When is the next fireworks show in Hong Kong?

The next fireworks show in Hong Kong will begin at 8pm on January 30, 2025, at Victoria Harbour. The 23-minute-long Lunar New Year Fireworks Display will feature nine scenes created by over 23,000 pyrotechnic shells. The scenes will prominently feature the lucky red number eight, a tribute to the pandas at Ocean Park, and a finale called ‘Dance of the Golden Snake’ — a nod to the upcoming Year of the Snake. This year, the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai and the main HSBC building will also project an LED show that will play alongside the pyrotechnics extravaganza. Want to know all the details about the Chinese New Year fireworks? Click here.

Where to watch the Lunar New Year fireworks show

The Chinese New Year fireworks show will be visible to spectators on both sides of Victoria Harbour. Authorities say that some of the best free spots in Hong Kong to watch the fireworks show will be Tsim Sha Tsui, Mid-Levels, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, East Coast Park Precinct in Fortress Hill, and Hung Hom Bypass.

Image credits: Hong Kong Tourism Board

The weather will be windy with sunny periods during the week and temperatures will range between 15 degrees and 20 degrees, before dipping to 12 degrees in urban areas on Friday and dropping further in the New Territories. Parts of the city may also see light rain patches during the day. However, the weather will gradually get warmer early next week, with highs of 20 degrees predicted for Wednesday.

Last week, the observatory said that the next three months will be hotter and drier than usual due to climate warming, which caused a “significant long-term increase” in the city’s temperatures. This will lead to higher temperatures and lower rainfall levels between January and March this year.

Header image credits: Hong Kong Street View via Flickr

This comes after a report issued by the city’s meteorological body stating that the city experienced a much drier than usual December last year, logging 18.5 degrees Celsius as the monthly mean temperature — 0.3 degrees higher than expected in the month. There was hardly any rain during this period and there were 199.5 hours of sunshine — almost 38 hours more than usual for this period.

The Hong Kong Observatory also logged the warmest-ever autumn in 2024, with the mean temperature (26.5 degrees Celsius) and mean minimum temperature (24.5 degrees Celsius) being the highest on record for September to November last year. According to the United Nations, 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record, which will likely be confirmed when the World Meteorological Organization publishes its consolidated global temperature figure for 2024 later this month.

Image credits: Hong Kong Street View via Flickr

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AllRightsReserved (@arr.allrightsreserved)

The new display will have seven scenes, three of which will feature pyrotechnic effects like waterfalls and flashing lights. It will also have a tribute to Hong Kong’s expanded panda family — long-time residents Ying Ying and Le Le, Mainland China pandas An An and Ke Ke who recently made their debut at Ocean Park, and twin panda cubs who were born in August 2024. 

Spectators will also get to watch a scene that will represent the pandas taking a trip around Hong Kong to see sights such as a red-sailed junk boat, the city’s iconic trams, and the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui, among other symbols of the city. Each scene will last between 20 and 50 seconds. The organisers of the event, AllRightsReserved, have said that the show will take place off the promenade of West Kowloon District and will announce the vantage points at a later date.

Hong Kong is also set to have three fireworks shows in December as part of this year’s WinterFest celebrations, as well as its annual New Year’s Eve pyrotechnics display. This will be followed by the Lunar New Year fireworks show in late January, which is an integral part of the city’s Chinese New Year festivities.

Image and video credits: All Rights Reserved

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 香港麥當勞 McDonald's Hong Kong (@mcdonaldshk)

The famed McGriddles — which are popular at Japanese McDonald’s outlets — are made by sandwiching a slice of grilled sausage and cheese between two fluffy hotcakes infused with maple syrup. They made their Hong Kong debut in July this year, and more than 1 million were sold during the first three days after they went on sale in the city. However, they were temporarily dropped from menus in September, much to the disappointment of foodies in the city. 

