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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Hong Kong Summer Viva': Calling All Fans to Dive into Festivals, Games and Parties – Only in Hong Kong!
Here comes a citywide bash that's jam-packed with events and activities for travellers from all corners of the worldHONG KONG, May 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This summer, Hong Kong invites the world to experience 'Hong Kong Summer Viva', a season-long celebration of everything we love about summer, with exclusive experiences, parties and adventures for every type of fan. From theme park parties and island escapes to action-packed sports events, buzzing fairs and surprise pop-ups, Hong Kong Summer Viva is your invitation to dive headfirst into a summer to remember – only in Hong Kong. Global Fans Unite for Fun-Filled Theme Park Celebrations Get ready to groove into the summer party vibes! Starting June 28, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) celebrates its 20th anniversary with The Most Magical Party of All, a year-long extravaganza filled with three unmissable festivities, including a brand-new anniversary-only castle stage show, largest-ever parade and the grandest nighttime spectacular in HKDL's history. At this day-to-night party, tempt your tastebuds with more than 80 new food and drink creations, complete your party look with over 300 all-new 20th anniversary merchandise, and receive a complimentary digital party photo via the Disney PhotoPass mobile app. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Resort is introducing a limited-time postcard redemption offer. Fans registered on the DHK who spend HK$100 or more in a single transaction at any merchandise store in Hong Kong Disneyland Park can receive a complimentary, resort exclusive postcard* (while stocks last). Guests can mail the postcard for free using the in-park mailbox, sharing the magic of the 20th Anniversary celebration with friends and family around the world. Make your summer even more magical with this special keepsake!Celebrate 20 years of magic at Hong Kong Disneyland with The Most Magical Party of All – and even a limited-edition postcard to send home. Over at Ocean Park Hong Kong, the fun continues with Ocean Park Summer Splash 2025. From 5 July to 24 August, panda lovers are in for a treat as they celebrate the first birthday of the Hong Kong's panda twins – Jia Jia and De De, and meet their newest IP character installations, which are dressed in summer gear to welcome all visitors. Ocean Park Hong Kong will also offer special deals for overseas panda fans, including its first-ever 'Twin Park Package Ticket' granting access to both parks. Guests can also receive an exclusive summer goodie bag filled with a panda luggage tag and park vouchers, with first come first serve purpose. The family-friendly Summer Splash 2025 also features water gun battle zones, a giant ball pool and adorable water play areas for little ones. As day turns to night, Water World Ocean Park Hong Kong will be turning up the energy with a splash-tastic dance party, including live DJ sets and picture-perfect sea views. Football Fever Takes Over Hong Kong Kicking off at the end of July, Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 will bring together four of the world's top clubs – Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur – to face off at the new Kai Tak Stadium. Fans can catch two blockbuster matches on separate days: Liverpool FC vs. AC Milan on 26 July, and Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur on 31 July, marking the first North London Derby played outside the UK. Exclusive open training sessions at Kai Tak Stadium offer rare access on 24 July (Liverpool FC), 29 July (Tottenham Hotspur), and 30 July (Arsenal). AC Milan's Open Training will be held at the Hong Kong Stadium on 25 July. Additional club-led events and activities for fans will be announced. Please stay tuned! For Cristiano Ronaldo fans, the CR7® LIFE Museum Hong Kong will be on display for the first time in Asia, starting 7 July at K11 MUSEA. First signature museum of the football GOAT in Asia offers a captivating journey through the life and career of football's greatest icon, Cristiano Ronaldo. This unique exhibition offers fans an unprecedented glimpse into the world of football through the eyes of one of the sport's most celebrated Islands and Marine Adventures for Outdoor Enthusiasts Island-hopping in Hong Kong offers more than just sun and sea – it's a gateway to natural wonders and rich marine life, too. From June to August, travellers can enjoy a breezy two-hour 'Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region Boat Tour' with Recommended Geopark Guide (R2G) across this scenic UNESCO-listed corner of Hong Kong, where dramatic coastal formations like the Elephant Trunk Cave await. UNESCO Global Geopark - R2G Boat Tour of the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region Details: Date: June–August (Every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday) No. of rides: 3 rides per day (9am, 12pm and 3pm) Route: Sai Kung Pier > Sharp Island (Land for approx. 