The city’s biggest party and sporting event is back: the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens will be held for the last time at Hong Kong Stadium. The three-day tournament is the centrepiece of the global SVNS series, and will see thousands dress up in costumes to belt out Sweet Caroline and cheer on their teams. Our side? Hong Kong, of course. 5-7 April.
On International Jazz Day, countries throughout the world celebrate this ever- hip genre of music and its role as a bridge between cultures. Filled with infectious grooves and soaring improvisations, jazz as an art form is far from dead – the proof is in many a live house. 30 April.
Artist Sarah Morris’s latest work Who is Who ties together disparate narratives from Hong Kong figures, such as entertainer Josie Ho and Henry Steiner, whose graphic designs have shaped the city’s visual identity. The film examines Hong Kong’s status as an ever-evolving financial hub and its impact on the people who live there. Until 14 April.
Vegans rejoice. At the new vegan bakery Maya you’ll find plant-based egg tarts, pandan pineapple buns and moreish pistachio croissants alongside boozy cocktails. You’ll also find probiotic artisanal vegan cheeses from owner Shirley Kwok’s other venture, Cultured : which, we can attest, are as moreish as the real thing. Serve truffle cream “cheeze” for breakfast or make their smoked applewood cheddar the star of your smorgasbord.
Get ready to dance: the world’s biggest electronic music acts are performing at Creamfields Hong Kong . With Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Illenium and more hitting the decks, this two-day spectacular will draw the city’s ravers to Central Harbourfront. 13-14 April
It’s coffee shop and hairdressers by day, and Soho’s trendiest bar by night. New hang Dead Poets is a collaboration between some of Hong Kong’s leading beverage figures. The cocktail menu pays tribute to an clectic lineup of deceased musicians, from George Michael to Janis Joplin, blending spirits with unusual ingredients like pickles, popping candy and sour mango tea. With its spice- encrusted glass and heavy thump of tequila, the Supervillain Kon Queso, inspired by enigmatic rapper MF Doom, is the margarita of our boozy dreams.
Following the success of Yardleys Taproom on Peel Street, the team this year cut the ribbon on a full-scale brewery in Kwai Chung. In celebration, there’s a new fruity passionfruit sour and a limited-edition Koëlschip brew, and the much-loved Mango Sticky Mango beer is back. Book in for a tour to pour yourself a pint and grab some merch – email them or book online to arrange your visit, or keep an eye out for their upcoming events.
K-pop trio CNBlue’s 2024 Asian concert tour CNBluenity is coming to Macao’s Studio City. Get ready to cheer on Yong-hwa, Min-hyuk and Jung-shin as they perform hits like Loner and Can’t Stop, as well as new material from their 2023 album, Pleasures. 13-14 April
Credit: China News Service/Getty Images
Credit: China News Service/Getty Images
Credit: China News Service/Getty Images
Canton Fair – the largest and longest-standing trade fair in China – returns to Guangzhou for its 135th edition. Taking place over three weeks at the Canton Fair Complex, the twice-yearly event attracts more than 25,000 exhibitors across multiple product categories, from consumer goods and textiles to vehicles and machinery. Learn about all the ways you can travel to Guangzhou and other cities in the Greater Bay Area from Hong Kong International Airport. 15 April–5 May.
Fans of the Pokémon franchise won’t want to miss the Artifacts of Indigo Plateau exhibition at the K11 Art Mall in Guangzhou. Artist Daniel Arsham’s installations and paintings reimagine the pocket monsters in his signature “fictional archaeology” style. Life-sized sculptures of characters like Pikachu and Jigglypuff, made to look like thousand-year-old relics, can be seen throughout the mall. Until 20 May.
Just in time to celebrate International Jazz Day, Jazz for Kids at the Bay Opera of Shenzhen is an immersive, family-friendly concert created to instil a love of jazz in all ages. From standards like Fly Me to the Moon to jazz versions of anime theme songs, the show will have something for everyone. 27 April.
Conductor Robert Moody, violinist Yang Xiaoyu, cellist Tian Bonian and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra celebrate the works of composers Johannes Brahms and Edward Elgar in a lively performance at Shenzhen Concert Hall. 12 April.
Gong Linna, famed for her powerful soprano voice, and an ensemble of musicians will serenade the audience at the Foshan Grand Theatre with a range of Chinese folk songs, including the classic Jasmine Flower and Beautiful Red Flowers, a song from Gong’s home province of Guizhou. 13 April.