Top 7 of the 2023 Best Ads in Hong Kong

12/13/2023 Optimize your media budgets

In the metropolis of Hong Kong, where businesses fight for attention in a competitive market, advertising isn't just about strategy. At Adintime, we understand the pivotal role that impactful ads play in capturing the hearts and minds of Hong Kong's discerning consumers.

In this article, we discuss what makes advertisement great and memorable, presenting the "Top 7 of the 2023 Best Ads in Hong Kong" Through these curated selections, we aim to offer you a journey through the most creative and effective advertising campaigns of the year, including examples of various best outdoor advertising campaigns such as billboards, bus ads, mobile truck ads, as well as other forms of advertising.

Now, let's take a look at our picks of the best ads of 2023!

Summary of Top 7 of the 2023 Best Advertisements in Hong Kong

Samsung & FATface - 3D Digital Outdoor Ad
Anson Kong with Dettol - Bus, Billboard, and TV Ad
Bupa at 2023 Rugby Sevens - Pop-up Truck
Construction Hong Kong - Nostalgic Billboard Ad in Causeway Bay
Hong Kong Disneyland: World of Frozen - MTR Train Ads
Adintime's Client: TF International Securities - Tramcar & Bus Shelter Ads
Prudential 175th Anniversary - Outdoor Ads in Tsim Sha Tsui

Samsung & FATface - 3D Digital Outdoor Ad

"Impossible Gifting Factory" by Samsung is a mind-blowing and hyper-realistic 3D display showcased on a massive Samsung outdoor advertising screen in Central's Entertainment Building. In this captivating immersive display, the Nutcracker comes alive and busts out breakdance moves mid-air while reaching out of the screen with gifts in hand. This interactive digital billboard infuses the streets with New Year spirit, creativity, and wonder.

The "Impossible Gifting Factory" project is a collaboration between Samsung and local creative talents, including the CG production team at FATface. It marks a significant milestone as Samsung, known for its partnerships with creative teams from Korea and Japan, finally joins forces with a local team for an outdoor curved screen display. This interactive experience not only introduces a fresh visual dimension to traditional festivities but also showcases the technical prowess of Hong Kong's film production teams. And that is how they made it onto our 2023 best outdoor advertising campaigns!

Yau Shing Commercial Centre

3 Matheson Street

Anson Kong with Dettol - Bus, Billboard, and TV Ad

We can't talk about the best ads in Hong Kong this year without mentioning one of Mirror members' ads! If you have been in Hong Kong for the past few years, you definitely are aware of the immense popularity of this local boy band. The members endorse many local and pan-Asian brands. Their advertisements encompass various formats, be it outdoor advertising, TV advertising, or print advertising. In April and May 2023, Anson Kong, one of Mirror's members, collaborated with Dettol for their Propod launch, in celebration of the company's 90th anniversary.

This particular 2023 advertising campaign featured different formats: bus, billboard, and TV ads. These ads were in conjunction with event marketing strategies which entailed the distribution of free samples at various high-traffic hotspots in all the districts.

One part of this ad campaign's success was due to the support of Anson Kong's fans. Photos and numerous social media posts were seen posted by fans documenting the outdoor ads. This gave the ad campaign another avenue of exposure that most of the best ad campaigns have - word of mouth.

KMB & LWB

Sim City

Bupa at 2023 Rugby Sevens - Pop-up Truck

In March and April 2023, Bupa Hong Kong and Quality HealthCare teamed up to deliver a healthcare sponsorship that truly celebrated health and community spirit during the "Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens." Their collaboration not only made them the official healthcare and insurance sponsors for the second consecutive year but also unveiled "Rugby Fever Mobile Experience" - a pop-up truck that went around the city to directly engage with audiences, one of the top advertising media in Hong Kong that is gaining popularity.

