editorial

Paris-based contemporary neon artist Karen Chan, aka Chankalun, spotlights her favorite hometown haunts.
<figure id="attachment_153998" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153998" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-153998" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Artist-Portrait-and-PHD-Group-Gallery.jpg" alt="Karen Chan; a recent exhibition at Wan Chai art gallery PHD Group." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Artist-Portrait-and-PHD-Group-Gallery.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Artist-Portrait-and-PHD-Group-Gallery-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Artist-Portrait-and-PHD-Group-Gallery-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Artist-Portrait-and-PHD-Group-Gallery-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-153998" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: Karen Chan; a recent exhibition at Wan Chai art gallery PHD Group. (Courtesy of L’Air Arts; Courtesy of PHD Group.)</figcaption></figure>
<h2>SHOP</h2>
Whenever I’m in <a href="https://destinasian.com/travel-guide/hong-kong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hong Kong</a>, I often go to <a href="https://www.kanamonohk.com/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kanamono Hardware Store</a> in Tai Hang, a com- pact concept store with a fascinating collection of lifestyle products to spruce up living spaces. The SoHo branch of <a href="https://thehula.com/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HULA</a> has a trove of pre-loved designer pieces—one of my favorite finds is a 3.1 Phillip Lim leather jacket. I’ve also been eyeing the clothes from <a href="https://yatpit.com/pages/intro?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yat Pit</a>, a Hong Kong brand that reinvents traditional Chinese silhouettes for modern wardrobes. Anyone who appreciates experimental scents like I do should visit <a href="https://www.becandle.com.hk/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BeCandle</a>, which blends its own fragrances in its factory out in Sai Kung: the handmade dim sum wax diffusers are a work of art. Sustainability is a huge part of my life, and you’ll find conscious alternatives from bulk-buy snacks to curated essentials at <a href="https://www.slowood.hk/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Slowood</a>. Before leaving Hong Kong, I always stop by <a href="https://keewah.com/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kee Wah Bakery</a> for edible souvenirs: the homemade Chinese sausages and buttery egg rolls are a delicious reminder of home.
<h3>EXPLORE</h3>
Sham Shui Po is one of the city’s oldest districts and used to be the heart of Hong Kong’s textile industry. I like to wander around Yu Chau Street, Ki Lung Street, and Tai Nan Street, which I call “Sham Shui Po 2.0,” for its independent shops and cafés. Nearby, <a href="https://boundkowloon.com/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bound Kowloon</a> is a cozy café-meets-bar with an interesting natural wine selection and brews served from morning to night. Its retro interiors are inspired by an eclectic mix of design eras.
<h4>SEE</h4>
Back in Tai Hang, <a href="https://www.theshophouse.hk/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Shophouse</a> is a contemporary art space that hosts thoughtful exhibitions and a tightly curated concept store. I’m drawn to galleries that feel independent with a strong visual identity, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebotanicalofficial/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Botanical</a> in Ap Lei Chau and Wan Chai’s <a href="https://www.phdgroup.art/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PHD Group</a> offer shared spaces for genuine dialogue between international and local artists that are impactful and resonate with audiences. But Vaevae Chan’s “cave” studio in San Po Kong, <a href="https://www.juenjuengung.com/?DestinAsian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Juen Juen Gung</a>, is really special. It started out as a personal project translating emotions of grief and mourning into a physical form. Go during open days for a unique experience in visualizing vulnerability.
<figure id="attachment_153999" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-153999" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-153999" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Slowood-Flagship-Store-and-Dim-Sum-Candles.jpg" alt="Slowood’s flagship store in Kennedy Town; dim sum–inspired wax diffusers from BeCandle." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Slowood-Flagship-Store-and-Dim-Sum-Candles.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Slowood-Flagship-Store-and-Dim-Sum-Candles-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Slowood-Flagship-Store-and-Dim-Sum-Candles-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Inside-Track-Hong-Kong-Karen-Chan-Slowood-Flagship-Store-and-Dim-Sum-Candles-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-153999" class="wp-caption-text">Left to right: Slowood’s flagship store in Kennedy Town; dim sum–inspired wax diffusers from BeCandle. (Courtesy of Slowood; Courtesy of BeCandle)</figcaption></figure>
This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://subscription.destinasian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">March/May 2026</a> print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Hooked on Hong Kong”). Buy a single issue or subscribe <a href="https://subscription.destinasian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

The exterior of the Slowood flagship store in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.

An Artist’s Take on Hong Kong