David Tang’s new store

ENTREPRENEUR Sir David Tang clearly likes the sound of his own name.

China Tang restaurant in London

ENTREPRENEUR Sir David Tang clearly likes the sound of his own name.

He used it for the fashion and homewares company he founded in 1994, Shanghai Tang. He used it again when he opened the China Tang restaurant in London’s Dorchester Hotel in 2005. And with his latest venture he has really outdone himself. It’s called Tang Tang Tang Tang and it opened in Wan Chai, not far from Central, in Hong Kong late last year. At the time he told The New York Times it was “Shanghai Tang mark two” but whereas that store’s original concept was targeted at Westerners visiting Hong Kong, his latest store is all about the mainland Chinese. A press release states that TTTT is “a lifestyle concept store selling own-branded products that cater to the immense rising middle-class of China. With high spending power, these bright, ambitious and driven consumers promise to be the future.” 66 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. tangtangtangtang.com

02 ART ARCADIA

In May the art world will descend on Hong Kong again for the second annual Art Basel event to be held in the city. Galleries from around the world will exhibit at the fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with at least half of them coming from Asia and the Asia-Pacific as the event aims to showcase the best art from the region. Last year’s event, the first after Art Basel took over the Hong Kong Art Fair, was visited by more than 60,000 people and this year’s numbers are expected to be even bigger. A three-day film program has been introduced which has been put together by the Beijing and Zurich-based curator and multimedia artist, Li Zhenhua. Art Basel Hong Kong, May 15 to 18. artbasel.com

03 KAI TAK’S NEW GUISE

Until 1998 travellers to Hong Kong by airplane experienced one of the most spectacular city landings. After a low approach over the skyscrapers of Kowloon, jets would land at Kai Tak Airport, which jutted out into the middle of Victoria Harbour. The airport has since moved to Lantau island, 36km away from Central, and the former airport’s runway has finally been rebuilt as Hong Kong’s main cruise terminal. The first stage of the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal opened last June with the second stage expected to be completed mid-year. The billion-dollar ($HK8.2bn), Norman Foster-designed terminal is Hong Kong’s attempt at establishing itself as the pre-eminent hub in Asia for the cruise industry in the face of competition from Singapore and Shanghai.

When completed, the terminal will be able to accommodate two mega-liners, the sort with a capacity of more than 4000 passengers, at the same time. Foster’s design for the building allows for it to be used outside of the cruise season with the 70m, column-free interior easily convertible to performance or event venues. It’s also created much-needed outdoor space: above the terminal is the largest rooftop garden in Hong Kong.