The best things to do in the Greater Bay Area this May

May brings a succession of holidays, from the Golden Week at the beginning of the month to the Dragon Boat Festival at the end, with cities across the region hosting a spectacular array of performances. Whether you’re drawn to Guangzhou’s symphony season, Macao’s interactive theatre and K-pop concerts, or Zhuhai’s outdoor music festivals, there are lots of things to do in the GBA this month.

Meanwhile, Macao’s dragon boat races and Foshan’s land art festival offer wonderful opportunities for families to experience traditional culture and festive customs. For those seeking something new, the recently opened cultural arts districts in Shenzhen and luxury hotels in Zhuhai are not to be missed.

The Greater Bay Area is lush with greenery in early summer – embark on a journey to discover the vibrant colours of the season.

Shenzhen: K11 Ecoast Grand Opening

K11 Group’s latest cultural landmark in mainland China, K11 Ecoast waterfront cultural and arts district , has officially opened in Shekou, Shenzhen. With a total construction area of approximately 23 hectares, the complex features a shopping centre, multi-functional cultural spaces, offices, and a waterfront promenade, integrating culture, commerce, and ecology. The main building, collaboratively designed by globally renowned Dutch architectural firm OMA and celebrated Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, resembles a massive ship docked at port. 

Guangzhou: Long Yu with Frank Peter Zimmermann

Frank Peter Zimmermann, recipient of Cross of Merit, First class, is one of the greatest violin soloists of our time. This year, he’ll once again collaborate with Long Yu , honorary music director for life and conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, to present Edward Elgar’s deeply romantic Violin Concerto, along with Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony and Four Sea Interludes from the opera Peter Grimes.

18 May

Guangzhou: Tia Ray

Tia Ray, a luminary in Chinese R&B, returns with the second act of her Once Upon A Moon journey . The Hunan-born songstress weaves a tapestry of powerhouse vocals, soul-stirring melodies and breathtaking stage designs and has an A-list catalogue of collaborators from Kehlani and Jason Derulo to Far East Movement. Expect a celebration of hits including Love Can Fly, River Flow and Balance, showcasing the vocal prowess that made her the first and only Chinese artist to feature on the IFPI Global Singles Chart.

May 24

Macao: Geoff Sobelle, Food

American theatrical magician Geoff Sobelle creates an absurd yet thought-provoking interactive experience with his production Food . Audiences are invited to sit around a giant dining table and participate in this sensory feast, while Sobelle, transformed into a server, employs illusions, intricate mechanisms and improvisation to guide viewers through laughter and amazement, encouraging reflection on our relationship with food.

8-11 May

Macao: J-Hope

J-Hope of Korean supergroup BTS brings his first solo world tour to Macao . Known for his exceptional dance skills and musical talent, J-Hope is the group’s main dancer, sub-vocalist and producer. He was the first BTS member to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 chart as a solo artist. The concert will feature songs from his hit albums Jack in the Box and Hope on the Street Vol.1.

17 & 18 May 

Macao: 2025 SJM Macao International Dragon Boat Races

The 2025 SJM Macao International Dragon Boat Races will take place during the Dragon Boat Festival period. Small dragon boat races in various categories will commence on 24 May; 25 May will feature Macao Dragon Boat Races’ standard dragon open category, women’s category and this year’s newly added mixed category. The Macao International Dragon Boat Invitational Races and Macao University Student Invitational Races will be held on 31 May, the day the festival officially falls upon.

24, 25 & 31 May

Zhuhai: 2025 Hengqin VAC Electronic Music Festival

The 2025 Hengqin VAC Electronic Music Festival is where you’ll find some of the best electronic musicians from around the world performing this month. A stacked lineup features nine-time Grammy winner and Brostep godfather Skrillex, plus trance legend Armin van Buuren, who brings his Orb stage, combining circular installations with LED lighting effects, to the Chinese Mainland for the first time. French dark electronic music wizard Gesaffelstein, who bridges pop electronic and R&B, will also create his legendary Coachella 2024 show.

3-4 May

Zhuhai: Alila Dong’Ao Island Zhuhai

Hyatt Group’s Alila Dong’Ao Island Resort has opened. Perched on a cliff at the southernmost tip of Dong’Ao Island – affectionately known as “Oriental Little Saipan” – this resort spans approximately 3 hectares with more than 100 guest rooms and a 15-metre infinity pool that offers breathtaking panoramic sea views. With EarthCheck certification, the architectural design preserves the surrounding natural landscape, earning the resort an IAI Design Awards Global Design Gold Award before its opening.