M+, Hong Kong’s answer to Tate Modern and MoMA opens after two decades in the making. The colossal new institution for art, architecture and design houses an impressive 183,000 square feet of exhibition space, divided among 33 galleries.

M+ has its sights set on becoming the leading cultural institution in Asia, and perhaps one of the best in the world. Its opening heralds a time for Hong Kong’s art and culture development and places the city as a forerunner in art and culture in Asia and beyond.

Don’t miss: Exclusive: Inside Hong Kong’s New M+ Museum—Asia’s Answer to Tate Modern and MoMA

After a four-year-long renovation project, the revitalised Central Market finally opened its doors this year. The reopening saw the historic market—the city’s very first wet market that opened for business—transformed into a four-storey Bauhaus-style structure.

The 178-year-old market aims to become a unique cultural destination that revolves around the concept of a “Playground for All”, where Hongkongers can enjoy an enticing array of dining, retail and entertainment options, all under one roof.

Don’t miss: Hong Kong’s Revitalised Central Market is Now Open

Danny Yeung—Tatler cover star, Gen.T 2019 honouree and Asia’s Most Influential honouree—and his biotech company, Prenetics has become Hong Kong’s first unicorn to be publicly traded. The deal has made the powerhouse in genomic and diagnostic testing an enterprise valued at US$1.5 billion, a jump from its US$300 million value just last year.

Prenetics gained attention when it brought the University of Oxford’s rapid Covid-19 test to the masses, most famously providing them to professional teams in the UK. The company is also behind CircleDNA which sells at-home test kits that can detect disease risk, food sensitivities, personality and behavioural traits. Long before vaccines were available, their tests were at the forefront of mass Covid-19 testing in the city.

Don’t miss: Exclusive: Prenetics Becomes Hong Kong’s First Listed Unicorn. This Is Founder Danny Yeung’s Secret To Success

This year’s Oscars has been filled with historic moments including our very own, Derek Tsang. He made history as the first Hong Kong-born director to have his work nominated at the Oscars with Better Days. It’s also the first film in 28 years to be acknowledged following Raise the Red Lantern (1991) and Farewell My Concubine (1993).

An Asia’s Most Influential honouree, Tsang’s teenage romantic mystery crime thriller stars Jackson Yee and Zhou Dongyu and deals with the subject of bullying. It swept eight awards at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Don’t miss: Hong Kong Director Derek Tsang on His Journey to Making Oscar-Nominated Film, ‘Better Days’

Tang Yi’s 14-minute short film, All the Crows in the World claimed the top prize for short film—the Palme d'Or—at the Cannes Film Festival 2021. It’s the first time that a Hong Kong short film has ever received the top accolade.

The New Year University film student said that the movie was based on her own experiences as a teenager. The movie also took home Best Screenplay and Best Director at the 15th Fresh Wave International Film Festival in Hong Kong before its Cannes win.

Don’t miss: Exclusive: Hong Kong Director Tang Yi on What’s Next After her Cannes Victory

A Hong Kong apartment located in the Mount Nicholson development on The Peak sold for HK$640 million—the most expensive apartment ever sold in Asia. The apartment spans 4,544 square feet and the sale includes three parking spaces. The previous record was also held by a Hong Kong apartment just nine months ago. The HK$459 million apartment is located at 21 Borrett Road.

Earlier this year, a parking space at Mount Nicholson also became the most expensive place to park an automobile in Hong Kong and in the world for HK$10.2 million.

Don’t miss: Chinese Tycoon’s Daughter Revealed As Buyer of US$82.2M Hong Kong Apartment, the Most Expensive Property in Asia

This year’s Tokyo Olympics marks Hong Kong’s biggest-ever Olympic medal haul while the city received equally impressive medals at the Paralympics. Fencer Cheung Ka-long brought home Hong Kong’s first-ever gold medal in the sport while Siobhan Haughey scored two silver medals in swimming—the first for the sport and the first Olympian to win two medals at one Olympic event.

Meanwhile, cyclist Sarah Lee also made history when she bagged a silver medal from the women’s track cycling sprint and became the first Hong Kong athlete to win multiple medals from different Olympics. Hong Kong’s women’s table tennis team also clinched a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics—the city’s second-ever Olympic medal in table tennis.

Karatera Grace Lau also bagged a bronze medal in karate, a sport that made its debut at the Tokyo Olympics. Her win is historic as it marks the first time that a Hong Kong athlete ever won an Olympic medal in karate, which may be the first and last time the sport will ever be seen at the Olympics.

Over at the Paralympics, Wong Ting-ting received a bronze medal in the women’s singles table tennis event, the city’s first medal of the games. Seasoned Hong Kong athlete, Leung Yuk-wing added another bronze medal to Hong Kong’s medal tally while badminton player, Chu Man-kai scored a silver medal in the men’s single event.

At the mixed boccia event, Leung Yuk-wing and Vivian Lau Wai-yin took home silver medals and badminton player Daniel Chan won another bronze medal on the final day of the games. The success of Hong Kong’s athletes rounds up a triumphant summer of sport for the city.

Don’t miss: Olympic Silver-Medal Winning Swimmer Siobhan Haughey’s 15 Favourite Things

Many were smitten when Hong Kong acting legend, Tony Leung appeared in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Widely acclaimed as Hong Kong’s greatest actor, Leung became the talk of the town. His role as Wenwu in Marvel’s first film with an Asian superhero marks the Asia’s Most Influential honouree’s Hollywood debut.

Leung’s performance gained praise from critics and fans alike, saying that his sincerity made the supervillain emphatic and gave him a soul. Hong Kong American actress, Fala Chen also starred in the film as Wenwu’s wife Ying Li, which also marked her Hollywood debut.

Hong Kong action star, choreographer, stuntman and martial artist Yuen Wah also appeared in the film. He’s one of the most well-known names in martial arts film, making appeared in over 160 films throughout his entire career.

Don’t miss: Why ‘Shang-Chi’ is the Movie Asia’s Been Waiting For

Hong Kong’s prized swimmer, Siobhan Haughey has been raking in more medals since her stunning Olympic performance. The double Olympic silver medalist recently became the first Hong Kong swimmer to break the world record for women’s 200mm freestyle, clocking in at 1:50.31.

That didn’t stop there. The Asia’s Most Influential honouree also scored a bronze medal in the women’s 400m freestyle final at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi after bagging two gold medals in the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle finals respectively.

Don’t miss: Tatler Talks to Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong’s Prized Olympic Swimmer

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