9 new things to do in the Greater Bay Area this August

From a neon exhibition at Tai Kwun to a Chinese production of The Phantom of the Opera at the Guangzhou Opera House, there are plenty of things to do in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area this month. Escape the heat and add these activities to your calendar.

Hong Kong: Won in a million 

Sandwiched between the trendy neighbourhoods of Kennedy Town and Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui is vying for its time in the sun. The recently opened Asian fusion restaurant Vie-Won-Won , run by an alumnus of local French institution Gaddi’s, is a new entry on the scene, with a gorgeous two-storey pet-friendly space. Book in for one of their ‘Darkness Dining Dinners’ – a blindfolded meal which raises money for the visually impaired – or chow down on sharing-focused dinner set menus featuring indulgent hits such as steak with roasted beef marrow and lobster tsukemen. 

Vie-Won-Won, 8 South Lane, Shek Tong Tsui 

Macao: Ritual habits 

Lion and dragon dances will erupt across Macao on 10 August, when the city pays homage to Guan Yu – the Chinese god of war, synonymous with brotherhood. This holiday, dubbed the Feast of Kuan Tai, sees residents flock to incense-laden temples such as the Taipa’s Kuan Tai Temple to watch Cantonese operas and participate in special rituals for the occasion. 

Macao: Poetry in motion 

Traditional Chinese art comes alive in the show Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting. Based on the millennium-old painting A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers, believed to have been painted by Wang Ximeng, the dance piece focuses on the artist’s final moments before completing the painting – transporting viewers to ancient China in a vibrant spectacle.  

24–28 August. 

Guangzhou: Phantom of the Chinese Opera 

The curtain may have finally descended on Broadway’s historic 35-year run of The Phantom of the Opera, but the gothic chandelier rises again in Guangzhou this summer. Following runs in Shanghai and Shenzhen, this completely Chinese production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit is now set to grace the stage at the Guangzhou Opera House. More than 1,000 people auditioned for roles, and a member of the team has said the cast is “good enough to have performed in [the] West End or on Broadway”.  

Until 13 August. 

Guangzhou: Floral fancies 

Lotus flowers burst into bloom over the summer months at Lianhuashan Tourist Area, where celebrations of the waterborne florals run until the end of August. Visitors should grab their cameras and head to the park’s golden Guanyin Temple where all the natural and cultural magic happens, set against a backdrop of impressive Chinese architecture. 

Shenzhen: Stick around 

Get out of the heat and into the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre, where international ice hockey players will be carving up its ice rink. The Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division 1, Group A will see teams such as Austria, Norway, Denmark, Slovakia and China face off for a shot at the title. It’s set to be a significant competition for China, whose team was recently promoted to the big leagues.  

20–26 August.