Hong Kong has plans to revamp Airport City into Skytopia — a new travel destination to attract layover passengers from the Greater Bay Area, major Asian markets, and the rest of the world. The new development will have an array of entertainment and leisure facilities, such as the city’s first one-stop arts centre, a 500-berth marina, and the second phase of AsiaWorld-Expo. Other proposed attractions include the territory’s biggest water recreation venue, a marine resort and luxury hotel, and a 1.5km-long promenade.

What is Skytopia?

Skytopia will combine commercial events, pop culture, art trading, entertainment and leisure options near the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Authorities hope that it will encourage passengers with long layovers to head out of the airport to enjoy new facilities such as a sportainment complex revolving around indoor and outdoor sports adventure and exploration activities, a dedicated arts venue, and Phase 2 of a 20,000-capacity AsiaWorld-Expo — Hong Kong’s largest indoor performance venue.

skytopia hong kong promenade and marina
Skytopia will have Hong Kong’s largest marina with a yacht berth and a 1.5km promenade.

The new location will also boast the SAR’s largest marina that can house up to 500 yachts, a sprawling water recreation area, a 1.5km promenade, and a marine resort and luxury hotel. Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) also hopes to position Skytopia as a centre for the arts by building the city’s first one-stop arts hub and dedicated art storage facility. There are also plans to develop a smart transport system with automated car parks and autonomous vehicles.

A hub for layover passengers

AAHK chairman Fred Lam says that Skytopia will help transform the airport into more than a gateway to the city. “We envisage that HKIA will not be just a place for passengers to board their flights or a portal for entering Hong Kong. Our vision is to develop Skytopia into a landmark of its own, and a world-leading destination, attracting visitors from within Hong Kong and the prosperous Greater Bay Area, as well as major markets in Asia and the rest of the world,” said Lam.

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skytopia hong kong international airport
The development is meant to encourage travellers and Hongkongers to visit the entertainment and leisure hub on Lantau.

Previously, the AAHK said that the proposed attractions at Skytopia, formerly Airport City, would be complete between 2026 and 2031. Airport City was first opened in 2019 and presently has a hotel and three Grade-A office towers. The 11 SKIES entertainment hub, which will house the first KidZania in Greater China and Hong Kong’s first virtual deep-dive aquarium — will open in phases starting in the second half of 2025.

Image credits: Hong Kong International Airport

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From the Middle East to the Far East and a couple of places in between, Anjali has lived in no fewer than seven cities in Asia, and has travelled extensively in the region. She worked as a lifestyle journalist in India before coming to Hong Kong, where her favourite thing to do is island-hopping with her daughter. You can check out her musings on motherhood, courtesy her Instagram profile.