Top stories of 2020
From heatwaves to hiking, a selection of our biggest stories of the year
It is a year many of us will be looking to place in the rearview mirror as soon as humanly possible. But as we look back on 2020 – a year that will be defined by face masks, working from home, hoarding toilet paper and hoovering up cakes and cookies in record numbers – a few strong themes emerged.
It was a year that many of us here in Hong Kong found new ways to discover the city. From hiking to cycling, camping and island hopping, Hong Kongers embrace the outdoors like never before.
As we prepare to say goodbye to a historic year, we thought it was a time to look back on 10 stories that our readers spent the most time with this year.
In what will come as a shock to very few, the number one, most-read story of the year (by a long shot) was an English speakers’ guide to Taobao. It is a wildly popular Chinese online shopping platform full of everything you could possibly need—all at very decent prices.
The only gripe for English speakers is that the site doesn’t have an English version (at least not yet) and this guide on how to use Taobao topped the 2020 list.
It will also come as no shock that hiking, and outdoor activities in general, dominated our most-read stories of 2020.
But the hugely enjoyable hikes of Twin Peaks and Violet Hill was by far the overwhelming favourite of 2020, topping the likes of Kam Shan Country Park (Monkey Hill) and even Dragon’s Back and Tung Lung Chau.
As the mandatory wearing of face masks kicked in, many Hong Kongers went about stockpiling face masks, hand sanitisers, wet wipes and household cleaning supplies to battle the virus.
Even the government’s free “CuMask” reusable face mask in early May did little to stem the demand. The unflattering description of “uncles undies” that was going around probably had something to do with that.
Face masks have come to define 2020. Along with buying a face mask, our fourth most popular story of the year was how to wear a face mask.
In retrospect, you might think this a pretty straightforward process, but if you have to wear a face mask, you might as well make sure you do it correctly. You’d be surprised at the number of people who aren’t getting it right.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced the closure of beaches and suspension of lifeguard services on July 15. Enthusiastic beachgoers completely ignored this and in response, the government was forced to erect barriers at some of the city’s most beloved beaches. Despite efforts from the LCSD to close and bar off beaches, people found creative ways to snub the regulations—from tearing down fences to simply jumping over barricades.
2020 wasn’t all about hiking and outdoor exploration. As restaurant closures kicked in, ordering and home delivery exploded. Delivery services like Foodpanda and Deliveroo may go down as the unlikely heroes of 2020 and for good reason.
They kept us fed and shunned the idea of walking 2 minutes down the road to get our own grub. But we’re not complaining if we can keep our bathrobes on.
As the weather hit record highs, it seems half the city decided to head to Sai Kung and enjoy its stunning beaches and hiking trails. Sai Kung charms residents and visitors alike with the sheer beauty of its long white beaches, clear jade sea and mountainous terrain. Councillor Debbie Chan said visitor numbers double over the peak summer months.
Yep, Sai Kung. Again. This time it was to research the best beaches Hong Kong’s backyard had to offer. From Long Ke Wan to Millionaire’s Beach and Hap Mun Wan, people could not get enough of the crystal clear waters that Sai Kung has to offer. Why fly to Thailand when you can hop on a sampan instead.
Dubbed the lakes of a thousand islands, Tai Lam Chung Reservoir is a region as unknown as it is remote. This far-flung corner of Hong Kong has an incredible amount to offer and is well worth the trip. It is also a great place to spot influencers in the wild.
It’s no secret that Hong Kong diners are ceaselessly obsessed with the new. This year, despite the pandemic, Hong Kong welcomed a slew of new restaurants, bars and cafés. Our running list of all the major F&B openings in the city rounded out our most-read stories of 2020.