Rugby sevens guide to Hong Kong
Literally half a world away from where the sport first began, and with a national side on the periphery of rugby’s top table, Hong Kong is the epicentre of the sevens world, the spiritual home of the abridged game. The Hong Kong Sevens is a must for every rugby fan the world over, and this is why...
What is the Hong Kong Sevens?
The Hong Kong Sevens is a three-day rugby tournament which sees the best sevens teams from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series compete in front of a crowd of rugby fans and costumed-party goers who never seem to tire. The event was hit particularly hard by Covid, however it’s back in all its technicolour glory. This will be the 47th Hong Kong Sevens, meaning it pre-dates rugby’s World Cup (which began in 1987) by a decade.
Its popularity stems from the fact that it’s more akin to a festival than a sporting competition. Ask anyone who has been and they are just as likely to regale you with stories from the south stand where they encountered Freddie Mercury and the Smurfs (or convincingly dressed-up versions of them) as they are to tell you about watching some of the game’s greatest entertainers at work: Waisale Serevi, Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Carlin Isles, Perry Baker, or Santiago Gomez-Cora – all of whom have dazzled on the pitch in Hong Kong.
What is Hong Kong like?
Hong Kong is what happens when a super metropolis is built around a cluster of ancient fishing villages. Skyscrapers tend to feature in the images people hold in their heads about Hong Kong. And there is no doubt that these vertigo-inducing steel and glass cathedrals dominate your view when you first arrive. But once you’ve acclimatised, it’s the thronging neon-lit streets which occupy your attention instead.
Hong Kong’s streets are active at any time of the day or night and are an endless maze of experiences, sights, sounds and smells. Courtesy of its financial position in the world, Hong Kong is also one of the most diverse cities in Asia. The majority of people are Chinese, with Europeans, Americans, Indonesians and Australians, to name a few, bolstering Hong Kong’s population to 7.5 million and making the city one of the most densely populated on earth. However, you can still beat the hustle and bustle here as there is an astonishing amount of green space and nature retreats to indulge in.
What is the food like in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong caters for every budget, and almost every taste, although fish is its showstopping number. The heartbeat of its culinary scene is found on the streets. Vendors sell a combination of Hong Kong classics. Among the most popular are cheung fun (steamed and sticky rice noodle sheets), siu mai (steamed prawn dumplings), stinky tofu (deep-fried bean curd with chilli sauce) and of course spicy fishballs. These common delicacies can all be bought for just a few dollars.
For those with a budget to burn through, Hong Kong boasts restaurants recognised as some of the best in the world. The Chairman on Wellington Street, for example, is on the list of the World’s 50 Best restaurants. If you go there, be sure someone in your party orders the restaurant’s speciality: the steamed flowery crab.
The Chairman’s success is based on re-inventing traditional Cantonese dishes, which many Hong Kong restaurants also aimed at. The Forum is one of those, and with three Michelin stars to its name, it’s clearly done a good job of it too. If you go, try their deliciously tender, braised ox tail.
Between the street food and the fine dining, Hong Kong offers a multitude of constantly evolving eateries at a decent price. Given Hong Kong’s diversity, it’s not a surprise that many places offer fusion cooking mixing European ideas with Asian ingredients but there are plenty of restaurants offering classic Asian fair, and, of course, trays and trays of dim sum.
What do I have to see in Hong Kong?
If you attend the Hong Kong Sevens, you’re already one up in the culture stakes. The Hong Kong Stadium, where the sevens is played, is one of the city’s iconic sights even when there’s no rugby being played.
Set amongst verdant forest in Hong Kong’s Happy Valley area, there can’t be many first-class sporting venues that offer views so capable of distracting you from the reason you bought a ticket.
For an even better view, however, why not catch the 135-year-old Peak Tram that takes you to the Peak Tower, where a 360° viewing platform offers a spectacular panorama of Hong Kong from 428m above the cityscape.
Once back at sea-level, head to Victoria Harbour and soak up the historical significance of this narrow stretch of the South China Sea separating Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula. It’s natural advantages as a port (deep and sheltered) have been central to its rise as an economic power, and its popularity as a trade destination continues to this day with tens of thousands of ships using the port every year.
If you are in the port area at night time, watch out for the light show, known as ‘The Symphony of Lights’ it takes place every evening at 8pm, making it one of the world’s largest permanent light and sound show.
How do I get to the Hong Kong Sevens stadium?
Hong Kong Stadium is located centrally on Hong Kong Island. The stadium lies a short 15-minute walk from the metro stop Causeway Bay, which is a stop on the Island Line.
Learn more about the Hong Kong Sevens and Hong Kong at DiscoverHongKong.com