It’s served as the backdrop to some of the moodiest, most romantic films ever made: Days of Being Wild, Chungking Express, and In the Mood for Love to name a few. Director Wong Kar-Wai has always used Hong Kong as though she were her own character in his films–untamed and gritty, visceral and evocative.

It may not be one of the first destinations to come to mind when you and your soon-to-be new spouse are picking out honeymoon destinations, but this gorgeous city offers plenty of amorous amusements and attractions that may yet surprise you.

Read on for our guide to some of Hong Kong’s hottest spots for couples on a honeymoon.

See the Symphony of Lights

This iconic light and sound spectacle is the largest of its kind in the world, convincing numerous visitors to book tour packages to Hong Kong just to witness the magic for themselves. Conducted nightly at 8 PM, the symphony lights up the cityscape across Victoria Harbor, which comes alive with dazzling colors as various light effects and pyrotechnics illuminate the night sky.

Set to a rousing soundtrack performed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the ten-minute show is best viewed from three vantage points: at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront outside the Hong Kong Cultural Center, where the Avenue of Stars is also located; outside the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai; or right from the harbor, on a sightseeing ferry.

We recommend going on a romantic harbor sunset or dinner cruise with your significant other just before the show starts for the best seats in the house and some guaranteed quality alone time.

Catch a Film at the Broadway Cinematheque

Going out to catch a flick has been a staple date night idea since the invention of the silent film. In Hong Kong, you can do it with style at the Broadway Cinematheque in Yau Ma Tei.

A haven for cinephiles and arthouse film lovers, the four-screen movie house was established in 1996 and is the only multiplex in Hong Kong that features independently produced and international films, ones that typically do not see wide mainstream releases in the territory. The cinematheque also hosts a number of film festivals annually, including the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, and the Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, among others.

Pop into the eclectic Kubrick Bookshop Café next door—before or after your feature—for snacks or coffee. This is also a great spot to kick back and peruse some of the titles available at the establishment’s open library of art, culture, and film books and publications.

Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Speakeasies

Hong Kong’s nightlife scene is as vibrant and cosmopolitan as the city itself, and revelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to trendy clubs and fantastic bars at hotspots such as Lan Kwai Fong or SoHo.

For adventurous couples on an evening out, we recommend drinks at establishments that are a little less conventional. Some of the city’s best speakeasies are tucked away in Central, such as 001, which is hidden behind a recessed, unadorned black door on Graham Street. The reservations-only establishment adheres to a strict dress code, but it rewards the guests who make an effort with a selection of top-shelf spirits, incredible cocktails, and genuinely good food, all served amidst glamorous interiors that bring a more civilized age to mind.

There’s also PDT—that’s short for Please Don’t Tell— another cocktail joint that can only be accessed by dialing ‘1’ from a hidden phone booth somewhere inside another bar at the Mandarin Oriental. Sound familiar? It’s an off-shoot of a New York institution with the same name, one that’s hidden behind a hotdog joint in the East Village. Quirky and unapologetically mischievous, the seasonal cocktail menu features drinks crafted exclusively for the Hong Kong branch as well as mainstays from the New York sister location.

The snacks are some of the best in Hong Kong and shouldn’t be missed. The hot dogs and Takoyaki Tots, for example, come highly recommended. PDT is also one of the very few places where you can try the Impossible Burger, where the patty looks, tastes, and behaves just like ground beef, but is actually made with 100% plant-derived ingredients.

Have a Cookout at Chung Hom Kok Beach

If “going to the beach” is a non-negotiable prerequisite for your honeymoon, Hong Kong has plenty of them, too: there’s luxurious Shek O, dubbed the Venice of the East, or the equally popular Stanley Beach area. For a more private and secluded experience, head to Chung Hom Kok, also on Hong Kong Island.

This little beach makes up for its smaller size by being abundant in quiet charms. It is also as well-equipped with facilities as other beaches in the area. There’s a dedicated barbecue area outfitted with picnic tables and fire pits for grilling your own food, well-maintained restrooms and changing rooms, and even a small playground. Lifeguards man the towers during swimming season, but otherwise, you’ll be lucky to come across more than a handful of people on any given day.

Thai passport holders can visit Hong Kong without a visa and stay for up to 30 days for tourism purposes. Anything beyond that or for purposes other than tourism and the Thai citizen will have to apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy in Thailand before traveling.

Upon arriving, we recommend buying an Octopus Card, a contactless debit card that can be used on almost all forms of public transportation in Hong Kong, except taxis. It can also be used to pay for goods at convenience stores, supermarkets, and fast-food restaurants. We also recommend downloading the MTR Mobile app onto your smartphone so that you can take full advantage of Hong Kong’s very efficient subway system to get around.

Shift Frequency © 2019 – Ideas for the Perfect Hong Kong Honeymoon