Journeys Within Travel Blog

Hong Kong’s elite fencing squad achieved a landmark victory at the National Games on November 19, securing the gold medal in the men’s team foil event. Spearheaded by Olympic champion Edgar Cheung Ka-long and world champion Ryan Choi Chun-yin, the team overcame formidable mainland Chinese opponents, capping a record-breaking performance for the city’s entire delegation at the multi-sport event held at the Kai Tak Arena.

Dominating the Team Competition

The pivotal victory arrived after individual foil events saw the Hong Kong athletes face earlier setbacks, including a bronze finish. However, the four-man roster—which also features rising talents Lawrence Ng Lok-wang and Leung Chin-yu—demonstrated exceptional synergy and resilience in the team final. They met the Fujian provincial team, who had previously bested some of the Hong Kong athletes, setting the stage for a dramatic rematch.

Driven by a passionate home audience, the Hong Kong team maintained a tight lead throughout the decisive match, pulling ahead 25-21 in the closing stages. Ryan Choi, demonstrating composure under pressure, delivered the final blows, securing a 5-2 score against Chen Weiquan and finalizing the victory with a commanding 45-34 scoreline. This win marks the first gold medal for Hong Kong in the men’s team foil event at the National Games, underscoring the city’s ascendancy in the sport.

A Record-Breaking Medal Haul

Hong Kong’s overall performance at the National Games, which concluded its competitions on November 20, was unprecedented. Participating across 28 events, Team Hong Kong amassed a total of 19 podium finishes, marking the city’s best-ever showing at the Games.

The overall breakdown of the medal haul includes:

• Nine Gold Medals
• Two Silver Medals
• Eight Bronze Medals

This impressive tally validates the world-class training and competitive environment fostering local athletes. The success of the fencing team, in particular, highlights the depth of talent extending beyond established stars like Cheung Ka-long.

Implications for International Standing

The National Games serves as a critical benchmark for evaluating athletic performance within China, and Hong Kong’s dominant performance in fencing solidifies its position as an Olympic powerhouse in the discipline.

The collaboration and strategic execution shown by the full team—not just its individual medalists—sends a strong signal to global rivals ahead of upcoming international championships. For the athletes, breaking personal best records while securing this gold reinforces their status as elite competitors and inspirational figures for the next generation of local sports stars. Moving forward, the city will surely leverage this momentum to invest further in high-performance sports programs, aiming for continued success on the world stage.

Seeking authentic, deeply engaging travel experiences often means bypassing generic high streets and chain-filled shopping malls for avenues brimming with local character. To guide explorers toward these coveted destinations, Time Out’s global network of editors and city experts has curated and ranked the world’s “coolest streets,” evaluating them based on crucial metrics: dining, nightlife, cultural vibrancy, community spirit, and overall fun factor. This year’s list highlights unique, localized arteries, with Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro taking the top spot and several other dynamic Asian locations making a strong showing.

The 2025 list celebrates streets that encapsulate the true spirit of their respective metropolitan areas, focusing on independent businesses, distinctive architecture, and palpable local energy. While Hong Kong streets did not feature this year, neighboring Asia boasts two high-ranking contenders within the top five, offering enticing short-haul excursions.

Osaka and Chengdu Offer World-Class Charm

For travelers planning a trip to Japan, a compelling detour awaits in Osaka. Orange Street, situated just off the bustling Shinsaibashi district, was officially named the second coolest street globally.

Once known primarily as a hub for hype culture and high-end streetwear in the 2010s, Orange Street has recently rediscovered its foundational appeal as a treasure trove for vintage enthusiasts. Today, it’s a premier destination for those seeking unique antique furniture and pre-loved sartorial finds. Thrifters can unearth everything from designer housewares to one-of-a-kind fashion samples at accessible prices. Beyond shopping, the street provides ample respite for weary explorers, hosting numerous cafes, authentic Osakan street food vendors, and modern neo-izakaya establishments.

Further solidifying Asia’s presence in the global ranking is Fanghua Street in Chengdu, China, which secured a top-five position. This alleyway offers a striking fusion of Chengdu’s traditional, quiet charm and a bold, youthful, design-forward aesthetic. Low-rise residential blocks frame an evolving urban canvas, where casual coffee shops transform into sophisticated wine bars at night, sitting alongside design studios and the city’s beloved, time-tested hole-in-the-wall snack stalls.

