These Were Hongkongers’ Top Google Searches of 2021

While 2020 was the year of escapism defined by social distancing, plenty of Zoom calls and gatherings filled with face masks, this year we found ourselves feeling more optimistic thanks to the vaccine rollout and gradual resurgence of entertainment and sporting events. In another year of living in the shadow of Covid-19, it came as no surprise that many people had been Googling for all things pandemic related—but there are also quite a few interesting trends to take note of in online searches across the city.

Search engine and tech giant Google on Wednesday (December 8) released its annual “Year in Search” list, which reveals the biggest search trends of 2021 both globally and broken down by country and categories ranging from local and international events, people, pop culture and more. In 2021, aside from updates on the pandemic including social distancing rules and vaccination appointment, Hongkongers had been curious about the Olympic Games, homegrown athletes including Siobhan Haughey, Cheung Ka-long, as well as local boy band Mirror, with members Keung To and Anson Lo taking the top spots in the overall list of 2021’s most searched local celebrities.

As one of Asia’s most diverse and exciting dining destinations, lots of food items also emerged on Hong Kong’s trending search list. Chinese delicacies including turnip cake, New Year cake, and lamb stew with bean curd sheet were among the most searched for recipes.

Curious to know what were the other top search terms in Hong Kong of 2021—including the most popular movies, TV shows and hotels? Scroll down to see the lists below and check how many you searched for. You can also visit Google Trends’ official website here for more information. 

Read more: Are Staycations Here to Stay? Top 2022 Travel Trends According to Experts