Our round-up of the best wellness events in Hong Kong this November, from plogging trail runs to book swaps, and the city’s biggest live music event of the year!
November 1-10: Hong Kong International Literary Festival
Nurture your inner bookworm at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, taking place from November 1-10. This annual event features writers, both acclaimed and rising, from around the world for discussions, readings, signings, lectures and workshops around the city, with featured speakers like Markus Zuzak, author of the 2005 bestseller “The Book Thief”. There are also some fun community events suitable for the whole family, like the Book Swap for Kids, held at the Arts & Culture Outreach in Wan Chai on November 8 and 9. Hosted by musician Emmy the Great, bring the whole fam and pick up everything from paperbacks to picture books – just bring a book to swap for it. There’ll be storytelling in English and Chinese, plus a singalong at the end of each session.
Events are individually ticketed and priced, see festival.org.hk for more info.
November 16 : Translantau X Eco Marine Plog & Beach Cleanup
Race organisers Translantau have teamed up with Eco Marine to organise a beach clean-up with some added fitness thrown in. Starting at 9am at the Pui O Public Car park, participants will head out on a short 3km trail run or hike around the beautiful Shap Long beach in South Lantau before gathering up rubbish. The beach, which is next to a wetland that is a natural habitat for local wildlife, is currently covered with rubbish ranging from polystyrene containers, single-use plastic cups, food wrappers and beverage bottles, to name just a few. Further details on how to sign up are available on the TransLantau X Eco Marine Plog and Beach Cleanup page.
November 22-24: Clockenflap
Hong Kong’s biggest music and arts festival, Clockenflap, is back for another year at Central Harbourfront, with an eclectic array of established artists, festival favourites and local breakthrough acts from Asia and around the world. Friday night’s headliners are noughties British indie-rock band The Kooks, while London-based indie-folksters Mumford & Sons will close out the urban festival on Sunday night. Three-day tickets cost $1,640 at the door, but if you can’t make the whole weekend, one-day tickets are also available ($970-1,050). Student discounts available, and kids under 12 are free if attending with a paying adult.
Central Harbourfront, clockenflap.com.
November 23-24: Fivelements Nāda and Bhakti Yoga Workshop
For something a little different in your practice, Fivelements is welcoming internationally recognised Bhakti yoga guru Daphne Tse for a special two-day immersive workshop into the worlds of Nāda and Bhakti Yoga. These ancient practices promise to deepen your practice beyond the physical, expanding on the philosophical, spiritual and emotional sides of yogic practice through the healing powers of sound and vibrations. This weekend workshop runs from 9am-4pm each day and includes a healthy lunch. Costs $2,907 for members, $3,230 for non-members.
November 28-December 1: The Hong Kong Open
The city’s longest standing pro sporting event, The Hong Kong Open, returns to the Hong Kong Golf Club at the end of this month. Featuring a star-studded lineup of pro golfers from Europe, the US, and Asia, the four-day tournament gets fans an up close and personal view as they follow some of the best in the biz around this deceptively challenging 18-hole course. Family-friendly distractions will be found at the tournament village, which includes games, entertainment and F&B. Free to attend Thursday and Friday; $400 per day at the weekend. Under 21s free on all four tournament days.
Hong Kong Golf Club, Sheung Shui, New Territories, thehongkongopen.com.
December 5: SoCO Christmas Carols
Get in the festive spirit by belting out your favourite Christmas songs at the eighth annual SoCO Christmas Carols, a charity fundraising event hosted by the Society of Community Organisation. This adults-only affair includes free-flow drinks courtesy of British wine merchant Corney & Barrow, as well as a range of sublime canapés that will prime you for the indulgent weeks ahead. Proceeds raised go towards helping HK families living in poverty, of which there are sadly too many, so dig deep and sing those carols loud and proud for an admirable cause. Costs $650, from 6:30-8:30pm.
Helena May, 35 Garden Rd., Central, ticketflap.com/sococarols2019.
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