Hong Kong has a rich and diverse culture with a wide range of entertainment options available. Cinemas, theatres and concert venues offer a good mix of international entertainment from all over the world. In addition, Hong Kong’s local arts scene has developed significantly in the last few years and there is a wide variety of concerts, productions and exhibitions opening on a weekly basis. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department presents a year-round mix of programs covering music, dance, drama, opera, film and other performing arts, often at affordable prices. The department also organizes the annual Arts Festival, bringing in a plethora of world-class acts ranging from Shakespearean theatre to top orchestras. Further details can be found on their website: http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/.
Cinema and Film
With more than 100 modern and comfortable cinemas located throughout Hong Kong, you can find a cinema in most neighborhoods. Shopping districts like Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay often have several cinemas from which to choose. The film schedule generally changes on Thursdays, but box-office hits usually have a longer run in the theatres.
Hong Kong also has its own well developed and world renowned film industry which produces largely action films in Cantonese and has thrown up superstars like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee over the years. Hong Kong’s indigenous film industry is extremely popular with the locals.
International films are usually shown in their original language with Chinese subtitles, though they are dubbed into Cantonese in some cinemas. Cinemas nearer the central districts generally screen more English-language movies. The South China Morning Post newspaper and other English-language entertainment magazines publish the daily cinema listings, and the language in which the film will be shown along with which subtitles are available.
Ticket prices range from HK$50 to $100 depending on the show time and cinema location, with reduced rates for off-peak screenings in the mornings and afternoons, and on some weekday evenings. 3-D films cost more, ranging between HK$90 and $110 per ticket. Most of the cinema chains now offer online and telephone booking with credit cards, but usually add a surcharge of HK$5-$10 for the service. It is advisable to book your tickets in advance for major Hollywood blockbusters or box-office hits, especially if you plan to watch on the weekends, as most seats to such shows are sold out quickly.
For movie rental, almost every shopping mall has DVD shops where films can be rented or purchased. Head to the larger chains like HMV for a wider selection or to smaller shopping centers in Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai, where you will find independent retailers selling DVDs at very affordable prices.
Cinemas:
United Artists
Tel: 2317 6666
http://www.cityline.com
Broadway Circuit
Tel: 2388 3188
http://www.cinema.com.hk
AMC Cinemas
Tel: 2265 8933
http://www.amccinemas.com.hk
Golden Harvest
Tel: 2622 6688
http://www.goldenharvest.com
DVD Purchase:
Hong Kong Records
Locations: Kowloon Tong, Admiralty
Tel: 2845 7088
http://www.hongkongrecords.hk
CD Warehouse
Locations: Causeway Bay, Shatin
Tel: 2506 0621
http://www.cdwarehouse.com.hk/
HMV
Locations: Tsim Sha Tsui, Central,
Causeway Bay, Kowloon Bay
Tel: 2302 0122
http://www.hmv.com.hk
Original Video
85 Lion Rock Rd
Kowloon City
Tel: 2718 2029
Seven 7 Star
Melbourne Plaza
Central
Tel: 2523 2252
DVD Rentals:
Movie Land
25 d’Aguilar Street
Lan Kwai Fong, Central
Tel: 2526 8549
http://www.emovieland.com
Opera/Theatre/Ballet
All shows at theatres in Hong Kong can be booked online via http://www.hkticketing.com or can be booked directly with the box office. Although it is not entirely necessary, it is usually beneficial to book in advance as many theatres offer a discount of up to 25% for advance reservations. Early booking will also ensure you can secure your preferred seats. Prices for Hong Kong performances range from anywhere between HK$50 and $1,000 depending upon the show and the location of your seat.
Opera:
Opera Society of Hong Kong
Aims to promote Western opera and performs a diverse repertoire such as Otello, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Boheme, Madama Butterfly and Macbeth.
http://www.opera.org.hk
Opera Hong Kong
The internationally acclaimed Opera Hong Kong has produced concerts and operas including La Traviata, Turandot, Carmen, Samson et Dalila and Le Nozze di Figaro.
Tel: 2234 0303
http://www.operahongkong.org
Sunbeam Theatre
Cantonese and other Chinese opera are performed here throughout the year. Performances generally run for about a week, and are usually held five days a week in the evening.
Tel: 2856 0161
Theatres:
Hong Kong Players
Hong Kong Players mounts 3 to 4 productions a year, ranging from the classics of Shakespeare to modern drama and comedy.
Tel: 2331 2005
http://www.hongkongplayers.com
Chunky Onion
Specializes in live family entertainment, with monthly children’s theatre productions for kids aged 2-9.
Tel: 2110 0014
http://www.chunkyonion.com
Dance:
The Hong Kong Dance Company
Tel: 3103 1888
http://www.hkdance.com
The City Contemporary Dance Company
Tel: 2328 9205
http://www.ccdc.com.hk
The Hong Kong Ballet
Tel: 2573 7398
http://www.hkballet.com
Classical:
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Tel: 2721 2030
http://www.hkpo.com
Hong Kong Sinfonietta
Tel: 2836 3336
http://www.hksinfonietta.org
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Tel: 3185 1600
http://www.hkco.org
Venues:
Fringe Club
2 Ice House Street
Central
Tel: 2521 7251
http://www.hkfringe.com.hk
Hong Kong Arts Centre
2 Harbour Road
Wan Chai
Tel: 2582 0200
http://www.hkac.org.hk
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
10 Salisbury Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: 2734 9009
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/hkcc
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
1 Expo Drive
Wan Chai
Tel: 2582 8888
http://www.hkcec.com
Hong Kong Academy For Performing Arts
1 Gloucester Rd
Wan Chai
Tel: 2584 8500
http://www.hkapa.edu
Hong Kong Stadium
Olympic House
1 Stadium Path
So Kon Po, Causeway Bay
Tel: 2895 7926
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/stadium/hks
Comedy Clubs
Take Out Comedy Club
Jami Gong’s Take Out Comedy Club features both expat and local stand up comedians along with overseas acts like Paul Ogata and Butch Bradley.
Basement, 34 Elgin Street,
Soho
Tel:6220 4436
http://www.takeoutcomedy.com/
Punchline Comedy Club
This comedy club offers performances at various venues and features expat and local comedians.
DUETTO (Formerly THE VICEROY)
2/F, Sun Hung Kai Centre
30 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Tel: 2598 1222
http://www.punchlinecomedy.com/hongkong/index.html
Recommended Resources:
The daily English-language newspapers and entertainment magazines have comprehensive listings of ongoing events. Individual performing groups and venues also list upcoming performances on their websites. A list is provided below for your reference:
Newspapers:
South China Morning Post. Mon-Sat HK$8; Sun HK$9
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.b5c271d9b0aad46a2455841053a0a0a0/?s=idx_Events
HK Magazine, weekly. Free.
http://hk-magazine.com/events
BC Magazine, weekly. Free.
http://www.bcmagazine.net/bc/
The Standard. Monday-Friday. Free.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_sec.asp?we_cat=16&d_str=20090511&fc=10
Online Expat Forums
GeoExpat
http://www.geoexpat.com/forum/forum8.html
AsiaExpat
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com
AngloINFO
http://hongkong.angloinfo.com/information/whatsontoday.asp
Ticketing
Urbtix
Tel: 2111 5999
http://www.urbtix.hk
Hong Kong Ticketing
Tel: 2 8288
http://www.hkticketing.com