The maple pancake burgers were part of McDonald’s breakfast menus and there were two versions — the original that cost HK$35 and an egg version priced at HK$36.50 when purchased as part of a set meal with a beverage and a hash brown. Customers could also buy them à la carte, with the classic McGriddle costing HK$21.50 and the egg upgrade HK$25.50. McGriddles are available on McDonald’s menus in the US, Canada, and Singapore, but the Japanese version is most popular among Hongkongers.

Header image credits: McDonald’s Hong Kong 

The city will get warmer as the cloud band covering southern China dissipates on Monday, but a dry northeast monsoon will keep the weather cool over coastal areas and cold in inland parts of Hong Kong. Temperatures in urban parts of the SAR will fall to as little as 14 degrees on Sunday, and humidity levels be as low as 30% in the first half of the week.

The observatory recorded the lowest temperatures of winter so far on Sunday, as the mercury fell to 13 degrees at Tsim Sha Tsui thanks to a surge in the northeast monsoon. Temperatures also plummeted to 3.1 degrees at Tai Mo Shan and hovered between 6 and 7 degrees at Ngong Ping and Tate’s Cairn.

For more weather updates, check the Hong Kong Observatory website.

Header image credits: oLDcaR via Flickr

Tada is known for its zero-commission model that allows drivers to retain a higher share of their earnings. It gives passengers the option of booking economy cabs and standard taxis with either fixed or metered fares. The platform also has a pet-friendly policy, but urges users to check with individual drivers about whether they are comfortable with animals in their vehicles.

There are three other ride-hailing in Hong Kong: Uber, Beijing-based Didi Chuxing, and Amap, which launched in Hong Kong earlier this year. These ride platforms operate in a grey area in the city as they are unregulated. Additionally, it is illegal for private vehicle drivers who don’t have hire-car permits to accept passengers. However, the government is exploring ways to regulate online hailing platforms.

Hong Kong’s taxi industry has come under a lot of heat in the past year, with increased fares and passengers complaining about drivers overcharging and refusing rides. Authorities also rolled out a demerit system that penalises cabbies who turn down passengers, overcharge, and take indirect routes to destinations.

Image credits: Tada

What is InnerGlow?

InnerGlow started in 2022 to bring creative and technical exponents of 3D architectural projection mapping technology to Hong Kong to transform the façades of Tai Kwun’s Barack Block at the Parade Ground with light and animation displays. Tai Kwun also runs a mentorship initiative called InnerGlow Searchlight that showcases work from student artists at D Hall at the Prison Yard and the wall opposite it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thehkhub.com (@hkhub)

When is InnerGlow 2025?

Next year’s edition of InnerGlow will take place from January 26-February 14, 2025. The full programme will be announced in December 2024. This year, Tai Kwun and its creative and technical partner The Electric Canvas will team up with Hong Kong new media artist Hung Keung, who will bring his distinctive sensibility and his profound interest in and knowledge of Chinese culture and literature to devise a vibrant visual journey at the Parade Ground. Local multimedia artist Ng Tsz Kwan will spearhead InnerGlow Searchlight, which will showcase nine works from student artists.

The display at the Parade Ground for InnerGlow 2024 was inspired by the Year of the Dragon and the Tai Hang Fire Dragon, and was projected on the Barack Block every half an hour from 6:30pm-9pm. This was followed by half-hourly InnerGlow Searchlight shows from 6.45pm-9.15pm at the Prison Yard.

Image credits: Tai Kwun, The HK HUB

The three-minute Pandastic Christmas show features 82,000 LED lights and invites spectators to watch the adventures of pandas on a mission to spread holiday cheer as they journey through the sky and race to a Christmas factory to prepare presents for everyone. Among the stars of the show are Panda Fufu and his new friend Panda Lili, both mascots of The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, who help deliver festive greetings to all.

This year’s light show is the latest in Sino Group’s long-standing tradition of transforming the city into a Christmas wonderland, making it one of the best Christmas displays in Hong Kong. The company has also created festive panda-themed lights at several other locations, including Mody Lane and the commercial centre of China Hong Kong City in Tsim Sha Tsui, as well as Sino Plaza in Causeway Bay. The panda magic will also extend to One North in Yuen Long. 

