19 things to do in the Greater Bay Area this October

1. Hong Kong: pink about it

Breast Cancer Awareness Month rallies members of the community to raise money for research, get checked and help those in need. We’re proud to support the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation through Fly Pink , an initiative launched by Cathay Pacific’s female pilots to spotlight women’s health, educate people about breast cancer, provide early screenings and subsidise treatment.

2. Hong Kong: show your support

Hong Kong’s annual Pink Walk is back. Join the blush-toned crowd and march around The Peak on a charity hike organised by Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. It all kicks off at the Peak Galleria, where participants can have fake tattoos and make-up applied and receive prizes and gift bags. What’s more, Mother Pearl, Cucina, Fairwood and more dining outlets in the city are serving pink treats this month, with proceeds going towards the Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, which supports high-risk cancer patients and their families. 20 October.

3. Hong Kong: night at the opera 

Hong Kong is getting its own specially tailored version of Puccini’s Turandot , celebrating both opera and Chinese culture – with live accompaniment by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Prince Calàf falls in love with the immovable Princess Turandot but has to solve three questions to win her hand in marriage. 10-13 October.

4. Hong Kong: ebb and fold

New York artist Jessica Rankin is set to showcase her stunning textile work at White Cube with Sky Sound , her first ever show in Asia. Ghostly shapes, watercolours and ombre sewn fringing result in delicate yet emotional pieces. Until 9 November. 

5. Hong Kong: high camp

Held in a secret location, Omni Agency’s Midori offers an alternative festival experience for dance music lovers. The event derives its name from the Japanese word for “green” in homage to its natural setting, with camping onsite, intimate stages and more than 30 Hong Kong DJs hitting the decks. 11-13 October.

6. Hong Kong: pop goodness

Singer Anne-Marie lands in Hong Kong to perform hits like Rewrite the Stars and Ciao Adios. Her powerful voice has become ubiquitous in pop: you’ll know her collaborations with the likes of Clean Bandit and David Guetta. 3 October.

7. Hong Kong: pedal to the mettle

The city’s biggest race on two wheels returns. The Hong Kong Cyclothon features 32km and 50km races, which take cyclists from Tsim Sha Tsui to Tsing Yi and back to West Kowloon for a fun carnival. 13 October.

8. Hong Kong: going once 

Auction house Sotheby’s has opened a gigantic flagship, forming a central hub for collectors. Spanning 24,000sq ft, Sotheby’s Maison has taken over two floors of luxury shopping mall Landmark, rewarding the curious with immersive exhibitions of the world’s greatest treasures.  

9. Hong Kong: all scream 

There’s always room for another ice cream spot in town. Milk & Cream ’s small batch creations are blended with Australian whole milk and real fruit: combine flavours like lemon crème fraiche, peach melba and berry cheesecake for a treat to carry along the Avenue of Stars.

10. Hong Kong: it’s scentsational

Chinese history is steeped in fragrance, which forms the foundation of the exhibition The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Fragrance of Time – In Search of Chinese Art of Scent . Precious artefacts, including ceramics, carvings and paintings, sourced from both the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Shanghai Museum, explore how the perception of Chinese fragrance has shifted over the centuries. Until 16 October.

11. Five-a-day: sip fruit and veg on your next date night

Orchard 

Mixologist Alex Pun makes fruit the star of the show at Hong Kong’s first fruit spirit bar . Fruit from around the world are celebrated here in drinks like the tropical punch, a berry cocktail with a surprise savoury note.

Mostly Harmless 

At this low-key “locabibe” spot , the menu constantly changes based on what’s in season at Hong Kong farms. You’ll find today’s specials scribbled in markers on its tiled walls.

The Savory Project

Ingredients like corn husks, gingery gari-gari, chillies and peanuts all feature on this cocktail list . Come prepared to be surprised, as there’s always a little twist to their complex – and savoury – cocktails.

Avoca

At The Mondrian’s Avoca , cucumber salad is transformed into the gin-based Pickled Cucumber Gimlet, while chilled mango pomelo sago dessert gives a Chinese flair to the classic piña colada.

Intervals

Go for the grappa-based Green cocktail, which combines peas, green apple and chartreuse in a boozy take on a detox juice, before your flight at this luxe bar at Hong Kong International Airport.

12. Macao: classics remade 

As part of the 36th Macao International Music Festival, French pianist Hélène Grimaud and the Camerata Salzburg will bring some of Mozart’s and Beethoven’s masterpieces to life at the Macao Cultural Centre. 12 October.

13. Macao: fire up your engines 

Some of the world’s rarest ultra-luxury vehicles are on display at the Wynn Signature – 2024 Hypercar Exhibition . The show features 30 cars with a total value of HK$1.5 billion, including the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster – the Italian manufacturer’s most expensive car to date. There’s also racing-themed culinary delights and lucky draws, as well as promotions at designated shops. Until 13 October.

14. Shenzhen: hush tunes

New-age duo Secret Garden , who rose to fame after winning the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest, take the stage at the Shenzhen Concert Hall. Violinist and singer Fionnuala Sherry and pianist Rolf Løvland will perform their greatest songs, including their breakout hit Nocturne and the timeless You Raise Me Up. 17 October.

15. Shenzhen: northern sounds 

Under award-winning conductor Valery Gergiev’s tutelage, the St Petersburg-based Mariinsky Orchestra has become one of Russia’s leading orchestral ensembles. Let their performances of masterpieces by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and other great composers from their home country wash over you at Shenzhen Concert Hall. 24 October.

16. Foshan: lasting impressions 

Chinese dancer-choreographer Yang Liping directs Pingtan Impression , a tribute to Chinese mythology and the age-old traditional arts and cultures of the coastal city of Pingtan, in a performance which merges music, dance and puppetry. 12-13 October. 

17. Guangzhou: dance the night 

Acclaimed choreographer Patrick de Bana brings together 12 of the world’s foremost ballet stars for Memories of a Decade at the Guangzhou Opera House. Witness greats like American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Roberto Bolle perform excerpts from masterpieces and debut original performances. 24 October.

18. Guangzhou: maestro in action

British classical pianist Christian Blackshaw will grace the stage at the Guangzhou Opera House’s Experimental Theater this month. Besides his signature performance of Mozart’s piano sonatas, you’ll also hear his take on the works of Schumann, Schubert and Liszt. 25-26 October.

19. Zhuhai: test of courage

Think you’re brave enough to meet some of the world’s most notorious monsters? Explore the wonders of a magical world in the Olivier Award-nominated Dragons and Mythical Beasts , an interactive, family-friendly stage show from London’s West End, when it arrives at the Zhuhai Grand Theatre this month. 25-27 October.