Why Santa dawdles in Hong Kong
If you really want to enjoy the last days of the year with family and friends to the fullest, head for Hong Kong. It’s a popular destination for Thai revellers during the festive season.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board has made a shortlist of eight exciting ideas, including two places to dine.
Find out more at www.DiscoverHongKong.com/eng.
PULSE LIGHT FESTIVAL
The Hong Kong Pulse Light Festival has light-art installations from around the world to delight visitors of all ages. It starts today at the Central Harbourfront and Tamar Park and continues into February.
CHRISTMAS TREASURES
Be amazed by a 60-foot Christmas tree and a 40-metre-long Christmas bridge festooned with heart-shaped “love locks” you can purchase with a partner and seal your affections.
Continuing until January 1 on Level 3 of the Ocean Terminal at Harbour City, it’s a picture-perfect place to record precious moments with loved ones.
Also featured is the world’s largest video kaleidoscope, a surreal world of dynamic Christmas-theme scenery.
A DISNEY CHRISTMAS
Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island is livelier than ever every day until January 1 from 10.30am to 8pm (Fridays and Saturdays until 10) with multimedia shows, streets aglow with magical lights, music and heart-warming moments.
Capture all the cherished moments with your family, and especially with your favourite Disney friends dressed in their holiday finery.
SNOW VILLAGE
In the Village Square and Bodhi Square of Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, you can sprawl out on the powdered ground and make a snow angel and then lace up your skates for a romp on the outdoor rink.
It truly will be a White Christmas from December 1 to January 1.
TONG CHONG STREET MARKET
The market in Taikoo Place at Quarry Bay is an annual affair offering everything from fresh farmers’ produce to cooking tips and the latest food-and-beverage trends.
The market this season returns with a more exciting collection of stalls selling homegrown food, unconventional packaged food and fresh seasonal produce.
That’s every Sunday until February 17, except December 2, 23, 30 and February 3, from 11am to 5pm.
LEE LO MEI
An up-and-coming restaurant featured on the local TV series “Lueat Khon Khon Chang” (“In Family We Trust”) boasts a bar on the ground floor serving astonishing cocktails crafted by an all-star team of locally born bartenders.
The restaurant is furnished with artwork depicting old Hong Kong, replete with mah-jong tiles, birdcages and amah bags. The space is colourful and lively and at the same time full of nostalgia. It’s famous for premium-quality dishes that elevate and redefine Hong Kong street food.
Lee Lo Mei is at 8 Lyndhurst Terrace in Central district and open daily from noon to midnight (Fridays and Saturdays until 2am).
AIA CARNIVAL
Blending elements of a traditional European carnival with futuristic sights, sounds and technology, the AIA Carnival is filled with top-flight events and festivities to please the whole family.
On offer are fantastic rides, all sorts of toys, “Carnival Eats” by celebrity chef Christian Yang and a cast of entertainers, acrobats and circus superstars.
It’s scheduled for December 14 to February 17 (except January 11), daily from 11 to 11, at the Central Harbourfront Event Space 9 on Lung Wo Road.
TAI MO SHAN ADVENTURE
Nature lovers will enjoy Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest peak, ideal for leisurely strolls and adrenaline-pumping hikes alike. Rising 3,140 feet, Tai Mo Shan is made for custom-tailored hiking experiences that fit your interests and fitness level. Highly recommended is the Family Walk route.
To get to the starting point, use Exit A of the MTR Tsuen Wan Station, walk to the bus stop on Tai Ho Road North and catch Bus 51 to the Country Park stop on Tai Mo Shan Road.