Hong Kong Feature

City Hall. From Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, and the New York Philharmonic to the Bee Gees; from the Royal Danish Ballet to the People's Liberation Army Comrade Dance Troupe, the offerings here are varied, but consistently excellent. Two buildings make up the chunky '60s complex, divided by a World War II memorial garden and shrine. The 1,500-seat concert hall and a smaller theater are in the low-rise block, as is Maxim's City Palace, a massive clattering restaurant with really good dim sum. The high-rise building has an exhibition space and a smaller recital hall, as well as a public library and marriage registry office. Performances are usually held Friday and Saturday at 8 pm. 5 Edinburgh Pl., Central, Hong Kong. 2921-2840; 2734-9009 Urbtix box office. www.lcsd.gov.hk. Daily 9 am-11 pm; box office daily 10-9:30. Central.

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Many of Hong Kong's most talented performers studied at this academy's schools of drama, music, dance, television, and film. It also has five theaters and a gallery. Large-scale productions are staged in the Lyric Theatre and the smaller Drama Theatre; offerings are often in the round at the tiny Studio Theatre. The two concert halls host choice classical or traditional Chinese music performances. When the weather's good, inquire about shows in the garden amphitheater. 1 Gloucester Rd., Wan Chai, Hong Kong. 2584-8580. www.hkapa.edu. Box office Mon.-Sat. noon-6 pm; on performance nights, the box office remains open until 30 minutes after the last performance starts. Wan Chai.

Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The center's two-tier oval concert hall, which seats 2,000 and is fitted with an adjustable acoustic canopy and curtains, houses an 8,000-pipe Austrian organ, one of the world's largest. The Grand Theatre often hosts visiting Broadway musicals, opera, and ballet productions, while cozier plays take place in the Studio Theatre. Exhibitions are occasionally mounted in the atrium. 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. 2734-2009; 2734-2820 Program Enquiries. www.hkculturalcentre.gov.hk. Daily 9-11; box office daily 10-9:30. Tsim Sha Tsui.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Look out for performances by the world-class Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, which performs everything from classical to avant-garde, as well as contemporary music by Chinese composers. Past soloists have included Vladimir Ashkenazy, Rudolf Firkusny, and Maureen Forrester. 2721-2030. www.hkpo.com.

Kwai Tsing Theatre. It might be in the sticks, but it's a major player in the cultural scene. Sunlight pours into the atrium through a curving glass facade that looks onto a plaza where performances are often held. Inside, the 900-seat theater provides a much-needed middle ground between the massive spaces and tiny studio theaters at other venues. And if the likes of Philip Glass and the Royal Shakespeare Company can schlep out here, 25 minutes by MTR from Central, to perform, you can certainly get out here to watch. 12 Hing Ning Rd., Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong. 2408-0128; 2406-7505 Booking Enquiries. www.lcsd.gov.hk/ktt. Daily 9 am-11 pm; box office daily 10- 9:30 pm. Kwai Fong.