Image credits: Sino Group

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stanley Plaza Hong Kong (@stanleyplazahk)

The centrepiece of the festivities will be a four-metre-high Christmas tree at the amphitheatre atrium and the Yuletide atmosphere at the historic Murray House, where visitors can check out a charity playground, pop-up stalls, and artisanal markets. Other highlights of the eight-day event will be offerings from more than 120 international and local food, handicraft, and lifestyle brands — think ice cream from popular Macau brand Digreen, egg rolls from Hong Kong-based Wun Egg Roll, and craft beer from the local HoWong Brewing.

The market will also host a variety of 20-minute festive workshops at which participants will get the chance to make solid wood pendant Christmas cards, transform locally sourced Christmas tree wood into aromatic incense materials, create handmade Christmas candy, and mix their own red wine-based drinks. Tickets for each workshop costs HK$380 with a HK$25 handling fee, and are available on Klook. There will also be free shuttle bus services from the Admiralty MTR Station and Shau Kei Wan to Stanley Plaza starting at 12pm on each market day, and available every 30-60 minutes depending on where you catch them from.

Image credits: Stanley Plaza

The Ninja Dojo Zone will allow players to experience modern ninja training by combining traditional Japanese ninja elements with popular ninja warrior sports concepts. Get in on traditional ninja training, martial arts, and weapon throwing, face fitness and intelligence challenges, and go through different checkpoints. At the end, you’ll get a personal assessment that determines your modern ninja skills. 

The playground zone at Sonic Stadium is designed for kids aged up to six years old and will have several entertainment facilities that revolve around the blue hedgehog. The biggest attraction here is the bouncy Air Dome, which is also popular at the Japanese flagship. Adults and teens can head to the Sonic Athletics zone where they can take part in races and matches.

Visitors can check out the latest projects by CA Sega Joypolis at Future Arena Zone that will feature Mixed Reality (MR) technology for immersive experiences. The star attraction is the Valo Arena, a first for Greater China, which uses MR and unique motion tracking so that players can enjoy games without being encumbered by extra equipment.

The top floor of Joypolis Sports Indoor Sportainment Park will be home to restaurant and bar Hungry Tiger Hidden Dragon — a semi-alfresco dining area overlooking Kai Tak Main Stadium. The establishment will serve Western-Japanese fusion cuisine, with a focus on healthy options and limited themed meals like muscle-building dishes, vegetarian meals, and energy shakes.

Header image credits: Joypolis

Shing Mun Country Park is one of Hong Kong’s best country parks, and for the next two months, visitors will get to see Mainland Chinese artist Kiki Ji ’s work Flowing Natural, which wraps around a cluster of trees by using bamboo artistry to represent a harmonious fusion of traditional craftsmanship and the beauty of nature. The other standout design will be Interwoven Horizon in the sea near the pier of the restricted area of Sha Tau Kok. The work by Japanese artist En Iwamura takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape to create a blend of art and nature.

Australian Interactive public art and design studio ENESS will set up the world’s first inflatable fountain — complete with bright patterning, interactive jets of water, and a rich soundscape — in Tsuen Wan Park called Cupid’s Koi Garden. Sai Lau Kok Garden in Tsuen Wan will see Coolman Coffeedan recreate stories about the area with his Coolman x Tsuen Wan project that will feature cartoon character Spesh, while Hong Kong-based  Zoe Siu will transform the declared monument Sam Tung Uk Museum to showcase the charm of Hakka culture with her work Woven Dreams: Prayers of Modernity.

Local artist Louis To Wun’s striking design called The Auspicious Dance at Sha Tau Kok Square transforms the space into a stage for dancing fish as an homage to the intricate relationship between the fishermen, their customs, and the sea. Stories on Wheels at the Sha Tau Kok Promenade Sitting-out Area by Hongkonger Vivian Ho celebrates the vibrant narratives and everyday experiences of the township residents.