30 min) > Bell-shaped sea arch > Basalt Island > Po Pin Chau > Elephant Trunk Cave > Sai Kung Pier (Duration: 2 hrs) Tour language: English, Mandarin Tour fee: HK$380 per person (same price for adults and children) How to register: For a deeper dive beneath the surface, book your spot on a guided Coral Exploration Programme with the WWF Hong Kong Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre in the northeastern New Territories. You'll glide over the marine park on a glass-bottomed boat, spot vibrant coral reefs and learn about local coral restoration efforts – a fascinating look at the city's vibrant underwater ecosystem. Coral Exploration Tour Details Date: June - September Activities: Introduce HK marine environment and Hoi Ha Marine Park Learn about the coral community in Hoi Ha Observe Hoi Ha Wan corals on our glass-bottomed boat (Aged 5 or above) Visit the coral nursery facility * Round trip transportation from Sai Kung to Hoi Ha Wan is included Language: English, Mandarin Tour fee: HK$360 per person (same price for adults and children) How to register: 2 Must-Visit Summer Fairs for Curious Minds Book lovers can look forward to two exciting events at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai this summer. From 16 to 22 July, the Hong Kong Book Fair returns with the theme of the year, 'Food Culture • Future Living'. It brings together publishers, authors and readers to promote the culture of reading through seminars with renowned authors from around the world, a range of cultural activities and the World of Art and Culture zone, all to inspire the public to explore reading the world. Then, from 25 to 29 July, the spotlight shifts to fandoms of a different kind with the five-day Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong (ACGHK), the city's premier festival for anime, comics, gaming and cosplay. Whether you're a devoted manga enthusiast or just dipping your toes into the gaming world, this high-energy pop culture fest delivers an afternoon of colour, creativity and pure fun. ACGHK 2025 introduces a dedicated Tourist Fast Lane (Gate 1B) at normal ticket price for international visitors holding valid travelling documents. Even More Hong Kong Summer Events and Offers Besides attractions, hotels and Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme-certified merchants are supporting HKTB's 'Hong Kong Summer Viva' thematic promotion. Starting on 23 June, locals and visitors can enjoy more than 100 summer dining and spending offers, including more than 20 of buy-one-get-one-free offers, covering merchandises and tourism products such as sweet soup drink, beverages, hotel afternoon tea sets and hotel buffet deals and many more. Various attractions and transport operators will also provide discounts and hospitality treats, such as free packages for round trip peak tram ride and Sky Terrace 428 admission ticket and water taxi tour around the Victoria Harbour for HK$100. Further details will be announced in due course. Visit the Hong Kong Summer Viva page for full event details and insider tips. And don't miss the revamped Discover Hong Kong travel platform, now featuring monthly event timelines, powerful search tools and up-to-date listings to help you plan the ultimate summer getaway. Click here to download high-res images. For media enquiries, please contact: Ms. Annice Li Email: Ms. Claris Lam Email: Photos accompanying this announcement are available at in to access your portfolio
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Jia Jia and De De chosen as names for Hong Kong's twin panda cubs
Panda mum Ying Ying and her twin cubs, Jia Jia (left) and De De, at Ocean Park's Giant Panda Adventure on Tuesday. -- Photo: Eugene Lee Lo Hoi-ying / SCMP Hong Kong's nine-month-old twin panda cubs, previously known only as 'Elder Sister' and 'Younger Brother', have been named Jia Jia and De De, respectively, conveying the Cantonese slang term for encouragement 'add oil' and the notion of virtue. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui revealed on Tuesday the results of the panda naming contest, which received more than 35,700 entries from members of the public since submissions opened in February. 'All suggestions reflected beautiful blessings for the giant pandas,' she said. The Chinese characters for Jia Jia conveyed a message of support, 'add oil' in Cantonese, and had the same pronunciation as the words 'home' and 'auspices' in Mandarin, the park said. 