by Rachel Au
Start the decade right with new things to do in Hong Kong! From stunning museums to thrilling amusement rides, here are our picks of new things to do in 2020.
1. Learn from the masters at the Hong Kong Museum of Art
The Hong Kong Museum of Art has finally reopened after four years of expansion work and renovations. After its million-dollar facelift, the museum is now clad in a rippling glass facade that echoes the waves of Victoria Harbour, offering stunning floor-to-ceiling windows on each floor. The glass windows are lined with seats, allowing visitors to rest tired feet while taking in Hong Kong’s very own piece of art– the skyline and the harbor.
Housing only seven galleries before its makeover, the museum is now home to twelve galleries. There are now eleven new exhibitions that showcase the four core collections of the museum– Chinese antiquities, Chinese paintings and calligraphy, China trade art, and contemporary Hong Kong art. Boasting a unique curation of iconic Chinese and local art, visiting the Hong Kong Museum of Art is one of the best things to do in Hong Kong.
Where: 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Website: https://hk.art.museum/en_US/web/ma/home.html
2. Shop till you drop at K11 Musea
Hong Kong’s newest architectural marvel is in the form of a shopping mall. K11 Musea is a gorgeous museum-retail destination perched along Victoria Harbour, whose designers include James Corner, who also designed the High Line in New York City, and Forth Bagley of Kohn Pederson Fox. Shopping and dining options are just as impressive– the mall is home to the first Hong Kong flagship of Fortnum & Masons, the first MoMA design store in Greater China, COS’s largest retail branch in Hong Kong, London millennial favorite Avobar and more.
Besides its impressive array of shops and restaurants, K11 Musea also boasts over 40 world-class contemporary art pieces, including works by Hong Kong artist Samson Young, Carol Bove, Paola Pivi, street artists Bao Ho, Katol of collective Startfromzero and Ron English. The Gold Ball exhibition space on the second floor, which resembles a gigantic disco ball in the atrium, displays a curation of new media and video art.
Where: Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Website: https://www.k11musea.com/en
3. Walk among the stars at the new Avenue of Stars
One of the best things to do in Hong Kong is definitely to take a walk along the iconic Victoria Harbour. Apart from one of the world’s best skyline views, Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour also offers its own version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, named the Avenue of Stars. Honoring celebrities of the Hong Kong film industry, the 457-meter-long promenade was one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations before it was closed in 2015 for a makeover. The old Avenue of Stars was criticized for its lack of character, seating and greenery, but after its upgrade, it now offers plenty of seating, shade provided by flowering vines, and a much quirkier look overall. Behind it all is James Corner, who was part of the team that helmed the architecture of K11 Musea.
Website: https://www.avenueofstars.com.hk/en/
4. Check out brand new attractions at Ocean Park
Hong Kong’s favorite theme park Ocean Park has always kept both tourists and locals happy with their plethora of rides and animals, but they’re about to impress even further with two new attractions! Newly opened in mid December 2019, the waterspout-inspired “Wild Twister” ride offers a thrilling experience as its arms swing and spin crazily on their own separate axes, at an extreme acceleration of up to 4G. The ride merges its intense movement with a stunning view of the South China Sea, becoming what might just be the world’s most picturesque amusement ride.
Starting 10 January 2020, Ocean Park will also stage a new night-time entertainment experience “Gala of Lights”. Featuring multimedia fountain shows, acrobatic dances, customizable souvenirs and more, the park’s newest attraction promises to charm even the most jaded visitors.
Where: 180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Website: https://www.oceanpark.com.hk/en
5. Win real gold at Monopoly Dreams
If you’re looking for things to do in Hong Kong that will actually make you money, check out Monopoly Dreams. Located at the Peak, Monopoly Dreams is the world’s first Monopoly-themed attraction. At “The Bank”, visitors can catch Monopoly cash coupons to spend at the park’s gift shop and cafe, while spinning the “Fortune Board” may land visitors prizes, including a 1kg pure gold token! If you’re looking for something to do that pays back, this is it.
Where: Shop 301, 3/F, Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Road, The Peak, Hong Kong
Website: https://www.monopolydreams.com/hk/en/
6. Go back to the 80s at The Wonderful World of Whimsy
Once wildly popular in the 80s and the 90s, The Wonderful World of Whimsy has returned to Hong Kong after its exit 20 years ago. This vintage indoor amusement park has now reopened at the EMax shopping center in Kowloon Bay, boasting a 30,000-square-foot space. Besides all the classic carnival games, it also offers a virtual reality-enabled AR dynamic park, 5D cinema, and an artificial snow house!
Where: B1, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thewonderfulworldofwhimsy/