There is so much going on each month in Hong Kong. From shopping to shows to kids’ activities, here’s our list of what’s new and happening around the city this season for all the family.
HK-inspired Reading
The next instalment of the Holly-Mei series by Christina Matula, The Not So-Simple Question, is out now! The series is about a Taiwanese British girl finding her place in a new world of private schools and frenemies when her family moves to Hong Kong. Inspired by her time studying at HKU, the author has packed these stories with humour and heart, while exploring themes of displacement, self-discovery and adolescent friendship that all middle-grade readers can relate to! Make sure to read The Not-So Uniform-Life of
Holly-Mei and The Not-So-Perfect Plan first; the third book will be on sale in April.
Say it with RokSaan
Earlier this year, the team behind The Lion Rock Press realised that in a world where digital connections are on the rise, there was still an innate desire for heartfelt, tangible expressions of love, gratitude and best wishes. So they set their minds to finding a way to bridge the gap between charming traditional card giving and technology. The result is RokSaan, a greeting card platform where local artists and creators can share their talents, and you can purchase personalised cards for all occasions. For as little as $59, senders can customise card designs, include their own message and photos (with an option to add a thoughtful, locally-sourced gift), and have the card sent directly to the recipient’s door. roksaan.com
A Staycation for Creatives
If you’re interested in an eclectic, creative and design-forward hotel, you’ll love the Mondrian Hong Kong. Designed by Karin Krautgartner of KK Design and a selection of local and international artists, this hotel aims to be a new HK icon, inspired by lively fishing villages and the city’s renowned tailors. The triangular windows offer sweeping harbour and island skyline views, the bathroom tiles reflect our pebbled beaches, and you’ll find beautiful fabrics, glass chandeliers, underwater creatures engraved along corridors, a water goddess mural and more. bit.ly/mondrianhk
Art That Won’t Break the Bank
This May, find some beautiful pieces for your home or enjoy exploring the world of art, style and creativity at the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong. Held in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 16 to 19 May, the Fair will feature loads of contemporary art along with new programmes and installations. Oh, and the thousands of artworks on display are all under $100,000!
affordableartfair.com/fairs/hong-kong
Community Connections
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Australian Association of Hong Kong! The warm and welcoming community started in 1954 and since then has been committed to connecting people and creating friendship networking opportunities, while also providing the chance to join social and sporting activities. Membership is open to all!
Join in this year at ozhongkong.com.
Uncovering Hong Kong
You could spend a lifetime discovering the interesting layers of Hong Kong. So to start you off, join one of the small group tours run by Angel, a local who is passionate about her home. Angel’s upcoming explorations include immersive experiences in Sham Shui Po and at the Aberdeen Dragon Boat Festival and Tai O Hau Wong Festival. All tours can be found at hkgreeters.com/group tours, and you can find out more by following @explore_hongkong.
History of a Harbour
The Hong Kong Maritime Museum (HKMM) has opened a special exhibition (until 15 May) focusing on the unique story of Victoria Harbour through the history of the vessels that plied its waters and their passengers. There’s everything from sampans, ferries and motorboats to working vessels like lighters, tugboats and barges. Enjoy the collections of photos, paintings, historical documents, ship models and talks, plus interactive elements, like getting a photo with a life size reconstruction of the old motorboat ticket booth, and a multimedia game “Travel by Walla-Walla” where you can charter a motorboat in a bygone era!
Worried about Web Fraud?
There’s been plenty of discussion about web fraud lately, so we’d like to draw your attention to a government website that can help you to see if you have been targeted by an online scammer. All you need to do is put some details into the search bar of this website: cyberdefender.hk/en-us.
A Few of Our Favourite Things
The international tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music will premiere on 16 April at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre. The beloved story of a governess called Maria who enters the lives of widowed Captain Von Trapp and his seven children, reintroducing them to music at a difficult time before World War II, is produced by the Broadway International Group. It’s a family musical about love, compassion, hope and survival.
Easy Access to Overseas Products
Missing some of your favourite everyday products from back home? Spot On Dealz is an online retailer that sources high-quality products from Europe, the UK, Japan, Korea and elsewhere and offers them right here in Hong Kong. Expect to find beauty and skincare items, cleaning products, furniture, electrical appliances, snacks, seasonal goods and more, which you can shop online, with free delivery for purchases of $250 or more. Spot On also has a physical store in Kowloon Bay with exclusive offers on children’s toys, household items and electronics, starting from just $10!
Special offer: Expat Living readers can enjoy 12 percent off at Spot On by using promotion code Expat12 (T&Cs apply).
