Growing up, my impression of Hong Kong was a place of glittery, towering skyscrapers racing towards the sky, notable locations featured in iconic movies and dramas, and of course, the promised land of dim sum.
Thus, when I was invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to visit the city in all of its sunny (and scorching) glory during summertime, I admit these were the pictures floating in my mind during the four-hour flight there.
But now, I can say that Hong Kong’s a city that offers so much more than what I was accustomed to seeing from the confines of a television.
A mall for everyone
While Hong Kong’s long been known as a haven for shopaholics, it’s not common to find a mall with everything under one roof that caters to both adults and kids at the same time.
Enter Kai Tak Mall, the first of its kind to embody the ‘sportainment’ concept, where shoppers can experience the thrill of sweating it out while having the time of their lives too.
Spanning over 700,000 square feet across three separate buildings (Kai Tak Mall 1, Kai Tak Mall 2, & Kai Tak Sports Park), it houses more than 200 stores, showcasing an endless selection ranging from major sports brands to various retail, dining and leisure options.
If you’re not a fan of shopping, you can head over to Top Bowl Tenpin Bowling, the largest bowling centre covering over 40,000 square feet with 40 bowling lanes located within the Kai Tak Sports Park.
Unlike most bowling centres, Top Bowl boasts of state-of-the-art bowling lanes and unique artsy designs that caters to both amateurs or professionals, making it an ideal place for casual and world-class bowlers to duke it out with each other.
You’ve probably thinking to yourself right now: “Well, these places are suitable for adults. But what if I have my kids along with me?” Don’t fret because there’s Joypolis Sports—a five-storey building featuring three main attractions: SONIC Stadium, Ninja Dojo and Future Arena.
At the ground floor is the Ninja Dojo, where there are a total of six ninja-themed games that tests your reflexes, agility, and reaction time. If you’re a fan of all things ninja, this is the place to be.
The SONIC Stadium, located on the second floor, consists of four games that allows kids to put their athletic skills to the test with its interactive interface featuring the beloved hedgehog character and his friends. You can also head on over to the souvenir shop at the first floor and grab yourself or your kids adorable Sonic plushies, stationery and more.
Last but not least is Future Arena, a place that incorporates technology and gaming to create an immersive and unforgettable experience. Whether you’re contorting your body to fit the shapes displayed on the screen or avoiding getting caught by the Young-hee doll from Squid Game, this is one place you won’t want to miss out at Joypolis Sports!
Getting up close with nature
To be honest, I always thought Chengdu was the only place where one could see giant pandas up and close, but there is a certain place in Hong Kong that houses the adorable mammals too.
First opened to the public in 1977, Ocean Park Hong Kong (香港海洋公园) holds a special place in the hearts of Hongkongers as it was (and still is) the go-to theme park for families and students to spend the holidays and served as the backdrop of several famous TVB series such as Triumph in the Skies (衝上雲霄).
Fast forward to today, Ocean Park remains a nostalgic place for those who spent their childhood years there but has also welcomed new additions to its line of attractions—the most notable example being a family of giant pandas.
This giant panda family is special for one reason: it being that Ying Ying, who’s the world’s oldest first-time panda mother to date, gave birth to a pair of healthy twins just a day before turning 19 years old. This is an extraordinary occasion given the fact that giant pandas find it increasingly difficult to reproduce as they grow older.
And thanks to this, I was able to see Ying Ying and her entire family for myself within their enclosure at Ocean Park—something I wasn’t able to do when I first travelled to Beijing at the age of 12. #wishfulfilled
Aside from giant pandas, I also had the opportunity to get up close and personal with sea lions and seals, where I saw them perform tricks at the beck and call of skilled trainers and frolic within the emerald-blue waters.
All in all, Ocean Park serves not only as a theme park, but also a haven for animals that both adults and kids can enjoy interacting with.
Eat, eat, eat
Of course, no trip to Hong Kong is complete without being stuffed with delicious meals; which was exactly what I got to experience.
First up was Siete Ocho, a Spanish Sichuan restaurant located within Dorsett Kai Tak that offers an array of classic Spanish dishes with a spicy twist.
