Hong Kong Hidden Gems: Enter the Dragon shooting location
While touring the Happy Valley cemeteries, we always mention “Enter the Dragon”, Bruce Lee’s last cult movie where one of the scenes was shot in the Muslim cemetery. Today we would like to reveal another site which appeared in the movie, Palm Villa’s ruins in the south of Hong Kong Island. It is on the villa’s tennis courts that the the...
Hong Kong Hidden Gems: Marble Hall Gatekeeper’s Lodge
Built at the beginning of the 20th century – around 1901/1902 – the lodge is the only remaining trace of a sumptuous and hospitable house: Marble Hall, which was once the private residence of Calcutta born Paul Chater, a successful business man of Armenian origins. Often referred to as one of the finest examples of architecture ever built in Hong Kong, the...
Hong Kong Hidden Gems: Luk Keng WW2 pillboxes
Relics of WWII, like air raid shelters and tunnels, are abundant in Hong Kong. Most of these military constructions, sometimes positioned in the heart of the city, were built by the British in anticipation of Japanese threats which intensified from the 1930’s until the battle of Hong Kong in December 1941. Luk Keng’s site is an exception as it was built...
Hong Kong hidden gems : the Shaw Villa
This magnificent abandoned villa belonged to the Shaw family and was part of the Shaw Brothers Studio complex which was built in the 1960’s in Clearwater Bay. The site was also home to the TVB headquarters (1986-2003) and Celestial Pictures but has been vacant since 2003. The new Shaw Brothers studio in Lohas Park opened in 2005 and is dedicated to...
Chinese New Year – After a year of anxiety, will the ox help us recover?
This year’s Chinese New Year will be celebrated on Friday 12 February 2021 and will welcome the Metal Ox. The Ox, which represents hard work, positivity and honesty, occupies the second position in the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 zodiac animals are, in order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. According to Feng Shui masters, 2021...
Happy birthday Hong Kong!
180 years ago on 26 January 1841, the British took formal possession of Victoria Island as a direct result of successful military actions ending the first Opium War. Captain Edward Belcher, who surveyed the island in 1841, wrote: "We landed on Monday, the 25th, 1841, at fifteen minutes past eight A. M., and being the bona fide first possessors, Her Majesty's...
Singapore / Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB)
The Singapore / Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble is on its way. In order to help travellers from Singapore plan their trips to Hong Kong, we have listed below the process that travellers are required to follow in order to be illegible. Hong Kong a la carte is a registered inbound travel agency based in Hong Kong that specialises in private...
Unmask Lantau
Part of our series UNMASK HONG KONG, this post takes a look at Lantau Island’s charms and attractiveness. Known as the biggest and greenest island of Hong Kong, Lantau is also multi faceted and full of surprises. Home to Tan Tian, the tallest sitting Buddha in the world, to the notorious pink dolphins, to Ngong Ping cable car, to many...
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival from your living room (2)
Following our walk in Tai Hang district to admire the fire dragon dance, today we would like to show you the beautiful lanterns Hong Kong families normally enjoy at this time of the year. Victoria Park lantern displays Every year Victoria Park lantern displays, in Causeway Bay, is the focal point of the mid-autumn festival. A little tacky during daylight, the park...
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival from your living room (1)
Whether you are new in Hong Kong or you have lived here many years, you are certainly going to be disappointed you cannot celebrate mid-autumn festival the right way. Most celebrations have been cancelled and only the mooncake frenzy evokes that this is a festive time of year. In order to tame the disappointment, we would like to recommend some videos...