The cooler months are finally arriving in Hong Kong! Are you ready to seize this short-lived window of beautiful weather to explore the great outdoors? Many visitors opt for hiking the Dragon’s Back in Shek O, but did you know Hong Kong has many other off-the-beaten-track yet scenic hiking trails to offer? We are here to suggest five Hong Kong short hiking trails for you to start your workout in this refreshing weather! Two of the following trails are on Hong Kong Island and three of them are in the New Territories. Have a fun walk and discover the beautiful countryside of Hong Kong! 1. Mount High West Spare two hours to hike up the Mount High West on West ...
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What is the Double Ninth Festival (重陽節)? Also called the Chung Yeung Festival and Chongyang Festival, the Double Ninth Festival is an ancient memorial festival that falls on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. In 2020, the Double Ninth Festival falls on the 25th October in the Greogorian calendar. On this day, families visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects. People also go hiking together as heading to higher ground symbolizes climbing to a higher position in life and living longer. Chrysanthemums are also ubiquitous on the Double Ninth Festival, as the Festival takes place when the flowers are in full bloom. Drinking chrysanthemum wine and admiring chrysanthemums have thus become part ...
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Food is seen as a form of medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). What we eat serves to harmonize our bodies, minds, and spirits. Ancient Chinese medical practitioners discovered that our dietary requirements change with the seasons, as our bodies’ needs differ depending on the weather and climate. In fall, the cool and dry weather affects our lungs the most, as it is the uppermost organ and especially vulnerable to the wind and cold. If you’ve been coughing, wheezing, or experiencing a sore throat more often than usual during fall, it may be due to weakening lungs. To make sure your lungs and body are at their healthiest despite the autumn weather, check out our list of 10 foods to ...
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by Rachel Au An interesting sight appears every August in Hong Kong. Mooncake advertisements begin to line wall after wall at any given MTR train station, starring celebrities ranging from veteran comedian Eric Tsang to Japanese actress Alice Hirose. Such is the result of aggressive marketing campaigns by various Hong Kong bakeries, hoping to capture maximum market share during the sliver of time mooncakes are consumed – the Mid Autumn Festival. But what is the Mid Autumn Festival? Why do Chinese communities across the globe celebrate it with such enthusiasm? Here, we explore what the festival is and the legends behind it, each a story that has been passed down for generations. What is the Mid Autumn Festival? The Mid ...
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by Rachel Au Aside from being Hong Kong’s cradle for countless culinary ventures, Tai Hang is also home to one of the city’s most spectacular festivities– the annual Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. This Mid-Autumn Festival, treat yourself to a dazzling display of fire and fury, where around 300 people parade a 67-meter-long dragon lined with sticks of incense from head to tail, enshrouding the neighborhood in a warm, smoky glow. How the fire dragon dance began Legend has it that this 138-year-old tradition began when Tai Hang was struck with three consecutive disasters a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival in the 19th century. Still a small Hakka village at the time, Tai Hang was hit by a typhoon, ...
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by Rachel Au You know where to find craft beer in Hong Kong, but did you know about the interesting flavors with which Hong Kong’s local brewers have blessed our city? We have rounded up some of the most unique beers the Hong Kong craft beer scene has to offer in this list. All our selections are brewed in Hong Kong, by breweries started right here in the 852. 1. S.E.A. Sour from Yardley Brothers A limited edition Hong Kong craft beer recently launched in July 2020, S.E.A. Sour is Yardley Brothers’ newest creation. This experimental sour beer is brewed using the fermentation style of jiuniang rice dessert, giving it a unique, funky pineapple note and a rich dose ...
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by Rachel Au Traditional Chinese Medicine stands by the practice of eating with the seasons. As the Chinese saying 不時不食 goes (pronounced “bud si bud sik” in Cantonese), foods that are not in season should not be eaten. Eating foods that are in season have multiple benefits. Fruits and vegetables will taste better, grocery shopping will cost less, and the environment will fare better. Traditional Chinese medicine has its own arguments for eating with the seasons as well. Ancient Chinese medical practitioners found out that our dietary requirements change with the seasons, as our bodies have varying needs depending on the weather and climate. With summer being hot in most countries, Chinese medical wisdom dictates that our diets should contain ...
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You might have tried French Toast before, but have you tried the Hong Kong Styled French Toast that are popular at local cha chaan tengs (Hong Kong Styled Cafes)? This scrumptious treat is an adaptation of the western style french toasts. With social distancing, it might be hard to go out to eat at a cha chaan teng. Here’s our recipe for you to make it at home! Cook & Preparation Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 2 slices White bread without the skin2 tbsp Smooth peanut butter 10 grams Butter2 Eggs2 tbsp Golden syrup or pancake syrup300ml Cooking oil (vegetable oil or canola oil or peanut oil) Steps: 1. Cut off the skin of the white bread (if any).2. Spread the ...
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Are you searching for fun activities in Hong Kong this summer now that we are mostly stuck in Hong Kong? We have all been cooped up for too long during this COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone is talking about Holiday at Home in Hong Kong. Let’s do something different and fun! Hong Kong offers lots and lots of exciting things for us to do. This year, we bring back our super popular Hong Kong Local Craft Beer Tour! What else is better to do than to explore unique Hong Kong craft beer breweries on an air-conditioned brew bus? Learn about Hong Kong’s exciting craft beer scene, taste at least 12 different kinds of craft beer, nibble on carefully-paired snacks and savor a ...
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by Rachel Au Looking for things to do in Hong Kong this summer as the city begins to relax its coronavirus social distancing measures? We’ve got you covered with our roundup of the best things you can do while staying safe and being socially-responsible. From outdoor adventures to food and culture tours, these activities are bound to keep everyone in the family entertained. 1. Support local restaurants by ordering takeout Have a favorite pasta joint or mom-and-pop noodle shop down the street? Chances are they’re feeling the effects of the COVID outbreak and struggling to stay open. Support your favorite local restaurants by ordering takeout from them directly– food delivery apps usually take a sizable cut of the revenue. Many ...
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