What to do and see in Hong Kong Island, China: The Best Events

Not many would guess that one of the most popular sporting events in Asia centres around rugby, but the Hong Kong Sevens does just that. Held annually at the famed Hong Kong stadium, this international rugby tournament brings together 28 teams from around the globe. Over the course of 3 days, upwards of 80,000 fans gather to watch the best rugby players in the world compete for the ultimate title. And, if you ever need a breather from the sporting action, there are plenty of other fun activities and musical entertainment to choose from.

Hong Kong plays host to many trade exhibitions every year, but the Food Expo that takes place around August is certainly the tastiest. Thousands of vendors showcase produce, fine ingredients and international delicacies in the hopes of winning big contracts in the F&B industry. While the expo is free to attend if you pre-register, casual vistors might want to pay the extra fee that allows access to the Gourmet Zone, which offers a plethora of food and drink samples.

First held in 1990, the Hong Kong Book Fair has grown to be one of the region's most celebrated literary events. Millions of visitors stream through the exhibition halls each year around mid-April to peruse and purchase books as well as attend the many literary panels, forums and workshops. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council invites acclaimed authors and publishers from all over the world, and many of the panels are held in English. Activities held in other languages provide simultaneous English and Cantonese translation. The open forum is a fan favorite for the discussions it provokes.

The traditional Chinese calendar follows a lunar cycle, and the Lunar New Year, falling sometime between mid-January to the end of February, is considered by Chinese to be the "real" new year. Hong Kong's Lunar New Year celebration is one of the most vibrant with fireworks, traditional lion dances, parades, red lanterns and auspicious foods strewn across the whole city. It is also traditional to walk the flower markets and buy gifts for the household during the final hours of new year's eve, and these markets are a sight to behold.

This wine-centric festival, which is held around October each year, will excite your palate with hundreds of wine and food vendors, all in an al fresco setting with Victoria Harbour as a backdrop. Recent years have seen the inclusion of craft beer and whisky as the market for fine alcohol grows in Asia. A small fee gets you into the festival and food and beverages can be purchased from the many booths, while special passes and tokens give access to wine tastings, food pairings and special events. The festival comes alive at night with live entertainment on a central stage.

This giant comic convention started life as the comic book section at the annual Hong Kong Book Fair. The section soon included animation and games under its umbrella and grew so big it spun off into its own event. Now hundreds of thousands of attendees flock to this con to participate in cosplay and gaming competitions, see new art as well as view and try upcoming releases in the field of animation, comic books and games. Even if you are just a casual fan of these genres, seeing the elaborate costumes attendees put together is a huge part of the fun.