10 most unusual experiences in Hong Kong

If going on a fishing expedition sounds like too much work and waiting around to you, simply stay in the city to fish for your meal indoors. Fish for jumbo Thai shrimps at HA Cube in Kwun Tong, where the unlimited bait lets you fish to your heart’s content ($130 per hour). Remember to bring your own seasoning when you roast your catch in one of the on-site ovens at the end of the day! For a fancier option, check out Chougiyo Funaya Japanese Restaurant, just a minute’s walk away. Catch your own shrimp or fish, but this time you can have the chef prepare it for you in a number of ways, from shabu-shabu to sashimi. Get the most out of your visit and request for seating on the large wooden boat on top of the fish tank.

HA Cube, Unit C, 3/F, Tsun Win Factory Building, 60 Tsun Yip Street, Kwun Tong | (+852) 3565 4233

Chougiyo Funaya Japanese Restaurant, Flat H, 2/F, COS Centre, 56 Tsun Yip Street, Kwun Tong | (+852) 3618 8260

All self-proclaimed gourmets and gastronomists out there must try this true test of their taste buds. At social enterprise Dialogue Experience’s Dinner in the Dark, you are served a surprise dinner by blind waiters in pitch-black darkness. Without sight, you’d be relying entirely on your taste and olfactory senses to navigate the three-course meal, experiencing food like never before. The four-hour-long dinner event comes with icebreaker activities to know your fellow dinners, as well as a post-meal debriefing session to see if you’ve guessed correctly. Feel free to chat with your waiter and learn more about leading a visually impaired life, too. Though it’s a hefty investment at $950 per person, the meal is guaranteed to be a unique learning and dining experience.

Dinner in the Dark, Unit B, 7/F, D2 Place 1, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Cheung Sha Wan | (+852) 2310 0833

You thought you’ve seen it all in Hong Kong, but have you ever heard of unicycle hockey? Yes, that’s right: A group of unicycle enthusiasts of all ages meet up for a friendly game of hockey on the unicycle every Friday night at the rink in the YMCA King’s Park Centenary Centre in Jordan, and hosts all sorts of unicycle-themed events throughout the year. Beginners are always welcome: Simply let them know in their Facebook group and the friendly folks at Unicycle Hong Kong can provide a spare unicycle for you to try! Verily, an experience you didn’t know uni-ded.

Indulge your childhood fantasy and become an actual mermaid at Aquaticity. No, we’re not talking about donning some tacky costume for a photoshoot—learn how to be a mermaid in the water, from static breathing techniques to dynamic swimming styles and poses. Come by a session at the pool—and sometimes even the beach—to try what it’s like to be a mermaid and meet other mermaid wannabes in your group lesson. For those who are serious about becoming a mermaid, Aquaticity also offers courses of varying levels certified by the Mermaid Foundation International, with theory and studio sessions in addition to sessions at the pool. Keep an eye out for upcoming lessons on their Facebook page, or shoot them a message if you have any inquiries.

Good news for all the ski and snowboarding enthusiasts out there: You no longer have to wait until the next ski trip to get your fix! Ski and snowboard indoors on the world’s largest revolving carpet training deck at Slope 8 right here in Hong Kong. There might not be the familiar slushy feel of snow, but you do get to practice on the same kind national ski teams train on so that you’d be beyond prepared for your next ski trip. If you’ve never had the chance to try these snowsports, Slope 8 offers lessons for both kids and adults of all levels—get a head start today!

Slope 8, 1/F, 148 Electric Road, North Point | (+852) 2107 4567

Even after living in Hong Kong for quite a while, it can be fun to play tourist from time to time—there’s just never an end to all there is to learn and appreciate about the multifaceted city. Hop on the Crystal Bus, where you can relax over a hearty afternoon tea or dinner as you’re taken through over 20 attractions in Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and even Lantau in a narrated bus tour. While you can choose your meal from a variety of cuisines, the most popular choice remains their Michelin-awarded dim sum set meal for the ultimate Hong Kong package. Tip: Don’t be fooled by their online booking system—which sometimes says that all days are fully booked—and call them instead. It costs $270 per person for a lower-deck experience and $398 per person for the upper-deck experience. Guests board and alight near The Peninsula on Hankow Road.

Crystal Bus, The Peninsula, 22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 2988 8202

Go for a joyride at Hong Kong’s newest indoor karting arena, 18 Challenge Karting. At over 50,000 square feet in size, the Formula Circuit track is the largest in Hong Kong with 18 challenging corners for speed junkies to race through. The little ones have not been forgotten; over at Drift Land, a separate smaller track for the kids ensures that they can jump in on the action as well. Fuel up with a nice meal at their restaurant afterwards before you start another round. Prices start from $599 for three eight-minute sessions for adults and $38 per 10-minute session for kids.

18 Challenge Karting, Unit S1, 2/F, Oi Man Plaza, 60 Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin

Grab all your friends and dive right into a messy game of glow-in-the-dark human foosball at Chillax Party’s lurid Ho Sik Town party room (starting from $39 per hour per person). Instead of controlling the football player-skewers on the foosball board, now you and your friends are bound together as you become the players themselves! Work as a team in this life-sized rendition to score the most goals. But wait, there’s more: The party room comes with a giant glowing ball pit, human-sized Jenga, a dazzling three-dimensional game of Twister and all sorts of wacky entertainment facilities. What an all-in-one steal!

Chillax Party, 8/F, Wah Shing Centre, 11 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong | (+852) 5395 5351