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IT’S HARD to believe that we are already at the end of 2021 and Hong Kong is back to be one of the best cities in Southeast Asia to celebrate this special season. With a variety of activities and life in the new normal, there is a myriad of unique shopping, culinary and entertainment experiences to be found.
This year at the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) brought back a giant Christmas Tree at Art Park, WKCD as a continuation of the “Hong Kong Neighborhood” program series. The 20-meter-tall Christmas tree has been erected since November 26 at 17.00 HKT.
According to the Executive Director of HKTB, Dane Cheng said that every year many visitors choose Hong Kong as their main destination for their winter vacation. This year, HKTB brought back the signature Christmas Tree to WKCD to attract more visitors to the cultural arts landmarks and Christmas Town to celebrate this year’s winter.
Although at this time overseas visitors cannot visit Hong Kong in person, HKTB continues to present festive decorations throughout the city of Hong Kong and organizes exciting seasonal events that can be accessed via the HKTB website for audiences around the world.
Christmas Town in West Kowloon
The M+ site in West Kowloon, which has just opened, is a new landmark in Hong Kong. This year, M+ is at the heart of the WinterFest celebration. With stunning views of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline, this harborside park will be transformed into Christmas Town, with eight ornate Santa Lodges for photos encircling a 20-meter-tall Christmas tree.
This year, the six-story tree has been moved from Central to West Kowloon for the first time. With a towering Christmas tree surrounded by Santa Lodges and festive decorations, this year’s Christmas Town is designed like the fantasy city of Colmar, France, which also resembles Howl’s Moving Castle, a world-famous animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
The Christmas tree stands 20 meters high, more or less like a six-story building. With festive music and lighting effects, the Christmas tree will grace the Victoria Harbor skyline and make the scene an unmissable Christmas icon.
There will be eight Santa Lodges in Christmas Town surrounded by small Christmas trees, golden reindeer and antique lights, offering visitors a European Christmas experience. Not only a new landmark in West Kowloon, Hong Kong also offers a unique shopping, culinary and entertainment experience that can be found in this year’s end season.
Shopping experience
Hong Kong has a well-deserved reputation as a shopping paradise, and you can find artisan places, and you can find hits, creatives and unique gifts. Not only that, you can also buy them online and make you remember your vacation trip in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong style Christmas tree decoration
The Lion Rock Press, a Hong Kong-inspired gift company, is 120 years old and started as a family business specializing in the paper and printing industry. They offer children’s toys and Christmas decorations using Hong Kong as inspiration for their quirky and cute designs.
For the little ones’ toys, there is a set of beautiful wooden dim sum decorations that will provide imaginative fun and for the Christmas tree, you will find beautiful ornaments inspired by the local Hong Kong culture.
Culinary
Apart from these important landmarks, there is plenty to do in Hong Kong during this festive period of the season. And now is the perfect time to sample some Hong Kong winter delicacies.
1. Kwan Kee Claypot Rice
You can’t miss Kwan Kee, an iconic Hong Kong restaurant known for its claypot rice. This restaurant became famous thanks to the ranks of foodies who recommend it to eat on a cold night.
This lively and bright restaurant serves a bowl of rice in a clay bowl cooked over a real charcoal fire, with added toppings such as spare ribs, black beans, sausage, egg or white eel.
2. Chop Chop
Grill specialty restaurant Chop Chop currently offers eight types of claypot rice, including minced beef with egg, chicken with Chinese yam and shitake mushrooms, and minced pork with anchovies and chestnuts.
3. Yung Kee
Hong Kong classics like roast goose are a tantalizing delicacy to enjoy with your loved ones. If you love Western roast goose, why not try the Cantonese version? Yung Kee is one of Hong Kong’s most iconic restaurants, with a history dating back to 1938.
After undergoing significant renovations this year, the interior was revamped, but their signature roast goose dish has never changed. With the perfect blend of pure fat, tender meat and crunchy skin, the goose is first smoked and then roasted in an oven using real charcoal to retain its distinctive flavour. It is served with sour plum sauce which completes the dish perfectly.
4. Drunken Pot
A hotpot restaurant with a nightclub feels, The Drunken Pot caters to a young crowd and hotpot enthusiasts. Known for their special presentation with a modern interior, they have a choice of up to five types of soup in one pot. This fresh modern hotpot restaurant has reinvented this classic Cantonese entertainment for a new generation.
5. Yi Hung Yuen
Located in the heart of Lan Kwai Fong, Yi Hung Yuen is every Instagram influencer’s dream with a moody bordello vibe complemented by dramatic neon lights, inspired by the classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber.
Classical music show
After a year of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong Countdown is back with a bang with a spectacular concert at West Kowloon’s Great Lawn. The event features performances from some of Hong Kong’s best local acts, as well as classic performances by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
The countdown event for the turn of the year will be displayed in the newly opened giant M+ building so that the public can welcome 2022 in unison. You are abroad? Does not matter. You can enjoy the enchanting concert live with exciting moments of the turn of the year through live streaming at https://www.discoverhongkong.com/countdown
If you have the opportunity to travel and enjoy the year-end experience in Hong Kong, don’t forget to complete the COVID-19 vaccination and maintain health protocols. [traveltext.id/photo special]