More Wild Critters!
Hot off the success of Bugs of Hong Kong, author Robert Ferguson has released his latest book, a captivating guide to the remarkable wildlife found in HK. Did you know that there are 130 known species of dragonflies alone in our midst? Find out more interesting facts and scientific detail in Wild Creatures of Hong Kong, presented in a handy reference format. There’s a page for each animal including key identification features and stunning colour photos. Buy it from The Lion Rock Press, Bookazine and Robert’s website, wildcreatureshongkong.org
An Upcoming Mall
New shopping and office development AIRSIDE will have a soft opening in Q3 this year, featuring a 1.9 million square-foot skyscraper with 32 floors of office space and a 700,000-square-foot shopping mall. With a focus on sustainability, the mall offers visitors a one-stop shopping experience with convenient transport links and amenities including premium retail stores, F&B outlets, art and culture spaces, a cinema – even an indoor surfing centre! The mall is also pet friendly with dedicated dining outlets, stores and green spaces for fur-kids. Find out more at airside.com.hk.
VIP Club in Central
Recently opened on Lyndhurst Street in Central is Whale Club, an exclusive members-only club featuring VIP rooms, a bar and gallery, and a cigar room. Described as a private “playground” of luxe escapism in the heart of Hong Kong, members can kick back and enjoy plush comforts, like-minded company, culinary experiences, themed events, art and NFT showcases, game-playing and private celebrations – something to cater to every whim! Individual and corporate membership plans are available.
Visit whaleclub.vip or call 2506 0880 for more information.
Greener Transport
After two years in the making, the first pure electric public minibus from EV Dynamics has commenced service in Hong Kong. The APEX Mini is one of eight new models of electric minibus selected by the government for a trial of 40 minibuses across HK. It’s estimated there are around 3,000 Public Light Buses in operation, and despite some converting from LPG to diesel, they are still major air polluters in our crowded streets. The new minibus is the first pure electric, fully accessible public minibus in a new era of eco-friendly and socially inclusive public transportation. And that can only be good news!
Holistic Fitness
Renowned founder of Cookie DPT and CARBON, Wil Fang, has joined forces with three leading figures in the local fitness industry (Jess Shih, Soojin Leu, and Dan Yeung) to open holistic wellness destination Renation. Far from a regular gym, the expansive studio on the third floor at H Code in Pottinger Street, features four distinct areas, all designed to provide holistic offerings catered to different facets of wellness and health. At one end of the space, “Recycle” is dedicated to rhythmic cycling, and at the other, “Recondition” offers strength and conditioning classes. “Recover” offers an area to rest and stretch with the help of physiotherapists and sports masseuses and “Recharge” is a juice and smoothie bar where you can enjoy a signature Spirulina Colada and other healthy treats.
Find out more at renation.com.
Tales of India
Bhakti Mathur, author of the bestselling Amma, Tell Me series of children’s picture books, has released her fifth book in the series: Amma, Take Me to the Taj Mahal. This time, Amma, Shiv and Veer take the reader on a historical tour of the Mughal empire that led to the creation of the renowned Taj Mahal. Through questions and anecdotes, Amma tells her boys the stories of Babur’s invasion, Akbar’s great reign, and Shah Jahan’s undying love for Mumtaz, while peppering them with interesting titbits about what it took to create the architectural marvel. Available at Bookazine HK.
A Tribute to Hong Kong!
Premium stationer and gift brand The Lion Rock Press has launched the latest in its range of luxury 1000-piece double-sided jigsaw puzzles. Entitled “Tribute to Hong Kong”, the puzzle was created by The Lion Rock Press Founder Claire Yates alongside art therapist Katie Flowers, by cutting phrases and images from The South China Morning Post’s Post Magazine (diligently saved by Claire’s grandparents every week). The resulting collage depicts defining moments, forgotten details and unique idiosyncrasies in the form of icons, characters, street scenes, wildlife, well-loved foods and other familiar memories of Hong Kong from over the years.
Find it at online at thelionrockpress.com.
Take your shopping sky high
Cathay has opened its first experiential retail space bringing together everything you love about travel and lifestyle. Located in Hong Kong’s Cityplaza shopping mall, browse a whole range of carefully selected and special edition products including Cathay branded merchandise. When you shop in-store you can earn miles for your next trip. Use the Cathay app to scan the product QR codes, add the items to your shopping cart and select your preferred delivery or store pick-up option. Pay using Asia Miles, cash or a combination of both.
Read more here.
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