Nightlife

Nightlife in Hong Kong seems pretty tame when compared to Tokyo or Bangkok. With the world of Suzie Wong in Wan Chai now a shadow of its former wicked self, Hong Kong today seems somewhat reserved and, perhaps to some minds, yawningly dull. For the upper crust who live here, exclusive membership clubs are popular for socializing and entertaining guests, while the vast majority of Chinese are likely to spend their free evenings at one of those huge lively restaurants.

Yet it would be wrong to assume that the SAR has nothing to offer in the way of nightlife -- it's just that you probably won't get into any trouble enjoying yourself. To liven things up, Hong Kong stages several annual events, including the Hong Kong Arts Festival in February/March, and the Hong Kong International Film Festival in March/April. Other cultural activities and entertainment are presented throughout the year, including theater productions, pop concerts, and Chinese opera and dance performances.

Most of Hong Kong's bars and clubs are concentrated in a handful of nightlife districts. In the Central District, most popular is Lan Kwai Fong, in the vicinity of Lan Kwai Fong and D'Aguilar streets, where a multitude of bars and restaurants have long added a spark to Hong Kong's financial district. Nearby, SoHo, along the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator south of Hollywood Road, boasts an ever-growing number of ethnic restaurants and bars. Business is so good, some predict a future merging of the two nightlife meccas as more and more establishments set up shop along connecting Wyndham and Hollywood roads. Wan Chai has also witnessed a revival with a spate of new bars, restaurants, and strip joints, while Knutsford Terrace, a small alley on the north end of Tsim Sha Tsui, is popular for its open-fronted bars and restaurants. You can party until dawn; indeed, some bars and discos don't take off until after midnight.

Remember that a 10% service charge will be added to your food/drinks bill. If you're watching your Hong Kong dollars, take advantage of happy hour. (Actually, "happy hours" would be more appropriate, since the period is generally from 5-8pm and often even longer than that.) Furthermore, many pubs, bars, and lounges offer live entertainment, from jazz to Filipino combos (musicians and singers together performing all kinds of music genres), which you can enjoy simply for the price of a beer. Plus, you can enjoy many of the city's finest nighttime charms -- strolling along the Tsim Sha Tsui harbor waterfront or around Victoria Peak, watching the nightly Symphony of Lights outdoor laser and light show, or browsing at the Temple Street Night Market -- for free.

Information, Please

To find out what's going on during your stay in the SAR, you can pick up a number of free magazines around town.

• What's On -- Hong Kong is an HKTB leaflet published weekly that lists events in theater, music, and the arts, including concerts and Chinese opera (you can also access it at www.discoverhongkong.com). Pick up a copy at any HKTB branch.
• Hong Kong's Leisure and Cultural Services Department (www.lcsd.gov.hk) also puts out its own monthly calendar of events -- from Cantonese opera to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra -- taking place in City Hall and the Cultural Centre, available at both of these venues.
• HK Magazine, distributed free at restaurants, bars, and other outlets around town and aimed at a young readership, is a weekly that lists goings-on at the city's theaters and other venues, including plays, concerts, the cinema, and events in Hong Kong's alternative scene.
• Where Hong Kong, CityLife, and bc are three other free magazines published monthly with nightlife information and special events. You will find these magazines for free in hotels, restaurants, and bookstores.
• A useful online navigational tool to find out about club events, drink specials, and special happenings is www.hkclubbing.com.
• For virtually everything happening in Hong Kong, from Chinese opera to pop concerts, film festivals, and family entertainment, check out www.urbtix.hk, the city's ticketing agent.