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IShowSpeed’s whirlwind visit to places such as Lan Kwai Fong, Ocean Park and Temple Street Night Market may showcase the energy the American YouTube star is often associated with, but scratched only the surface of what Hong Kong offers.
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Speed’s flash appearance across the city last Friday was a marketing stunt, reportedly drawing tens of thousands of live viewers.
Hong Kong is more than that. It is a collection of natural beauty, ecology, geology, biodiversity and diverse cultures. These could be tapped more efficiently if they were marketed in a way no less unconventional than Speed’s.
Think the hexagonal rock columns in Sai Kung. Formed from volcanic activity in the Jurassic period, these geological stunners are part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.
If Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway are famous, these hexagonal columns in High Island Reservoir East Dam only outshine the former in scale. If paired with dinosaur fossils exhibited at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, a prehistoric journey could be regenerated.
It would guarantee more views should Speed live-stream a backflip in front of those rocks.
In Mai Po, there are also wetlands abundant with migratory birds. And at the Cape d’Aguilar’s marine reserve backed by the Swire Institute of Marine Science, the area is rich in coral, sea turtles and interesting fish.
The biodiversity across hiking trails is no less appealing, where hikers can easily spot dozens of butterfly species.
If lucky, they can discover more.
A little creativity can group these elements into a safari challenge. Social media influencers, not necessarily Speed again, may be invited to join a live-streamed race designed to discover the various creatures and geological details.
Small wonder Hong Kong and Macao Work Office director Xia Baolong had a keen interest in Hong Kong’s islands when he commented on the city’s tourism a while ago.
Tung Lung Chau is decorated with rock carvings and pirate history. Sai Kung’s beaches are pristine. As the Development Bureau pushes for tourism along the coast lines, it may include a “hop on, hop off” pass for ferries connecting those spots.
When history and nature are blended with rhythm, new value is created.
Obviously, the city must not forget its cultural assets. Beyond Chinese temples, there are mosques in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, a Sikh temple and Hindu temple in Happy Valley, a synagogue and even a Zoroastrian Parsi temple in Causeway Bay. Add Christian churches and the city becomes a cultural buffet.
If not fearful of the eerie stuff, one may expand the tour to include Happy Valley and Pok Fu Lam cemeteries akin to Paris’ Père Lachaise and London’s Highgate.
The archaeological sites in Chek Lap Kok, Tuen Mun, Wung Wong Toi and Tai Po too are not to be missed as they record human activities back to years long before the British came to Hong Kong in 1841. If Singapore has Fort Canning featuring the oldest relics dating back to the 14th century, Hong Kong’s layers are deeper.
The Botanical Garden and Asian Civilization Museum in Singapore are polished but Hong Kong’s are more alive.
If only we could present Hong Kong to a global audience the way Speed - who can make destinations go viral - does!