Creative Journey · Infinite Discovery also features a series of guided tours, workshops, handicraft experiences, and other events and activities. Highlights include cultural walks, cycling tours, upcycled plastics eco-art workshops, and a creative virtual cinematography experience — all of which require registration. For more details, click here.

Image credits: Design District Hong Kong

What is Harry Potter Mahou Dokoro?

Harry Potter Mahou Dokoro is an HP-themed boutique in Japan that sells products like specially designed outfits, wooden wands, plush toys, and more. The flagship store in Tokyo has all sorts of Potter memorabilia, from tote bags and accessories, to stationery and mugs. The pop-up in Hong Kong is extra-special as it’s the store’s first-ever overseas location.

The Hong Kong pop-up will be open every day at Festival Walk from November 29, 2024-February 2, 2025 from 11am-9pm. You don’t need to make an appointment or reservation before you head to the store.

What can you get there?

Once you enter the store, you’ll experience all things Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Get that IG click at the Hogwarts Express and put on the Sorting Hat at the Great Hall. The merch has been shipped directly from Japan and Europe — think plushie Nifflers, Mandrakes, and Hedwigs; satchels, phone covers, and purses; and an exclusive Harry Potter Hong Kong limited coaster set.

If you spend HK$500 or more at the store, you’ll get a commemorative coaster. Customers who shell out HK$2,000 or more can get their hands on a full set of four limited-edition coasters and a cloth bag. However, these offers only apply as long as stocks last.

Header image credits: Chad Davis via Flickr, Harry Potter Mahou Dokoro

The line-up of high-profile happenings in the city includes the much-awaited Coldplay Hong Kong concerts, family-friendly events like the upcoming AIA Carnival and The Big Bounce, the second edition of ComplexCon Hong Kong, and sports extravaganzas like the 2025 Hong Kong Sevens. Chinese New Year will be celebrated in a big way with the return of the Night Parade, Lunar New Year Fireworks Display, and Chinese New Year Raceday.

Some events began earlier this year that will run into 2025, which have been included in next year’s high-profile event line-up:

The events that begin in 2025 include fireworks displays, and celebrations related to the Cheung Chau Bun Carnival and Dragon Boat Festival. Here is the full list:

The calendar also features new events like the IBF World Cup bowling in January 2025, and a months-long exhibition of 52 impressionist works by French masters Paul Cezanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, on loan from the Musee de l’Orangerie and Musee d’Orsay in France, at the Hong Kong Museum of Art from January to May next year.

Header image credits: AIA Carnival, Coldplay, Hong Kong Sevens

Under the dual effect of Typhoon Man-yi and the northeast monsoon, Hong Kong will experience windy and rainy weather over the next couple of days. Temperatures will fall to 18 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday, but will gradually increase over the course of the week. The weekend is expected to be partly cloudy with sunny intervals, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 24 degrees.

Last week, the city’s meteorological body issued T8 when Typhoon Toraji came within 400km of the SAR, which brought unsettled weather to Hong Kong and resulted in schools closing on Thursday and public transport going into restricted mode. The previous weekend, Typhoon Yinxing came within 400km of the territory, for which the observatory raised T3.

The observatory expected that 5-8 cyclones would hit the city this year, but only three typhoons had impacted the SAR as of September 2024 — Tropical Storm Maliksi for which T3 was issued, Severe Tropical Storm Prapiroon for which T1 was hoisted, and Super Typhoon Yagi. However, in late August, experts predicted that 3-5 tropical more cyclones may come within 500km of Hong Kong during the rest of the year. 

Read our explainer on Hong Kong’s tropical cyclone and rainstorm warning signals. For more weather updates, visit the Hong Kong Observatory website.

Image credits: AzmanL via Canva

Classes for all AM and whole-day schools, including secondary, primary, special needs, and kindergartens, will be suspended today. However, there will be classes for PM primary and secondary schools, as well as evening schools.

