Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [155]
HONG KONG ISLAND
Some of the most important classical music venues are the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts ( Map; 2584 8500, bookings 3128 8288; www.hkapa.edu; 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai; MTR Wan Chai, exit A1), Hong Kong City Hall ( Map; 2921 2840, bookings 2734 9009; www.cityhall.gov.hk; 5 Edinburgh Place, Central; MTR Central, exit J3) and the Hong Kong Arts Centre ( Map; 2582 0200, bookings 2734 9009; www.hkac.org.hk; 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; MTR Wan Chai, exit A1).
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Central
PALACE IFC CINEMA Map Cinema
2388 6268; Podium L1, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St; MTR Hong Kong (exit F)
This new eight-screen cinema complex in the IFC Mall is arguably the most advanced and comfortable in the territory.
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Admiralty & Wan Chai
Certain cultural organisations based in this area show foreign films from time to time, including the Alliance Française ( Map; 2527 7825; 1st & 2nd fl, 123 Hennessy Rd, Wan Chai) and the Goethe-Institut ( Map; 2802 0088; 13th & 14th fl, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai).
For both art-house and mainstream films, Wan Chai has two of the best and most comfortable cinemas in the territory.
AGNÈS B CINEMA Map Cinema
2582 0200; Upper Basement, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; 18
This recently renamed cinema – it was the Lim Por Yen Theatre for years – is the place for classics, revivals, alternative screenings and travelling film festivals.
CINE-ART HOUSE Map Cinema
2827 4820; Ground fl, Sun Hung Kai Centre, 30 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; MTR Wan Chai (exit A5)
This alternative cinema specialises in English-language films.
PUNCHLINE COMEDY CLUB Map Comedy
2827 7777; 2nd fl, Sun Hung Kai Centre, 30 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; 18, alight at Wan Chai Sports Ground
A veteran on the scene – in fact the only regular comedy venue for many years – the Punchline Comedy Club hosts local and imported acts every third Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9pm to 11pm. Entry costs around $300.
TAKE OUT COMEDY CLUB Map Comedy
6220 4436; 34 Elgin St; www.takeoutcomedy.com; 26
Consistent stand-up and improv acts (in Cantonese and English) bring in the punters to this basement venue established by Chinese-American stand-up Jami Gong.
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Causeway Bay & Island East
Causeway Bay is packed with cinemas, but with few exceptions most of them show Hollywood blockbusters and Hong Kong and mainland films. Further east is Hong Kong’s most important film-watching venue, the Hong Kong Film Archive.
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CHINESE OPERA UNMASKED
The best time to see and hear Chinese opera – not the easiest form of entertainment to catch in Hong Kong these days – is during the Hong Kong Arts Festival Click here in February/March and the Mid-Autumn Festival Click here, when outdoor performances are staged in Victoria Park. At other times, you might take your chances at catching a performance at the Temple Street Night Market Click here, but the most reliable venue for opera performances year-round is the Sunbeam Theatre (below) in North Point.
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SUNBEAM THEATRE Map Theatre
2856 0161, 2563 2959; Kiu Fai Mansion, 423 King’s Rd, North Point; tickets $40-320; MTR North Point (exit B1)
Cantonese and other Chinese opera (click here) are performed here through the year. Performances generally run for about a week, and are usually held five days a week at 7.30pm, with occasional matinees at 1pm or 1.30pm. The theatre is above the North Point MTR station (exit B1), on the north side of King’s Rd, near the intersection with Shu Kuk St.
WINDSOR CINEMA Map Cinema
2577 0783; 1st fl, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay; Causeway Bay (exit E)
This comfortable cineplex with four screens is just west of Victoria Park.
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Lan Kwai Fong & Soho
FRINGE STUDIO & THEATRE Map Theatre
2521 7251, bookings 3128 8288; www.hkfringe.com.hk; Ground & 1st fl, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Rd; 8pm during performances (days vary), box office noon-10pm Mon-Sat; MTR Central