Wondering what to do this Christmas? If you want to out-eat/out-drink/out-buy everyone else, then Hong Kong’s the town for you. From the $2,380 Christmas Eve dinner at Sevva to Duddell’s bottomless “Champagne Resolutions” to holiday fairs that peddle David Yurman jewellery, you will find no lack of opulent and decadent options. But, if you believe Christmas is about, say, helping the needy and reconnecting with your folks or spending time with the kids rather than rampant consumerism and hangovers, then check out our guide for interesting (and many free!) things to do that won’t break the bank.
EAT
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Photo: Secret Ingredient
Hosting a dinner party at home means you don’t have to jostle with the crowd or worry about making impossible reservations. A turkey is a no brainer, but non-traditional options like hotpot or Chinese take-out can be quite cheap and cheerful too (check out our wine-pairing guide to glam up a char siu rice box). If you would like a more personal touch, a recipe-delivery service complete with prepared ingredients like Secret Ingredient can be a good option to impress dinner guests. This Christmas, Secret Ingredient’s menu features ready-to-cook rib-eye and tiger prawns for HK$500 for a two-person portion (first purchases get a 30% off).
For Christmas baked goods, you can sign up for a Christmas baking workshop (HK$300-HK$400 for 2 hours) with My Baking Diary.
For the best bargain Christmas Day feast in town, head to the Hong Kong Food Festival from the 25th to the 28th — a $10 ticket will get you access to tons of vendors offering free and delicious food samples.
DECORATE
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Photo: OiMax, Flickr
Other than scouring the Prince Edward Flower Market and Mong Kok markets for Christmas decor, you can also head to the trusty Ikea and or Japan Home City for made-in-China plastic Christmas goodies to fill your home with. Personally, we like shopping at the Kam Tin Red Brick House Flea Market better for Christmas decorations. Open only on the weekends, it is much less crowded and much easier to navigate than the popular spots. We found some pretty nice, lit-up Christmas trees for HK$20 (plastic, of course). If you want stuff that’ll last several Christmases, log on to a used goods community like swap-it or other places for second-hand shopping.
PARTY
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Photo: Ritz-Carlton
If for you, Christmas is not Christmas without champagne, here are some of the cheapest parties to hit in town. Play’s “Keep Calm & Find Mistletoe” Christmas party (HK$300 for the ladies and HK$400 for the gents) goes from 10 pm until late, and includes one bubbly.
If you join the NYE party at Ozone in the Ritz-Carlton after 12:30 am, it’s HK$300 with a free bottle of champagne — or HK$600 before the countdown, also with a bottle of champagne. Not a bad deal, at all!
CHARITY
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Photo: Feeding Hong Kong
Transform your inner Scrooge with some volunteer work this Christmas. Rather than making Christmas all about presents, you can encourage the whole family to roll up their sleeves and join a Bread Run — which collects fresh bread and sandwiches from shops across Hong Kong and delivers them to shelters and community centers.
UNICEF runs a “Change for Good” Programme which always needs volunteers to sort the leftover foreign coins and notes from flight passengers. Coin-sorting is something that even a four-year-old can do and gives you the opportunity to talk about children in developing countries. Sunshine Action organises distributions of Christmas bags to the needy throughout December and makes visits to the homeless a great family activity.
ART & THEATRE
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Photo: Hong Kong Ballet
The Nutcracker (HK$150 upwards) is the quintessential Christmas experience. This year, the festive ballet is choreographed by Australian Terence Kohler and performed by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, with free previews, pre-performance talks, and workshops suitable for the whole family.
For a date night, check out the incredibly cool Christmas in the Dark (HK$150-HK$180), which lets you experience a Christmas market, Christmas carols, and gingerbread cookies all in the dark, led by visually impaired guides.
For art enthusiasts, DETOUR Hong Kong features exhibitions, installations, fairs, seminars, and workshops by local young and emerging creative talents this month —including the transformation of public spaces into art pieces and tram rides into dining, art, or social experiences.
SIGHT-SEEING
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Photo: Ding Yuin Shan, Flickr
The Hong Kong Winterfest is a showcase of Christmas-themed activities that drapes the city’s signature skyscrapers in festive reds and greens. Get on the open-top bus (HK$280) for 2.5 hour journey to take in our beautiful, light-drenched city or board the one-hour long trip on the star ferry (HK$150) through the starry night.
Malls like the Shatin Newtown Plaza, Harbour City, and Cotai Strip Macau are also staging some stunning light shows.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
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Photo: CDMF
Nothing puts you into Christmas spirits like live Christmas carols. This December, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra presents the “Christmas Around the World” show (HK$150-HK$400) , a full-length concert with Christmas carols from around the world that explores how Christmas is celebrated in different countries. On Dec. 19, Sai Kung residents will host Christmas Carols night for a get-together to sing some classic Christmas songs. Other Christmas Carols around town include the open top bus caroling from YMCA in Tsim Sha Tsui on Dec. 20.
Illustration: Praew, Coconuts