Toraji came within 400km of the city early Wednesday morning and was closest to the SAR in the early hours of Thursday. There will be unsettled weather in Hong Kong on Thursday. Temperatures will range between 23 degrees and 26 degrees Celsius today, but will increase slightly as Toraji moves away from the territory. The local weather forecaster expects it to be less windy and rainy over the weekend, with periods of sunshine.

This is the second typhoon to hit Hong Kong in the past week. Last weekend, Typhoon Yinxing came within 400km of the city, and brought unsettled weather to the SAR. The city’s local forecaster issued T3 (Strong Wind Signal, No. 3) on Saturday, when it came closest to Hong Kong and was at Super Typhoon intensity, then cancelled all tropical cyclone signals once Yinxing departed and rapidly weakened.

The observatory is also monitoring the track of Typhoon Usagi, which is over the seas east of the Philippines and is currently at Super Typhoon intensity. It is predicted to briefly come within 800km of Hong Kong on Friday, before moving towards Taiwan. Typhoon Man-yi, which is a Severe Tropical Storm east of the Philippines as of Thursday morning, is predicted to come within 400km next week, when it will achieve Typhoon status.

Want to know more about Hong Kong weather? Then read our explainer on Hong Kong’s typhoon and weather signals to find out the status of Hong Kong’s transport and other essentials during a typhoon, and take a look at our guide on how to prepare for a typhoon. Visit the Hong Kong Observatory website for more weather updates.

Image credits: Starcevic via Canva

According to a statement from MTR officials, there were 430 recorded escalator safety incidents inside stations during the first nine months of the year, and 60% of them “involved passengers who were not holding onto handrails, lost their balance while walking, were bumped by others, or were carrying bulky items”. Authorities added that passengers who walk up and down moving escalators may lose their balance and fall, which impacts safety, inconveniences other MTR users, and disrupts station operations.

“With the changing times and an ageing population, walking on escalators and causing injuries may lead to serious consequences. It is safer to stand firm on either side of the escalator. We recognise that changing habits requires a collective effort, so we urge everyone to be considerate of themselves and others by holding onto the handrails and refraining from walking,” said Cheris Lee, the MTR’s chief of operating and metro segment. MTR has also reminded passengers to avoid standing close to the edge of the escalator steps and to be careful when wearing long or loose clothing, such as scarves or shawls, so that they don’t snag or get caught in the steps. 

There are more than 1,300 escalators across MTR stations in the territory used by an average of 5 million passengers a day. It’s been customary for commuters to stand on the right side and leave the left side free for others to walk past them. However, studies conducted on metro systems in other parts of the world to show that a standing-only policy may be more effective in managing passenger traffic. In 2016, a report on the Holborn Underground station in London stated that using both sides of an escalator to stand reduced congestion and increased capacity by 30%. In addition, the Japanese prefecture of Saitama and the city of Nagoya recently mandated that passengers must only stand on escalators. 

Header image credits: LUAWXMREO Buiam via WikiCommons

Temperatures in urban parts of the city will fall to as little as 21 degrees Celsius on Friday, when humidity levels will be as low as 35%. Lows for this week will range between 21 and 23 degrees, with expected maximum temperatures going no higher than 28 degrees. The next few days will generally be sunny, which will be followed by periods with a few showers.

Typhoon Yinxing, which is currently about 580km northeast of Manila, will intensify to Severe Typhoon strength on Thursday. It will come within 400km of the SAR on Sunday, when it will weaken to a typhoon before moving southwest towards Vietnam. However, the observatory says that under the combined effect of the northeast monsoon and Typhoon Yinxing, “it will be windy over the south China coastal waters during the weekend and early next week”.

Despite there also being spells of cool weather in Hong Kong last month, the city’s weather forecaster said it was the warmest October on record, with the highest monthly mean maximum temperature (30.3 degrees), monthly mean temperature (27.3 degrees) and monthly mean minimum temperature (25.4 degrees) being the highest ever recorded for the month.

Header image credits: lai king yin via Flickr