HK’s new tourist playbook

People gathering outside Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong before a concert, like the one held by Cantopop singer Nicholas Tse on April 25. The city is now seeking to brand itself as the region’s events capital, emphasising concerts and trade shows over shopping, to give travellers reasons to return and to spend more. — Anthony Kwan/The New York Times

THE sisters from southwestern China arrived in Hong Kong on a recent holiday with a clear mission: see as much as possible – in under 12 hours.

Carrying only a small bag each, Hu Di, 30, a bank worker, and Hu Ke, 20, a student, slurped beef noodles in Central, posed for sunset photos by the promenade and took in the city’s glittering skyline after dark.