The Global Vanguard of Urban Cool

Claiming the title of the world’s coolest street for 2025 is Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro. Located in the bohemian heart of downtown Rio, this historic area masterfully retains its architectural heritage—featuring beautifully preserved townhouses and traditional, long-standing bars—while simultaneously integrating vibrant, newer restaurants and energetic nightlife venues that inject a continuous stream of fresh vitality into the locale.

Rounding out the list’s top tier were two distinct European and North American contenders: Rua do Bonjardim in Porto, Portugal, ranked highly for its cultural richness, and Sherbrooke Street West in Montreal, Canada, praised for its engaging community focus.

For those looking to expand their travel itineraries beyond the usual tourist routes and immerse themselves in truly localized culture, examining the full list of the 31 Coolest Streets in the World for 2025 offers abundant inspiration. Several other engaging Asian locales have also earned spots, promising discovery and delight for the seasoned urban explorer. Choosing a street from this curated selection is an excellent way to ensure your next trip literally goes off the beaten path.

The Macallan Estate, a stunning 485-acre expanse in Speyside, Scotland, is demonstrating that environmental stewardship is not an ancillary concern but a foundational element of its 201-year legacy. The luxury whisky producer is actively integrating conservation, renewable energy adoption, and regenerative farming into its core operations, driven by a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045. This holistic approach, overseen by Director of Operations Rachel Walters, who brings 25 years of experience at Edrington, highlights how heritage and future-focused sustainability can converge in the pursuit of exceptional quality.

Estate Management Defines Brand Philosophy

For The Macallan, the estate is central to its identity, tying the modern brand back to its deep historical roots. “The Macallan wouldn’t be The Macallan if it didn’t have [its sense of place and history],” Walters notes, pointing to Easter Elchies House—dated 1700 and depicted on every bottle label—as a constant reminder of the brand’s enduring connection to the land.

This connection motivates practical steps toward environmental decarbonization and ecosystem health. Carbon-emission reduction is prioritized through energy transformation. The distillery now powers its distillation process primarily using a combination of local biomass and certified renewable, single-source wind-generated electricity. To further reduce reliance on external grids, the estate recently installed solar panels for self-generation.

In tandem with energy improvements, the brand is innovating its product lifecycle:

• Packaging: The core range bottle design was made 11% lighter in 2023, while materials used for new products, such as the Timeless Collection, emphasize recyclability.
• Estate Ecosystem: The comprehensive Ecosystem Restoration Plan (ERP) focuses on increasing the range of natural ecosystem services on the property, earning the brand nominations for prestigious conservation awards.

Protecting Speyside’s Sensitive Wildlife

A key mandate of the ERP is safeguarding the nine protected species that thrive across the estate. Monitoring these populations provides crucial data on the land’s overall health.

Among the most significant inhabitants are the Atlantic Salmon, whose survival is tied directly to the River Spey—the estate’s “lifeblood.” Amid threats from climate change and rising water temperatures, The Macallan is undertaking intensive habitat restoration, including improving the stream flows to aid salmon access to vital spawning grounds.

The estate is also a safe haven for Red Squirrels, which flourish in a localized environment free of their larger, invasive Grey Squirrel counterparts. Furthermore, teams engage in Meadow Brown butterfly counting. While seemingly mundane, this species acts as an essential indicator; a growing population signals robust ecosystem services across the protected acreage.

Integrating Traditional Wisdom and Traceability

Many of the estate’s sustainable practices re-embrace agricultural techniques that predate industrial modernization. The approach to farming the barley used in the whisky production is now based on regenerative agriculture.

This involves:

• Crop Rotation: Traditional rotation avoids the need for chemical pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers.
• Natural Fertilization: Utilizing cattle for natural nutrient provision.
• Cover Crops: Planting clover during winter to improve the soil’s natural health.

Walters emphasizes that this approach is merely “how our grandparents farmed,” demonstrating that age-old wisdom leads to high-quality, high-yield results today.

The commitment extends to the sourcing of the oak barrels—the single largest contributor to The Macallan’s quality and flavor profile. The brand invests heavily in its wood supply, crafting European oak casks in Jerez, Spain, before seasoning them in sherry bodegas. To ensure absolute supply chain integrity, a patented Cask Tracking System provides visible chain-of-custody monitoring. The ultimate goal, expected within the year, is achieving full forest-level traceability for all European oak.

Ultimately, this profound dedication to the environment—from forest floor to finished product—is deeply personal. Walters, who has spent over two decades shaping the brand’s output, concludes that her greatest treat is savoring The Macallan 25 Years Old, a whisky she can proudly say she “helped make” during her tenure upholding the estate’s enduring standard of quality and ethical stewardship.