A neighbourhood guide to Kai Tak, Hong Kong

All eyes are on East Kowloon this year as the world’s greatest rugby players descend upon the brand-new Kai Tak Stadium for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens . From 1925 to 1998, the area was best known as the site of Kai Tak airport and some of the most thrilling landings in the world, in which planes flew over Victoria Harbour, performed a complex low-altitude 47-degree turn and then roared over Kowloon City so close to the buildings’ rooftops that passengers could see laundry hanging on washing lines. 

When the airport relocated to Chek Lap Kok in 1998, Kai Tak fell off the radar – until now. After undergoing a painstaking, decades-long redevelopment, the site is now ready to be discovered anew. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in this buzzing district.  

How to get to Kai Tak  

Ride the MTR to Kai Tak station and take exit D. From there, it’s a well-signposted 10-minute walk to Kai Tak Sports Park. For Airside and The Twins, take exit C. A number of public buses connect Kai Tak with the rest of Hong Kong. 

If you’re making your way from Hong Kong Island at the weekend or on a public holiday, you can jump on a ferry from North Point .

Take a walk - a Kai Tak City Walk

Got a few hours to spare? Get your bearings with the Kai Tak City Walk . Spanning eight kilometres, this largely flat urban stroll will take you along Hong Kong’s Eastern waterfront, from Kowloon City to Yau Tong. You’ll be able to take in all the major attractions, including Kai Tak Sports Park, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (the site of the former Airport runway), Kwun Tong Promenade and the historical squatter village of Cha Kwo Ling.

Enjoy the action at Kai Tak Sports Park

The newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park is a huge pedestrianised complex that puts health and fitness front and centre. This world-class sporting and leisure complex comprises the 50,000-seater Kai Tak Stadium, Kai Tak Arena and Kai Tak Mall, which is packed with shopping, dining and entertainment galore.

Kai Tak Mall is made up of three buildings interconnected by walkways and eschews luxury boutiques for accessible, everyday items with an athletic bent. Think sporting labels like Asics and Salomon for serious runners, fitness gadgets from Garmin and multi-sport store Decathlon for all manner of fitness gear that you might need. 

That’s not to say you won’t find a few niche stores here, too. The Common Ground showcases sustainable fashion and lifestyle brands, many of which are local. You’ll find plenty of cool Hong Kong designs here, like knitted tote bags brimming with nostalgia by local designer Hoopla.  

Once you’ve explored the shops, there’s a ton of activities to keep you amused: Top Bowl, a 40-lane bowling alley, the soon-to-open 17.5-metre indoor climbing wall and Epicland , an enormous indoor playground with four themed play zones that will entertain the little ones all afternoon. 

Meanwhile, bigger kids should make a beeline for Joypolis Sports . Hailing from Japan, this three-storey haven of gamified sporting activities will be such a fun-filled experience that they won’t even notice how active they’ve been. Tweens and teens will love the Future Arena for Tron-style challenges and the Ninja Dojo, which incorporates agility courses and martial arts. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to rooftop restaurant and bar Hungry Tiger, Hidden Dragon for drinks and a well-earned meal.

Get lost in Airside 

Located right beside Kai Tak MTR station, Airside ’s ambition is to be a hub of culture and holistic wellbeing, with open air, green spaces and art installations peppered throughout. Adventure seekers should check out the indoor surf experience at Groundswell , where surfers of all skill levels can sign up for a session on the Flowrider, a state-of-the-art stationary wave, from HK$500 for 60 minutes. You could even make an evening of it with a surf and dine package – Groundswell’s delectable pan-Asian menu complements its laidback vibe perfectly.

If you’re looking to work up a sweat, Asphodel House is a luxuriously appointed two-storey Crossfit gym that also runs reformer Pilates classes. Come for a class and stay for the sauna – a day pass is HK$450. 

If you have children in tow, they’ll love Bouncetopia . Catering to kids aged 2-10, this 8,000-square-foot paradise of bouncy castles with 12 themed obstacle courses will delight little ones. Once they’ve had their fill of bouncing, take the energy levels down a notch with creative crafting activities. 

For a taste of history, the Walled City Kaifong Welfare Association Store offers an immersive experience of the infamous Kowloon Walled City, a lawless enclave where some 35,000 of Hong Kong’s residents lived until it was demolished in 1994. The store educates visitors about the area’s history and sells merchandise related to the film. 

As a pet-friendly mall, Airside has several shops dedicated to pet supplies. Pampered pooches on leashes, in their owner’s arms or even in doggie strollers, is a common sight.

If you’re feeling peckish, head to the Food Boulevard on the ground floor, where you’ll find alfresco bites from the likes of After You Dessert Café , a wildly popular chain in Thailand known for its shaved ice and pillowy toast served with ice cream.

Go shopping in The Twins

Got the urge to splurge? Head to The Twins , a brand-new retail destination that’s home to Sogo, one of Hong Kong’s long-standing department stores. Here, you’ll find a dizzying array of international brands, from makeup and skincare to luxury labels, sportswear, homewares, appliances and a whole lot more – this is a destination for serious retail therapy. 

Parents will love Babymart on the sixth floor, one of Hong Kong’s biggest one-stop shops for baby supplies. 

The Twins is opening in stages, so expect more shopping and dining options to be announced soon – such as the Sky Koen outdoor rooftop garden and sculpture park spanning more than 19,000 square feet. 

Explore Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Park 

Jutting out into the harbour, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal was the site of the former airport runway, as evidenced by its long and narrow layout. With swathes of open, grassy areas, it’s great for kids to have a run around – you can also head to the rooftop garden, picnic in hand, for an unbeatable harbour view. On a hot day, cool off at the fountain plaza, where little ones can play in jets of water that shoot out from the ground. 

Stay at Dorsett Kai Tak

Newly opened to coincide with the launch of Kai Tak Sports Park, the Dorsett Kai Tak is perfect for anyone planning to base their trip around a big event at the stadium. If you can’t get enough of fusion cuisine, be sure to book a table at Siete Ocho, a Sichuan-Spanish restaurant that blends Sichuan ingredients with Spanish preparation techniques for a unique dining experience. Look forward to stellar dishes like Spanish tortillas stuffed with Sichuan preserved meats and Galician-style octopus with mala spices.

After dinner, grab a nightcap at Jin Bo Law , the Dorsett Kai Tak’s rooftop bar. The cocktail menu offers an intriguing introduction to Chinese spirits: try the YY, a Hong Kong interpretation of an espresso martini, combining Moutai, espresso, dark chocolate and a yuenyeung blend of coffee and tea that’s served widely in local cafes. Best of all, Cathay members can earn Asia Miles at a rate of up to HKD4 = 2 miles when dining at these two establishments with Card Linked Earn. Learn how to enable Card Linked Earn and link your credit card directly to your Cathay membership account here, allowing you to seamlessly earn miles whenever you dine with eligble partners.