a trough of low pressure is bringing intense thundery showers to the area today. According to updates posted just before 11am on May 9, severe squally thunderstorms and violent gusts are expected to hit within the next couple of hours and affect the territories. Rainfall and northerly winds will be stronger in some areas of Hong Kong, with gusts of approximately 80km per hour recorded on Green Island around 11.05am. Our city’s weather watchdog has also warned the public to “seek safe shelter immediately if you are staying outdoors”. The current forecast shows that thunderstorms will continue along the coast of southern China today and tomorrow, and the rain is likely to persist through the weekend. At least temperatures will cool off slightly, with the weather looking to improve from Sunday into early next week. Keep an eye on the weather forecast on HKO’s 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: Discovery Bay launches a pet-friendly bus service Haus Labs by Lady Gaga has finally launched in Hong Kong Books For Love @ $10 r

The resort-like residential town of Discovery Bay has always been filled with laid-back families and their furry friends, but they’re now upping the game even further with pet-friendly bus services. Starting from May 11, pet owners and their companions can hop on DB Pet Buses to and from Discovery Bay. For now, this new service will run during four Sundays – namely May 11, June 8, September 14, and October 12 – bringing visitors to the pet-friendly Sunday markets that are happening on those weekends. There will be two routes servicing several areas in the territories: the PBD1 running from Tseung Kwan O to DB Plaza via Kai Tak, and the PBD2 running from Tuen Mun to DB Plaza via Tsuen Wan West.  A round-trip ticket for one passenger and one pet will cost $68, while a ticket for two passengers with a maximum of two pets will cost $136. Tickets can be purchased on the KMB App1933, which will generate a QR code to be shown when boarding the buses. The official partner for this pet bus, veterinary centre VetiVa, will also be bringing its dog ambassadors Max, Momo, Lesley, and Bosley to join the fun on the bus on May 11. With furry friends in tow, spend relaxing Sundays exploring Discovery Bay’s market and dining out at the town’s range of pet-friendly restaurants. The Sunday market on May 11 in particular will be simultaneously Mother’s Day- and pet-themed, with over 60 vendors selling handmade crafts, unique gifts, pet products, and more. VetiVa will also be there to offer free h

Bookworms, our time has come! Swire Properties’ annual Books For Love @ $10 is returning with its bookish charity sale over two weekends in May. This event is now in its 13th edition, promoting reading culture and an enduring love of words in Hongkongers, whether they read in English or Chinese. Hopefully you’ll have already donated some books to their cause earlier this year, but if you haven’t, support their efforts by choosing from over 300,000 pre-loved books – they’ll all only cost $10 each. As if that’s not already incentive enough, the 2025 edition will also offer a ‘buy 10, get two free’ promotion! Where else can you get 12 books for $100? Fans of the Star Wars franchise should visit on May 9, as the 501st Hong Kong Garrison Legion returns in full costume to give out limited-edition bookmarks and offer photo opportunities with Stormtroopers, Darth Vader, and other characters. Local comic artist Lobintan will run a special Mother’s Day workshop on May 11 for crafting Mother’s Day cards, while Hong Kong illustrator Dustykid will make an appearance for an interactive Q&A session on May 16. Little ones are also encouraged to dress up as their favourite book characters on May 11 and 18, when there’ll be a costume catwalk, games sessions, and prizes for the best-dressed. This year’s theme is ‘Happiness Begins with Reading’ and we couldn’t agree more. Grab your tote bags and head over to Cambridge House and Berkshire House, from May 8 to 11 and May 15 to 18. Stay in the loo