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Header image courtesy of Crossfire Hong Kong
There will never be an end of things to do in a vibrant city like Hong Kong, but finding them is another matter. While everyone knows the best spots for shopping, indulging in the best eats, or even hiking, sometimes they just aren’t enough as you yearn for experiences beyond the usual ones. That’s why we’ve found 10 of the most intriguing experiences in the city off the beaten track, guaranteed to fascinate you. Try out a few of these to impress your friends or family the next time you plan a day out!
If going on a fishing expedition sounds like too much work and waiting around to you, simply stay in the city to fish for your meal indoors. Fish for jumbo Thai shrimps at Ha Cube in Kwun Tong, where the unlimited bait lets you fish to your heart’s content. Remember to bring your own seasoning when you roast your catch in one of the on-site ovens at the end of the day!
For a fancier option, check out Habo, just a minute’s walk away. Catch your own shrimp, but this time, you can have the chef prepare it for you in a number of ways, from prawn with salted egg yolk, sweet and sour prawn, or shrimp seasoned with garlic soy sauce, made with Habo’s secret ingredient.
Ha Cube, Unit C, 3/F, Tsun Win Factory Building, 60 Tsun Yip Street, Kwun Tong | (+852) 3565 4233
Habo, G/F, Artisan Hub, 9 Luk Hop Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon | (+852) 2634 7189
All self-proclaimed gourmets and gastronomists out there must try this true test of their taste buds. At social enterprise Dialogue Experience’s Dinner in the Dark, you are served a surprise dinner by blind waiters in pitch-black darkness. Without sight, you’d be relying entirely on your taste and olfactory senses to navigate the three-course meal, experiencing food like never before. The two- to three-hour-long dinner event comes with icebreaker activities to know your fellow dinners, as well as a post-meal debriefing session to see if you’ve guessed correctly. Feel free to chat with your waiter and learn more about leading a visually impaired life, too. Though it’s a hefty investment at $980 per person, the meal is guaranteed to be a unique learning and dining experience.
Dinner in the Dark, Unit B, 7/F, D2 Place 1, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Cheung Sha Wan | (+852) 2310 0833
You thought you’ve seen it all in Hong Kong, but have you ever heard of unicycle hockey? Yes, that’s right: A group of unicycle enthusiasts of all ages meet up for a friendly game of hockey on the unicycle every Friday night at the rink in the YMCA King’s Park Centenary Centre in Jordan, and hosts all sorts of unicycle-themed events throughout the year. Beginners are always welcome: Simply let them know via the Facebook group and the friendly folks at Unicycle Hong Kong can provide a spare unicycle for you to try! And if you’re not interested in hockey, you can join social rides or try your hand at uni basketball. Verily, an experience you didn’t know uni-ded.
Indulge your childhood fantasy and become an actual mermaid at Mermaid Ocean Palace. No, we’re not talking about simply donning a costume for a photoshoot—learn how to be a mermaid in the water, from static breathing techniques to dynamic swimming styles and poses. From the beginners class to the modelling class and the certification class, students can learn how to properly “mermaid dance” at their own pace.
For those interested in a mermaid photo op, its Mermaid Celebrity training camp offers both “mermaid dance” training as well as underwater photography training before a professional photographer captures your poses under water. Childhood dream accomplished! Keep an eye out for upcoming sessions or other mermaid-centric events on the Facebook page, or shoot a message via WhatsApp if you have any enquiries.
Mermaid Ocean Palace, 356 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 5950 6265
Good news for all the ski and snowboarding enthusiasts out there: You no longer have to wait until the next ski trip to get your fix! Ski and snowboard indoors on the world’s largest revolving carpet training deck at Slope 8 right here in Hong Kong. There might not be the familiar slushy feel of snow, but you do get to practise on the same kind of equipment that national ski teams train on, so that you’d be beyond prepared for your next ski trip.
