What surprises await you behind the Hong Kong French May Arts Festival?

The following is a travel guide for the Hong Kong French May Arts Festival: Festival Features The Hong Kong French May Arts Festival is the largest French arts festival in Asia, held every year from May to June, lasting for two months. The theme for 2025 is "French Arts Carnival," bringing a cultural feast spanning seven major areas, including art, film, circus, music, dance, drama, and gastronomy, with numerous programs held in different venues. Must-See Performances • Dance: From May 30 to June 1, the contemporary dance drama "L'Innocence" will be performed at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre. French choreographer and dance master Mathieu Le May reinterprets Lars von Trier's film "The Idiots" in a novel way and has won many international awards. From June 6 to 8, the classic ballet "Giselle" will be performed at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, guided by the former principal of the Paris Opera Ballet School, bringing together more than 40 talented young dancers to present a two-act classical ballet. • Drama: From May 9 to 11 and May 13 to 18, the French musical "The Life of Galileo" will be performed at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre Theatre. Adapted from a true story, it uses a suspenseful plot to showcase the French judicial system in the 19th century and has won many French awards. • Music: On June 6, Paris Sounds - Jazz Duo will be performed at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, with famous French jazz pianists and trumpeters presenting a unique jazz experience. On June 7, Jazz in the Movies will be performed at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, showcasing the evolution of French jazz by reinterpreting classic film music. Art Exhibitions • "Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso—A Dialogue with Asia" exhibition will be held from March 15 to July 13 in the West Gallery of M+, bringing together more than 150 works by Picasso and works by Asian and European artists, showing the dialogue and mutual influence between Eastern and Western cultures. • "Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Black White—A Photographic Telling" exhibition features more than 250 precious photographs from the collection of the National Library of France, as well as more than 30 works from the M+ collection, telling the history of photography development with four themes such as "Photography originates from words." Gastronomic Experience • French May Gastronomic Delights: From May 1 to 31, traditional French markets will be held in the Central Market and Nina Mall, where you can taste a series of special handmade foods from the south of France. During the French May Gastronomic Delights, the Chinachem Group and the French contemporary dance company KHAM will also exclusively perform their global tour work "Intrusion Chorégraphique" at three Chinachem Group landmarks, realizing a double satisfaction of taste and vision. • Bar Crawl: French May Gastronomic Delights, in conjunction with "Whisky Magazine," is launching the citywide bar crawl for the first time. In May, designated bars will present special cocktails made with French spirits, and you can also collect stamps to redeem selected gifts. Transportation Guide • Subway: The Hong Kong subway network is extensive, and you can take the subway to reach various venues near the Arts Festival, such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Xiqu Centre, and Hong Kong City Hall, which are all close to subway stations. For example, to go to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, you can take the Tsuen Wan Line and get off at Tsim Sha Tsui Station, and walk from Exit B3 or B4. • Bus: There are many bus routes in Hong Kong, and you can check the specific routes through mobile applications in advance. For example, to go to the Xiqu Centre, you can take bus routes 11, 103, 113, etc. and get off at Tsim Sha Tsui East Station, and walk for a few minutes to reach. • Taxi: The starting price for taxis in Hong Kong is HKD 24, and you can pay with cash or card. It is more convenient to take a taxi in the city, but there may be congestion during peak hours. Accommodation Recommendations • Five-star hotels: Such as The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, located in Tsim Sha Tsui, adjacent to the International Commerce Centre, overlooking the beautiful Victoria Harbour, and close to the Arts Festival venues such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, making it convenient to travel. The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is located in Central, with convenient transportation, many shopping and dining options, and can meet the needs of high-end consumers. • Four-star hotels: Hong Kong Kowloon East Crown Plaza Hotel is located in the Kowloon Bay business district, with convenient transportation, spacious and comfortable rooms, and many surrounding delicacies. The Bay Bridge Hong Kong by Hotel G is located in Tsuen Wan, overlooking the charming scenery of Tsing Ma Bridge and Lantau Island, and is close to Tsuen Wan West Station, making it easy to take the subway to the city. • Budget hotels: The Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West, Hong Kong is located in Tsuen Wan, providing comfortable accommodation and quality service at a relatively affordable price. YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel is the first municipal youth hostel in Hong Kong, located in Sham Shui Po, surrounded by authentic Hong Kong flavors, allowing travelers to deeply experience Hong Kong's local culture. Other Useful Information • Buy tickets in advance: Tickets for some popular performances and activities at the Arts Festival are tight, so it is recommended to buy tickets in advance on the official website or designated ticketing points, the website is <>. • Pay attention to discounts: During the French May Gastronomic Delights, many restaurants, bars, retailers, and online platforms offer limited-time discounts. You can learn about relevant information in advance and enjoy more benefits. • Language communication: Most people in Hong Kong can understand Cantonese and English, but at the Arts Festival site and related places, you can also meet people who speak French. Learning a few simple French greetings may allow you to have more fun in communication. The above information is for reference only.