Things to Do in Kowloon in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Kowloon
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Perfect sweater weather - those 14-20°C (57-68°F) temperatures mean you can actually walk Kowloon's streets comfortably without melting. The humidity sits at 70% which sounds high but is actually pleasant compared to summer's 85%+ swamp conditions. You'll see locals pulling out their winter wardrobes for what they consider cold season.
- Crystal clear air for photography - December typically brings some of the year's best visibility across Victoria Harbour. The cooler temperatures reduce the haze that plagues summer months, and you'll get those iconic skyline shots from Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront without the murky backdrop. The UV index of 8 means golden hour lighting is spectacular around 5:30pm.
- Winter festival season in full swing - December brings the massive Winterfest installations along the harbor, with light displays running from late November through early January. The Christmas markets pop up in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, and you'll catch the tail end of dim sum season before restaurants shift to lighter spring menus. Local families are out shopping for Chinese New Year gifts, giving neighborhoods an energetic buzz.
- Off-peak pricing before holiday rush - Early to mid-December sits in that sweet spot after Thanksgiving crowds but before Christmas week chaos. Hotel rates in Tsim Sha Tsui typically run 20-30% lower than late December, and you can actually get same-day reservations at popular restaurants like Tim Ho Wan or One Dim Sum without the 90-minute waits you'd face in peak season.
Considerations
- Those 10 rainy days are genuinely unpredictable - the 0.0mm average is misleading because December in Kowloon tends to be either bone dry or suddenly wet. When it rains, it's usually light drizzle that lasts 30-45 minutes, but it'll catch you mid-shopping in Mong Kok with no warning. The variable conditions mean you're checking weather apps obsessively.
- Evenings get surprisingly cool by Hong Kong standards - once the sun drops around 6pm, that 14°C (57°F) feels colder than the number suggests, especially with wind whipping between the high-rises along Nathan Road. Locals bundle up in down jackets while tourists in shorts look confused. Most restaurants and shops blast AC year-round, so indoor spaces can feel genuinely cold.
- Christmas week (December 20-26) flips everything - if you're visiting late December, ignore everything about off-peak pricing and manageable crowds. Hotels triple their rates, mainland Chinese tourists flood in for the holiday, and popular spots like the Avenue of Stars or Sky100 observation deck become shoulder-to-shoulder. The neighborhood transforms from pleasantly busy to genuinely overwhelming.
Best Activities in December
Victoria Harbour waterfront walks and light installations
December weather makes this the ideal month for the 2.5 km (1.6 mile) Tsim Sha Tsui promenade walk from Star Ferry to Hung Hom. The 14-20°C (57-68°F) temperatures mean you can stroll comfortably during the day, and the Winterfest light installations transform the harbor into Hong Kong's biggest photo opportunity. The Symphony of Lights show at 8pm is worth catching, and the cooler air means you'll actually want to stand outside for the full 13 minutes instead of retreating to air-conditioned malls. Early December sees fewer tour groups, so you can get unobstructed harbor views.
Temple Street Night Market and Yau Ma Tei exploration
The cooler December evenings make night market browsing actually enjoyable instead of sweaty torture. Temple Street comes alive around 6pm and runs until midnight, with the fortune tellers and street opera performers out in full force. The 70% humidity is manageable at night, and you'll see locals doing their Christmas shopping alongside tourists hunting for knock-off watches. The surrounding Yau Ma Tei neighborhood has some of Kowloon's best preserved pre-war architecture, and December's clear air makes evening photography spectacular.
Kowloon Walled City Park and historical walking routes
December's mild temperatures make this the perfect month for the 2-3 hour walk through Kowloon City neighborhood to explore the park built on the former Walled City site. The weather sits in that ideal range where you can walk 4-5 km (2.5-3 miles) without overheating, and the lower humidity means the traditional Chinese garden doesn't feel oppressive. The neighborhood around the park still has old-school Cantonese restaurants and Thai Town (legacy of the area's Southeast Asian immigrant community), and December brings fewer school groups than spring months.
Sham Shui Po street food and fabric market exploration
This is peak season for exploring Kowloon's grittiest, most authentic neighborhood. The cooler weather makes the cramped market lanes tolerable, and December brings locals shopping for Chinese New Year fabric and decorations. The street food scene here is what Hong Kong looked like before Instagram - dai pai dong stalls serving 40-60 HKD meals, zero English menus, and some of the city's best cart noodles and pineapple buns. The Golden Computer Arcade and vintage electronics stalls are fascinating even if you're not buying. UV index of 8 means bring sunscreen for daytime market wandering.
Lion Rock hiking and Kowloon Peak trails
December offers the year's best hiking conditions - the 14-20°C (57-68°F) range means you can tackle the 495m (1,624 ft) Lion Rock ascent without heat exhaustion risk. Visibility is typically excellent, giving you those famous views across Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The trail is steep (allow 2.5-3 hours up and down) but well-maintained, and you'll see local hiking groups out in force on weekend mornings. The lower humidity means less haze obscuring the skyline. This hike has serious cultural significance - Lion Rock symbolizes Hong Kong's can-do spirit, and locals will appreciate you making the effort.
Hong Kong Museum of History and cultural institution circuit
December's variable weather makes having solid indoor options essential, and Kowloon's museum cluster in Tsim Sha Tsui delivers. The Museum of History's Hong Kong Story permanent exhibition is genuinely world-class (and free on Wednesdays), walking you through 400 million years to 1997. The adjacent Science Museum has interactive exhibits that work for all ages. December sees fewer mainland tour groups than summer, so you can actually spend time with exhibits instead of fighting crowds. The 70% humidity means the climate-controlled museums feel especially comfortable.
December Events & Festivals
Winterfest Hong Kong
The city's biggest winter celebration runs from late November through early January, centered on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Massive light installations, a European-style Christmas market with overpriced mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, and the iconic Christmas tree displays along the Avenue of Stars. It's unabashedly commercial but genuinely impressive in scale - think 20m (66 ft) tall LED trees and synchronized harbor light shows. Locals treat it as prime date night territory, and you'll see families out in force on weekends.
Hong Kong Cyclothon
Typically held in mid-December, this is Hong Kong's largest cycling event with routes that close major roads including parts of Nathan Road. Even if you're not participating, it's fascinating to see the city's car-clogged streets temporarily transformed into cycling routes. The 50 km (31 mile) route goes through Kowloon and across to Hong Kong Island. The event brings a festival atmosphere to Tsim Sha Tsui with food stalls and bike exhibitions, though it does mean traffic chaos if you're trying to get around on event day.