Andrea Wong

One of the most distinctive things about Hong Kong is the abundance of colourful neon signs – often written in traditional Chinese calligraphy – that hang on the side of our city's buildings. While there are local preservation groups in the city who work hard to keep this remarkable cultural aspect alive, not many know or understand the work that goes behind the makings of these glowing signs that light up our streets. So, we paid a visit to Au Yeung Cheong, acclaimed calligraphy and authentic Chinese typeface signage master, who has been keeping the tradition alive for more than 40 years. By Andrea Wong Brilliant Tailor Shop, one of the two last remaining tenants inside State Theatre Once a landmark and the glory of North Point, the 68-year-old State Theatre Building is the kind of place that would give you goosebumps the moment you step into the building. Clouded in an eerie atmosphere throughout the premises – most likely due to the vast empty spaces, vacant shops, and sounds of reverberating water leakage – the dimly lit building is a jarring contrast to the bustling streets of the North Point neighbourhood. If you walk further into the building, you'll spot the two remaining tenants tucked in the back, one being a traditional tailor shop, and the other surrounded by lit-up signboards and plastic signs, which is where Au Yeung Cheong and his shop King Wah Signboards (京華招牌) resides.  Having learned calligraphy through books like Tung Shing (traditional lunar calendars)

Anyone can say they’re familiar with the city, but not everyone knows about all the nooks and crannies scattered around different neighbourhoods, possibly because we’re all overwhelmed with our routines that we seldom explore the local street scene presented to us on a daily basis. Here’s a list of places that you’ve probably been to before but never took the time to explore in-depth – and we’re not talking about generic Instagram spots or housing estates for your social media. Capture the authentic side of Hong Kong and its people, and let the photos speak for themselves.RECOMMENDED: Explore some of Hong Kong’s abandoned villages and secret islands to capture a different side of the city.

The beauty of living in Hong Kong is that even in our sprawling metropolis, we are never very far removed from nature. Nestled along the foot of Lion Rock, Kam Shan, and Kowloon Peak, there are trails aplenty in Kowloon. Here are some hikes that you can reach easily from the heart of the city. RECOMMENDED: Rarely on Kowloon side? Here’s our guide to accessible city hikes on Hong Kong island instead.

Autumn is here and the weather is now infinitely more suitable for traipsing around outdoors than during our sultry summers, but the idea of commuting all the way to somewhere rural for a hike – not to mention the journey back home – can be off-putting. If you’re anything like us and often find it hard to even crawl out of bed on the weekends, we’ve got just what you need. Here’s a list of accessible city hikes scattered around the hilly side of Hong Kong Island. RECOMMENDED: Want to check off some of Hong Kong’s must-hikes, we’ve outlined our favourites with tips and directions to help you on your way.