If you are new to slope disciplines, and you would like to experience the epic highs and lows of skiing without the risk of injury, you can now experience it via VR at Ski Tech Hong Kong! SkyTech VR technologies are approved by the US Ski & Snowboard governing body. The VR allows you to be professionally trained by certified instructors, no matter if you’re a holiday skier, an intermediate skier, or a total novice. Just like Slope 8, Ski Tech Hong Kong provide varying levels of classes, so take your pick and get skiing (and snowboarding)!
Slope 8, 1/F, 148 Electric Road, North Point | (+852) 2107 4567
Ski Tech, Room 922–923, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang | (+852) 2177 0008
Perhaps you’ve heard of Running Man, the South Korean variety game show that has taken Asia by storm. Play the same kind of wacky games with your friends at Hong Kong Running Games, where you must work together to navigate through a trap-ridden indoor maze, thread through lasers on a life-sized sorcerer-themed chessboard, and more. Starting from $240 per person for students for a two-hour session, there’s no end to the bizarre themed games it hosts, whether it’s basketball tic-tac-toe, real-life whack-a-mole, or even food-themed charades. Put your wits to the ultimate test!
Hong Kong Running Games, 1001B, 10/F, Sunbeam Centre, 27 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong | (+852) 5593 1343
Even after living in Hong Kong for quite a while, it can be fun to play tourist from time to time—there’s just never an end to all there is to learn and appreciate about the multifaceted city. Hop on the Crystal Bus, where you can relax over a hearty afternoon tea or dinner as you’re taken through over 20 attractions in Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and even Lantau on a narrated bus tour. While you can choose your meal from a variety of cuisines, the most popular choice remains the Michelin-awarded dim sum set meal for the ultimate Hong Kong package. Tip: Don’t be fooled by the online booking system—which sometimes says that all days are fully booked—and call instead. Guests board and alight near The Peninsula Hong Kong on Hankow Road.
Crystal Bus, The Peninsula Hong Kong, 22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 2988 8202
Go for a joyride at Hong Kong’s indoor karting arena, 18 Challenge Karting. At over 50,000 square feet in size, the Formula Circuit track is the largest in Hong Kong with 18 challenging corners for speed junkies to race through. The little ones have not been forgotten; over at Drift Land, a separate smaller track for the kids ensures that they can jump in on the action as well. Fuel up with a nice meal at the restaurant afterwards before you start another round. Prices start from $398 for three eight-minute sessions for adults and $80 per six-minute session for kids.
18 Challenge Karting, Unit S1, 2/F, Oi Man Plaza, 60 Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin
Given just how cramped Hong Kong is, it is no wonder people look for place to release pent-up energy and frustrations. Crossfire Arena provides just the right opportunity for those who want to deck it out with their friends using neon sabres and nerf blasters, immerse themselves in video game with HADO augmented reality, or simply vent some excess energy at bubble soccer and dodgeball. Aside from all these activities, you can also try your hand at combat archery, or go on various tailored quests. This arena is famous for pre-wedding or birthday parties, friend hangouts, and for team-building activities. Most experiences are typically priced at $3,088 per group, but make sure to WhatsApp the venue for any enquiries.
Crossfire Arena, 12 Kwai Wing Road, Kwai Hing | (+852) 2633 0989
Despite being an urban jungle, Hong Kong has its fair share of nature activities. Sure, there’s the usual hiking and biking, but have you considered… farming? Experience a rural slice of life in the rustic countryside at Holiday Farm, where you can embark on guided farming experiences. But that’s not all; you can even pull rickshaws, feed and pet animals, shoot down a carpet slide, and more. For lunch, pay a little more and settle down for a mouth-watering BBQ feast provided by the farm! Bring your family here for an eye-opening day trip at this antithesis of Hong Kong’s urban lifestyle. Day-trip passes cost $120 per person for groups and $150 per person for individuals.
Holiday Farm, 62C Tai Lung Hang Village, Sheung Shui | (+852) 2668 4055
First published on 9 October 2020. Written by Ngai Yeung. Last updated by Punita Chan.
Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your “local eyes”—and for that, you need two i’s.
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