14 things to do in the Greater Bay Area this May

1. Hong Kong: Fighting film 

Hong Kong cinema in the 20th century was defined by martial arts films, and the Hong Kong Film Archive is currently paying tribute to this heritage with Of Fists and Swords – Kaleidoscope of Hong Kong Martial Arts Films . Split into six sections, the programme of exhibited artefacts and screenings pays tribute to the actors, choreographers and filmmakers who indelibly wrote martial arts films into Hong Kong’s cultural history. Until 22 June. 

2. Hong Kong: Legendary comeback 

Jimmy’s Kitchen is back: the Epicurean Group has given the historic Hong Kong restaurant another lease of life with a new home in Central’s Pedder Building. It’s sleeker, with Art Deco-inspired interiors and a menu of classics with a modern spin. 

M/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central, 2526 5293 

3. Hong Kong: Bun fight

Originally held to celebrate the end of an island-wide plague, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival has become the highlight of the island’s cultural calendar. Although the festival spans several days, the main event is on 15 May, when competitors race to climb towers of buns and a parade snakes through the streets. 12-16 May. 

4. Hong Kong: Bats and Robins 

There’s a new part of Hong Kong to explore: Robin’s Nest Country Park . Spanning 530 hectares, it’s home to diverse flora and fauna, from the bats inhabiting the historical Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine to the red azaleas strewn across the mountain ridge. As well as various trails, you’ll find Second World War relics and Grade-II listed sites, such as the MacIntosh Fort, and a 300-year-old Hakka village. 

Here are 3 more country parks for you to explore 

Tai Mo Shan Country Park 

Hong Kong’s highest peak offers jungle trails, shimmering waterfalls and amazing views on the way to the top. 

Tai Tam Country Park 

Endless greenery and numerous waterfalls take visitors over stone bridges and past the occasional glimpse of golden koi fish in this area of Hong Kong Island. 

Shing Mun Country Park 

With its family-friendly picnic areas and barbecue sites, the park’s Pineapple Dam trail attracts young and old. Just watch your food when you see a monkey. 

5. Hong Kong: Au Français  

Francophone culture takes the spotlight as the French May Arts Festival returns. For over three decades, the event has brought the best of French cinema, music, art and more to Hong Kong’s galleries and theatres – celebrating both historic masterpieces and the newest wave of French creators. 

6. Hong Kong: Painting the town 

The Affordable Art Fair returns this month, selling works by local artists and international galleries, priced under HK$100,000. 16-19 May 

Hall 1E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, 3579 4777 

Artist highlights 

Marian Ang (Touch Gallery) 

The art historian and former Unesco cultural heritage protection consultant showcases her latest series, Lucky You – paintings of Chinese porcelain wares.  

Joe Wong (Oi Ling) 

Wong’s intricate pieces celebrate the art of paper-cutting, which has a history of 1,500 years in China and has been on Unesco’s national intangible cultural heritage list since 2006. 

Lindsay McAlister (Kambal Gallery) 

Though better known as a youth dramatist in Hong Kong, McAlister is a talented abstract painter whose works inspire introspection and empathy. 

7. Hong Kong: Star-crossed stage  

Charles Gounod’s opera Roméo et Juliette returns to Hong Kong this month. Performed in French with Chinese and English subtitles, this five-act tragedy, adapted from the Shakespeare play, premiered in 1867 in Paris and has been performed extensively around the world ever since. 10-12 May. 

Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2734 2009 

8. Zhuhai: Treasures of the past 

Spread across three halls of the Zhuhai Museum , The Return of the Golden Age is a unique exhibition showcasing a range of cultural relics that have been returned from overseas. Highlights include replicas of the bronze zodiac animal head statues that were part of Beijing’s Old Summer Palace, which was looted and damaged during the Second Opium War. Until 2 June. 

9. Foshan: Enter Monet’s world 

Want to experience what it’s like to walk into the scene of an artistic masterpiece? The Impression Monet show at the Look Art Museum brings to life the work of the French master using new interactive technology and immersive scenographic designs. Until 19 May. 

10. Foshan: Fruits of wisdom

The works of two elderly Japanese artists, Go Yayanagi and Tetsuo Mizu, are showcased concurrently at Shunde’s Boxes Art Museum. Yayanagi’s Biophilia and Mizu’s The Traces of Time exhibitions form an artistic exchange between the duo, where they share their views on life and time through a series of paintings, installations, sculptures and more. Until 3 June. 

11. Shenzhen: Wild planet 

Inspired by the Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II documentaries, BBC Earth: Life at Extremes at the Ping An Finance Center features 75 breathtaking high-definition photographs, with immersive 4K footage and music. Until 5 May. 

12. Shenzhen: Oh my Gaudí 

Housed in the Radio and Television Financial Center’s Sky Museum, Exposición Sonora Gaudí marks the first time the Spanish artist and architect’s original sculptures and other artworks have been showcased in the Chinese Mainland. Expect an immersive journey into his life’s work with photographs, models and installations, as well as other masterpieces on loan from the Gaudí House Museum. Until 19 May. 

13. Guangzhou: Just tri it 

The inaugural Guangzhou Design Triennial takes place at the Guangdong Museum of Art with the theme “The Warm-beings”. About 100 designers and artists from 27 countries, including AA Murakami and Aldo Cibic, will engage in a dialogue on how designers can address today’s global challenges through their work. Until May 31. 

14. Guangzhou: Stepping back in time 

Be immersed in the rich history of Zhongshan, a small state in the Warring States period (475-221 BCE) located in modern-day Hebei province, at Nanyue King Museum ’s Mighty Ancient Zhongshan State exhibition. Here, visitors will learn about the state’s history and culture through 175 artefacts spanning artworks and everyday objects. Until June 16.