'Younger Brother' has been named De De, after the Chinese word meaning 'success'. De shares the same pronunciation as the Mandarin and Cantonese pronunciation for 'virtue', suggesting that giant pandas possess virtues cherished by the Chinese. Jia Jia is also the English name of another panda who lived at Ocean Park until her death in 2016, although the Chinese characters for the name of 'Elder Sister' are different. Chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee said visitor numbers and revenue had increased during the Easter and Labour Day holidays. 'What's worth noting is that the per cap spending has also increased,' he said. 'We feel that this will continue well into the summer.' He added that the park had benefited from increased exposure and intellectual property fees brought in by the Panda Friends series' product sales. 'It's been a very good first half of the year for the park,' he said. Pong also added that exclusive VIP tours that allowed visitors to see the twin cubs brought in more than HK$2 million (US$255,177) in March and April. The tours, which cost HK$1,500 per person, provided visitors early access to the facilities and a half-hour to capture pictures of the cubs. Ocean Park earlier said that the nicknames 'Elder Sister' and 'Younger Brother' would be kept as usual, while the Mandarin pinyin of the selected Chinese names would be adopted as the English names. On the same day, the cubs and mother Ying Ying were to be moved to the Alpine Zone of their enclosure at the Giant Panda Adventure. Pong said that the cubs already weighed more than 21kg (46lbs) and visitors no longer had to be separated by a glass panel when visiting them in their new enclosure. The enclosure will be open from 10am to 4.30pm daily starting on Wednesday for visitors to catch the twins together with their mother. The twins' father, Le Le, is housed at the Giant Panda Adventure but separate from Ying Ying and the twins, in line with their natural solitary behaviour, according to Ocean Park. The cubs have been drawing fans to the enclosure every day since they made their public debut on February 16, six months after they were born on August 15 last year. Ying Ying became the oldest first-time panda mum in captivity when she gave birth to the cubs. The journey to parenthood for Ying Ying and Le Le took more than 10 years, with multiple phantom pregnancies and miscarriages.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Tonic for Hong Kong as panda cubs named
The twin giant panda cubs born in Hong Kong last August are cute as buttons and have now been officially named with monikers that will appeal to their vast army of fans. Their official naming also marks what many hope will be a boost to the so-called panda economy. Affectionately nicknamed 'Elder Sister' and 'Younger Brother', a traditional way of addressing siblings in a Chinese family, the nine-month-old twins were yesterday formally given the names Jia Jia and De De, respectively. 'Jia Jia' in Mandarin means home and family, while its Cantonese version also signifies encouragement and support. 'De De' expresses hope that Hong Kong can do well in everything and also represents virtue in Chinese. The names were chosen as they also sound similar to their nicknames. The naming followed a public engagement that attracted more than 35,000 submissions, a process underlining the excitement surrounding their birth. As in the christening of newborns and other naming ceremonies, the choice of names signifies that the twins are now not only a part of the Hong Kong family but also places expectations on the cuddly pair as they grow up. The cubs have been drawing fans to their home at Ocean Park since they debuted in mid-February, six months after the first successful panda births in the city. Along with their mother Ying Ying, they will be moved to the Alpine Zone of their enclosure at the Giant Panda Adventure, where visitors can meet the family without a glass barrier. Their father, Le Le, continues to stay in a separate area, in line with pandas' natural solitary behaviour. The city has been buzzing with excitement since last summer, with the surprise twin births coinciding with the arrival of adult pandas An An and Ke Ke, gifted by Beijing to mark the 27th anniversary of the city's return to Chinese sovereignty. As we welcome Jia Jia and De De as part of the community, hopes are high that Hong Kong can better capitalise on the opportunities arising from the six pandas that now call the city home. We trust Ocean Park's efforts in raising the twins will enhance its conservation experience. With the right strategy, the pandas can help generate more positive energy and add to economic benefits for the city.
