From traditional celebrations to partying aplenty, make time to rest, recharge, and reset this September. Savour the drama of world-class queer cinema. Watch colourful hot air balloons drift up above Hong Kong's iconic skyline. Reflect on neon signs, and the city that once was, through the medium of photography. Live Music and Performance AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest Hong Kong Ever wanted to rise above Victoria Harbour and see Hong Kong’s skyline and outlying islands from a hot air balloon? The AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest turns that fantasy into a weekend spectacle. Balloons inflate throughout the day, but the real drama comes at sunset, when the largest balloons take shape against the water, and at night, when the Glow Show synchronises bursts of colour and light with music. Exhibitions Centrestage – Asia’s Fashion Spotlight Calling all fashion enthusiasts! With three thematic zones spotlighting craftsmanship, avant-garde, and urban trends, Centrestage 2024 promises to be an extravaganza of all things fashion and design. In addition to catwalks and showcases, the Young Designer Contest will take place. Arts and Culture Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Fest Now in its 36th year, the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Fest is the region's oldest queer film festival. This year's festival will feature interactive panel discussions and Q and A sessions with overseas directors and crews. Anifest Animation Film Festival The 2025 edition of Hong Kong’s annual animation and film festival brings together international premieres, restored classics, and homegrown talent. It opens with Little Amélie or the Character of Rain and closes with a 4K restoration of Mamoru Oshii’s cult favourite Angel’s Egg. Along the way, audiences can catch thought-provoking works like Endless Cookie, the Hong Kong debut of Lupin The Third: The Immortal Bloodline, and a showcase of local creativity with Animated World. Greg Girard’s HK:PM at the M+ Photographer Greg Girard’s latest work, HK:PM, is now showing nightly on the massive LED screen at M+ in West Kowloon. Running from July 4 to September 28, the projection animates street scenes from Hong Kong between the 1970s and 1990s. Students in Central, the glow of old neon signs, and rare shots of the Kowloon Walled City -- the images draw from Girard's personal archive and offer views of a city always in motion. The show runs after dark and is free to view. Traditional Festivals Hungry Ghost Festival The Hungry Ghost Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, sees Hongkongers honouring ancestral spirits and restless souls with food offerings, incense, and the burning of joss paper. Recognised as part of China’s cultural heritage, the festival includes observing traditional rituals, enjoying vegetarian food, and watching live performances like Cantonese Opera and folk dances. Yu Lan Cultural Festival The Yu Lan Festival is Hong Kong’s unique take on the Hungry Ghost Festival, brought by Teochew immigrants and now listed as part of the city’s intangible cultural heritage. Every seventh lunar month, neighbourhoods stage Taoist rituals, Cantonese opera, and street banquets to honour wandering spirits.
The Ultimate Guide to Hong Kong
The Ultimate Guide to Hong Kong
The Ultimate Guide to Hong Kong