Things to do in Hong Kong over New Year: go on a hike, watch a local film at the cinema, take some ‘me time’ and more
- The Post’s Lifestyle and Culture editors offer their top tips for how to usher in 2023 – with friends or with some well-deserved ‘me time’ at the spa
- A hike is a good shout for those who are active, there are great Hong Kong movies to see, and if you fancy some screen time we have just the games for you
Not going away this holiday season? Luckily, Hong Kong still has plenty to offer. Here are some top tips from the Post’s Lifestyle and Culture editors for how to usher in 2023 with friends or some well-deserved me time.
Food and drinks
’Tis the season for indulging, of course, and fortunately for the gluttonous there is plenty to eat and drink in Hong Kong throughout the holidays. Even if you haven’t managed to book a splashy dinner or debauched drinks countdown for December 31, there are many ways to sate your stomach around the city.
At this time of year, I’m a big proponent of savouring the great outdoors during the cooler weather and tacking on a food expedition at the end of it.
The newly opened Cross Bay Link bridge between Tseung Kwan O and Lam Tin tunnel in the New Territories presents an opportunity to feel the breeze in your hair as you cycle across the water, and the TKO waterfront is the ideal perch for enjoying a coffee alfresco at the end of it.
Lai Chi Wo is becoming known for its home-grown coffee, and you’ll often spot the beans drying in the sun alongside other village specialities such as turmeric.
Charmaine Mok
Health and wellness
With our minds in motion we think more creatively, our mood improves and stress levels fall.
To wind up the old year and ring in the new, why not give yourself a good dose of this simple, life-enhancing, health-building prescription?
Its eight sections, which include large swathes of the recently developed waterfront promenades in Wan Chai and North Point, measure from 3.5km to 12km, each with its own difficulty rating. Sign up for the ongoing Coastal Trail Challenge; it ends on January 31.
Divided into 10 sections, the 92km Tinworth Trail runs from Sha Tau Kok, near the boundary with mainland China in the northeast, to the village of Tai O on Lantau in the southwest – with 5,000 metres of elevation in between.
Cathy Hilborn Feng
Film
2022 has been one of the most exciting years for Hong Kong cinema in a very long time, with a number of first-time filmmakers turning out feature debuts of undeniable merit.
Edmund Lee
Leisure
We live in strange times – at least in comparison with the pre-protest, pre-pandemic past. And now we must confront an even more existential set of problems, chief among them climate breakdown and a catastrophic loss of biodiversity.
Nevertheless, many in wealthy, safe (for most) Hong Kong have a great deal to be grateful for, and where better to contemplate our good fortune than atop one of the plentiful peaks and high vantage points the city is blessed with?
The best way to hike Lamma’s wild side this summer
This year, at what is hopefully the beginning of the post-pandemic era, why not seek out a lofty vantage point – perhaps along one of the city’s four official long trails (MacLehose, Wilson, Lantau and Hong Kong) – and contemplate what the 21st century Hongkonger has to be grateful for while taking in the majesty of our remaining wild spaces?
You may then find yourself better equipped to deal with whatever weirdness 2023 and the Year of the Rabbit may bring.
Mark Footer
Arts
And don’t forget to tune into the countdown extravaganza featuring pianist Niu Niu and Hong Kong taiko drumming group Gekko, live-streamed on the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s YouTube and Facebook pages on December 31 at 11.45pm.
Enid Tsui
Beauty
Whether you’re planning a big night out and want to look your best or just enjoy some “me time”, a facial is a great way to unwind and improve your appearance.
If you’re a fan of clean skincare, and gentle and effective treatments, The Chaless, a spa on Aberdeen Street in Central, offers a quick facial – it only lasts 45 minutes – with products from Canadian skincare brand Minimis, which you get to keep after the session.
The Ultimate Hydrating Skin Programme is available in two packages: the first option (HK$1,375) comes with a set of two full-size Minimis items; the second option (HK$1,575) also includes The Minis, a travel set with all four of the steps in the Minimis skincare range. Available at The Chaless, Aberdeen Street, Central, tel: 2997 6389.
Vincenzo La Torre
Digital entertainment
Though released in February, Elden Ring (PlayStation, Xbox, PC) is still one of the best video games of 2022, having recently picked up Game of the Year at this year’s The Game Awards.
Director Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin (of Game of Thrones fame) jointly created a world so vast and full of details that it is possible to discover new ways of playing even after spending hundreds of hours on the game.
The past couple of months have seen a few old – but good – titles remastered. Persona 5 Royal (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch) is the upgraded version of Persona 5 that came out in 2019. A must for any Japanese RPG fans, not only does the game have a fun combat system but also an engaging story.
Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII is an even older game (released in 2007) but one that is well worth revisiting. Created by Tetsuya Nomura, this is the prequel to the all-time classic Final Fantasy VII and features some of the most popular characters in the entire FF franchise. The slot-machine-like combat system is still one of the weirdest in video game history.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, considered one of the best RPGs in the past decade, just received a next gen update and it’s free for those who already have the game on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S and PC. With better graphics, the open world looks even more stunning and there is now exclusive gear to be had.
Kevin Kwong
