Travel & Resources: HONG KONG – Gay Asia and… – Utopia

On Hong Kong Island most visitors will gravitate towards the cluster of international clubs in Shuang Wan, Central and its frenetic nightlife hub, Lan Kwai Fong. Another large cluster of island venues is located between Wanchai and Causeway Bay, discreetly hidden away in commercial buildings.

Over in colorful Kowloon, which has a dense collection of easy-to-access gay clubs along the MTR corridor, crowds throng through neon-lit high-rise canyons, going to/from shopping, eating or partying at innumerable entertainment venues from Tsim Sha Tsui up to Prince Edward. If you are looking for a bit of old Hong Kong, take a taxi to "Kowloon City" where traditional shops and restaurants are still managing (barely) to fend off encroaching redevelopment.

Hong Kong's population is nearing 8 million (that's over 300,000 Utopians).

Navigating the local gay scene is easy with our interactive Utopia Map of Gay & Lesbian Hong Kong:

Fruits in Suits (FinS) is an informal, gay professional networking event on each 3rd Tue of every month. Like-minded people - mostly professional expats (but they welcome all local professionals to join in) - come together in an exclusive private area for food, drinks and to chat, socialise with new people, network and promote LGBT rights in the territory. Add your review, comment, or correction

Founded by Filipino and Hong Kong GLBT, this club hosts meetings of the their GLBT Society and the 1000 strong Hong Kong Labour Party. They offer free legal advice and support service through sympathetic lawyers in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Utopia Member Benefit: DISCOUNTS on facility private hire, FREE legal advice, FREE meeting venue for GLBT societies. Add your review, comment, or correction

Pink Alliance aims to link LGBT organizations operating in Hong Kong, to assist them in their work and to provide a network for information in both Chinese and English. Pink Alliance also researches and campaigns on issues of key importance, as well as organising events to promote awareness of LGBT issues. Monthly meetings. Add your review, comment, or correction

Hong Kong's first gay social services center. The government funded center provides counseling, training workshops and a hotline to provide peer support for gay men. Closed Tue and public holidays. Add your review, comment, or correction

Gay and lesbian activities, support and services. Has the only face-to-face free counseling service for Gay people. Chinese only. Add your review, comment, or correction

A Hongkong-based non profit-making, non-governmental organization, established on 1st July 2003. They defend the human rights of sexuality minorities facing discrimination due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. WCHK effects this mission through advocacy, documentation, public education, oral history, cultural development, AIDS education on WSW (women having sex with women) and hosting monthly gatherings for lesbian, bisexual women and transgenders. Add your review, comment, or correction

Gay bookshop with large selection of local and imported books, magazines and videos to choose from as well as pride gifts. Add your review, comment, or correction

Gay-owned Koru Contemporary Art, specializing in modern sculpture, was established in 2001 to present a diverse range of contemporary international artists. A large selection of art featuring wood, bronze, stone, metal, glass, ceramic and mixed media sculpture, fine art, painting, prints and photography, may be found in their two gallery spaces, with a combined exhibition area of over 7,500sqf. Utopia Member Benefit: 5% DISCOUNT on art. Add your review, comment, or correction

Mainly gay, esp. weekends. Take a bus to Repulse Bay and then a ten minute walk, past the Welcome supermarket, to South Bay. The gay area is in front of the 40-story Ruby Court Bld. Some cruising around. Swimming possible. Bring insect repellent. UTOPIAN VERIFIED JUN 2014 Add your review, comment, or correction

This area seems to concentrate more gay-only men. Some nude sun-bathing (illegal) and action in the bushes (also illegal). Approach from South Bay Road. Steep path on the right-hand (sea side). Middle Bay is now so well-known that it is dangerous. For safety's sake it is better to make the 1-hour trip to Lantau Island and walk to the rather remote Cheung Sha Beach. UTOPIAN VERIFIED JUN 2014 Add your review, comment, or correction

MTR: TST or Jordan. Several cruisy facilities and lots of garden pathways. Most action takes place after 11pm. The park closes at midnight, but you can always leave (and enter) through the gate at Austin Rd (all other gates are closed after midnight). So don't panic when you are late and think you are locked up in the park. Mostly Asian guys under 40 years old. Add your review, comment, or correction

HONG KONG ISLAND -- Central, Lan Kwai Fong

Round-the-clock gay-friendly eatery with handsome staff. Popular for breakfast on Sun morning for those who have danced-til-dawn the night before. Add your review, comment, or correction

On any given Fri or Sat night after midnight, this Chinese fast food place (fried rice, fried noodles) is about 70% gay. When the clock hits 2am, the percentage rises up to 90%. Coming to Tsui Wah has become something of a ritual for late night partiers. Fish ball noodles are the signature dish here, and they also have simple sandwiches (i.e. two slices of white bread with luncheon meat and egg), steak, and acquired tastes such as stir-fried spaghetti! Add your review, comment, or correction

Large, bustling local eatery popular with groups of gays because of its inexpensive food and location close to the bars. Add your review, comment, or correction

KOWLOON -- Jordan, Mongkok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei

Foodie Alert! This tiny hole-in-the-wall has a disproportionate amount of international fame after recommendations by Newsweek, Time Out and celebrity chefs. Excellent dim sum at a reasonable price. Their dessert specialty is a succulent poached pear, so leave room. Sister branches in Jordan, Wanchai and TST. Add your review, comment, or correction

KOWLOON -- Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei

Located in east Kowloon, well off the tourist track (and overlooked by most locals), this quaint neighborhood stretch of eateries is certainly destined to be torn down and rebuilt into something gleaming, clean and modern. Too bad. Catch this slice-of-life from Kowloon's past for cheap eats and loads of character while you still can. Add your review, comment, or correction

Pronounced "dai gor", meaning big brother). A gay-owned, online menswear store aimed at the gay male market and at guys who like their t-shirts nicely fitted. Daigo is inspired by the beautiful and fashionable bros in Asia. They aim to provide great customer satisfaction by offering high quality and unique t-shirt designs that will be part of gay Asia and the gay community as a whole. Add your review, comment, or correction

Above Bohemian shop (take the stairway in the alley to the mezzanine floor). Gay men's undergear and clothing shop offers exclusive premium brand underwear, tanks, swimwear, shirts, and more including Andrew Christian (USA), 2EROS (Australia), Addicted (Spain) and NEWURBANMALE (Singapore). Utopia Member Benefit: 10% DISCOUNT. Add your review, comment, or correction

Look for the stairway entry marked #83 and 85, next to Express Korea Fast Food and walk up to 1/F. Gay-owned shop offering sexy branded undergear, toys, SM equipment, magazines, pride gifts and other rainbow merchandise. Open 5-9pm Mon-Sat (closed Sun). Utopia Member Benefit: 10% DISCOUNT. Add your review, comment, or correction

Gay-owned tanning studio established in 2004. They offer state-of-the-art tanning and collagenic equipment from Dr Muller, Germany. Tanning Studio was a sponsor of the Mr. Asia contest (2011, 2012, 2013). Utopia Member Benefit: 10% DISCOUNT on all tanning packages and lotions. Add your review, comment, or correction