Nahar Net
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Nahar Net
Hong Kong's baby pandas finally get names: Jia Jia and De De
by Naharnet Newsdesk 27 May 2025, 14:54 Hong Kong's first locally born giant pandas have finally been named and introduced as Jia Jia and De De. The names of the cubs, affectionately known as "Elder Sister" and "Little Brother," were announced Tuesday in a ceremony at Ocean Park, the theme park housing them, their parents and two other giant pandas that arrived from mainland China last year. The names were the winning suggestions from residents in a naming contest that drew more than 35,700 entries. The Chinese character "Jia," from the female cub's name "Jia Jia," carries a message of support and features an element of family and a sense of auspicious grace. The name embodies the prosperity of families and the nation and the happiness of the people, the park said. The Chinese character "De," from the male cub's name, means to succeed, carrying the connotation that Hong Kong is successful in everything. De also has the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for virtue, the park said, suggesting giant pandas possess virtues cherished by Chinese people. Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong said they followed tradition by using Mandarin pronunciation for the pandas' English names. He said "Jia" sounds like a word in the Cantonese term for elder sister, while "De De" sounds a bit like the Cantonese phrase for little brother. Cantonese is the mother language of many Hong Kongers. "It's a very positive pair of names," he said. "We have to be a bit creative here with the names." The cubs, who live with their mom, attracted visitors Tuesday who lined up to see them. Jia Jia explored a rock and walked around their area, while De De climbed onto a tall tree. The twins' birth in August made their mother, Ying Ying, the world's oldest first-time panda mom. Their popularity among residents, visitors and on social media raised hopes for a tourism boost in the city, where politicians touted the commercial opportunities as the "panda economy." Observers are watching whether housing six pandas helps the park revive its business, especially when caring for the animals in captivity is expensive. Ocean Park recorded a deficit of 71.6 million Hong Kong dollars ($9.2 million) last financial year. The park recorded a nearly 40% growth in visitor flow and 40% increase in overall income during a five-day holiday beginning May 1 in mainland China, said Pong, who hopes the growth momentum will continue through summer, Halloween and Christmas seasons. Pandas are considered China's unofficial national mascot. The country's giant panda loan program with overseas zoos has long been seen as a tool of Beijing's soft-power diplomacy.
HKFP
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- HKFP
Hong Kong's first giant panda twins named Jia Jia and De De, Ocean Park announces
Hong Kong's first-ever giant panda twins have received their official names, Ocean Park has announced, following a naming competition. The female cub is named Jia Jia while her brother is called De De, after a competition that, according to the park, drew more than 35,700 submissions from the public. The competition's judging panel considered the names to be 'highly meaningful,' Rosanna Law, the secretary for culture, sports and tourism, said on Tuesday. Jia Jia conveys the Chinese phrase of encouragement – 'add oil' – and is also a homophone of the Chinese character for 'family,' while De De means 'to succeed' and is also a homophone of the Chinese character for 'virtue,' Law added. The twins were born in August to mother Ying Ying and father Le Le, marking the first giant panda births in Hong Kong. Ying Ying and Le Le were both gifted by the central government to Hong Kong in 2007 ahead of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Ying Ying gave birth to the twins one day before her 19th birthday. She was 'the oldest giant panda on record to have successfully given birth' as a first-time mother, the park said. The nine-month-old panda cubs are growing up 'strong and healthy,' Ocean Park said in a social media post on Tuesday, adding that they weighed 21 kilogrammes each. 'In recent weeks, they have even started mimicking their mother by nibbling on bamboo leaves, though they are not quite ready to eat them and still rely on milk,' the post read. Ocean Park is now home to six giant pandas – the twins, their parents, as well as new additions An An and Ke Ke, who arrived in October as gifts from Beijing. The park, which launched a number of panda-themed experiences in November, said it would 'capitalise on the presence of six giant pandas in the park to drive citywide excitement' this fiscal year. Opened in 1977, Ocean Park is Hong Kong's largest theme park. It also conducts animal conservation research and boasts around two dozen animal attractions, including an alligator marsh, aquariums, and an Arctic fox den. In November, the park announced a HK$71.6 million deficit in its latest fiscal year, despite recording the highest number of visitors in five years. The rise in visitors was driven by non-local visitors, with tourists from mainland China almost quadrupling while those from India and the Philippines increased by more than three and five times, respectively. But at the same time, the park's operating costs increased 17 per cent compared with the previous year, with spending on conservation and education comprising almost 30 per cent of this.