Among the dishes that were served, there were two that left quite an impression: 1) the scallops, which were cooked to perfection and paired with a creamy, yellow sauce with a touch of spice, and 2) a dollop of ice cream which sat on top of a layer of chilli-infused chocolate fudge.
When in Hong Kong, dropping by a dai pai dong (大排檔) is a must-do thing as it embodies the down-to-earth side of the city’s food culture. Dai pai dong refers to open-air food stalls adorned with green-painted steel exteriors and Cantonese dishes being sold at affordable prices, similar to the dai chow (大炒) culture in Malaysia.
It’s no wonder then, why I felt a sense of belonging when I stepped into Lau Sheung Dai Pai Dong, a restaurant located at the Kwan Chart Tower in Wan Chai. Aside from its bright, colourful neon signs, its dishes were delectable too and reminded me of dishes I enjoy with my family back home.
Known for its vibrant dim sum scene that has delighted many across the world, it was a no-brainer that I had to have my share of dim sum and was finally able to sink my teeth into them at Chill Dim Sum by Kahu. There, I tucked into traditional dim sum like siew mai and har gao and had a taste of modern ones such as deep fried milk rolls and Thousand Thread Mountain Yam.
Going all out at GO PARK Sai Sha
If you’re one who’s worried about not being able to shed the extra pounds potentially gained after enjoying the delicious food Hong Kong has to offer (like yours truly), fret not as GO PARK Sai Sha is there at the ready to help you with just that.
GO PARK Sai Sha is a massive 1.3 million square feet construction that includes GO PARK Sports and GO PARK Aqua, where it offers a range of leisure and sporting activities for all to take part in.
At GO PARK Sports, it houses fields that accommodates more than 10 different sports such as lacrosse, golf, pickleball, and tennis. On top of that, it also offers private coaching sessions for those who want to pick up a certain sport.
As its name suggests, GO PARK Aqua is the water sports centre that showcases Sai Sha’s unique coastal resources while offering an extensive range of water sports events, classes, and excursion tours. Furthermore, there’s also a giant photo frame erected along the coastline that lets visitors capture unique and unforgettable moments.
Last but not least is GO PARK Sai Sha, where it currently consists of Phase One of the Sports and Commercial Complex. Its indoor facilities feature a variety of sporting facilities such as the Hong Kong Fencing School, a 7-feet tall rock climbing wall, and the Hong Kong Swimming Academy founded by former actor Alex Fong.
Sports aside, GO PARK Sai Sha also has a 1,500-seat multi-purpose arena named AXA Wonderland, where it has hosted several concerts by popular artists like CNBLUE and John Legend.
Another unique feature of GO PARK Sai Sha is that it’s a pet-friendly location, where owners can bring their furry friends for a stroll at its premises or enjoy bonding time at Pet Park on the second floor, which is equipped with a mist tunnel, themed photo spots, water fountains, and cleaning stations.
Olé, Olé, Olé!
Although I call myself a fan of Arsenal, I can’t really say I’m a true fan when I barely know what actually goes on during a football match.
Thankfully, I was given a live crash course in the form of a friendly match between Liverpool and AC Milan at Kai Tak Sports Park to celebrate Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 (HKFF).
Having never witnessed a football match unfold on the field, it was surreal to see thousands of enthusiastic fans cheer with unbridled passion from their seats and see the players in action as they skillfully maneuver the ball in order to lead their team to victory.
In fact, it was so captivating that it caused me, a total idiot when it comes to all things football, to scream with excitement or groan in despair throughout the match when I’m not a fan of either team.
At the end of it all, I finally understood what it meant when football fans say the sport is a “religion” because it truly has the ability to make you so invested as though your life depended on it.
No place like Hong Kong in summer
The trip to Hong Kong has opened my eyes to how amazing it is as the place to spend summer, be it a solo trip or with family.
So before anyone tells me that there’s absolutely nothing to do at ‘Asia’s World City’, I strongly encourage you to book the next flight and experience for yourself how much Hong Kong has to offer, just like how I did.
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