This innovative ad campaign fused the excitement of rugby with a commitment to healthy living, resonating perfectly with the "Healthy City" concept promoted by Bupa. The Rugby Fever Mobile Experience, which toured Hong Kong's diverse districts, featured a 2.5-meter-tall rugby ball installation, offering photo opportunities and the latest AI body check experiences. It engaged rugby enthusiasts with digital interactive games. Furthermore, in partnership with local health monitoring startup PanopticAI, Bupa provided free digital health checks on the mobile experience.

This outdoor advertising campaign captured the message of "Embrace You, Protect You, Be the Best You," presenting a holistic approach to health that went beyond the ordinary. For its innovative blend of sports, health promotion, and community engagement, the Bupa campaign stood out as one of the best advertisements in Hong Kong in 2023.

Showroom with Crane Machine

Giving Showroom

Construction Hong Kong - Nostalgic Billboard Ad in Causeway Bay

Another excellent "best advertisement" in 2023 example encapsulated nostalgia with its design and placement. This outdoor billboard ad by Construction Hong Kong was a giant retro recruitment advertisement that graced the streets of Causeway Bay, with the tagline "Design For Future. Build For Life." catching the eye of passersby.

This creative ad campaign draws inspiration from nostalgic job advertisements in newspapers, adding a touch of playfulness with its design and wording. It not only pays homage to the industry's heritage but also serves as a reminder of the enduring appeal and opportunities it offers. This perfect blend of history and innovation has earned its place on our best ads 2023.

Hong Kong Disneyland: World of Frozen - MTR Train Ads

In November 2023, the "World of Frozen" at Hong Kong Disneyland was set to officially open its gates to visitors, marking a special occasion that was celebrated with a grand opening ceremony. The festivities included the delightful decoration of the Disneyland MTR line - a transformation of the train interior into the "Arendelle Express", a magical train inspired by the Frozen universe.

This marks the first time in 18 years that such a thematic addition has been made to the train fleet. The entire train is decorated with elements of ice and snow, with beloved characters like Olaf covering the train's windows, creating a wintry ambience. For visitors heading to Disneyland, this is a photo opportunity not to be missed. Similarly to the Dettol ad mentioned previously, this gives the outdoor advertising campaign an added element of word-of-mouth as train riders and park visitors are posting photos of the decorations. There's no question that this enchanting marriage of Disney's magic and Frozen stands tall among the best advertisements in Hong Kong for 2023.

MTR Lightbox 4-Sheet

MTR Escalator Crown Panels

Train Door Window Sticker

Adintime's Client: TF International Securities - Tramcar & Bus Shelter Ads

We're proud to share one of our clients', TF International Securities, tram and bus shelter ad campaigns on this 2023 best ads list! Their ad variations were strategically placed on 3 iconic tram cars and 20 bus shelter panels spanning Central, Admiralty, Sheung Wan, Wanchai, Causeway Bay, North Point, Quarry Bay, and Taikoo. This gave them both mobile and static advertising touchpoints on Hong Kong Island, capturing the attention of commuters and pedestrians alike. The campaign lasted 4 weeks, from mid-July to mid-August this year. The ad creatives came with a scannable QR code for easy app download which was a smart utilization of the ad spaces as commuters often have time to interact with ads while they wait for transit.

Our ad experts at Adintime helped TF International plan their tailored campaign placement and get the best advertising rates. We offer professional discounts exclusive to Adintime and personalized support so our client can reach their advertising goals with us!

Tram Advertising

Tram Shelter Advertising

Prudential 175th Anniversary - Outdoor Ads in Tsim Sha Tsui

Concluding our rundown of the top ads 2023 is a standout entry from Prudential. In celebration of its remarkable 175th anniversary, Prudential orchestrated one of the best advertisements of the year that truly made an impact. The insurance giant left a mark by covering the Star Ferry terminals with unmissable outdoor advertisements. To make this celebration even more special, Prudential offered all ferry commuters a surprise – free rides on May 30th, 2023.

The excitement didn't stop there. In June, Prudential introduced a quirky popup ad that took social media by storm. Featuring "Double Ducks" by Florentijn Hofman, this innovative campaign showcased two jumbo 3D duck displays, strategically placed in the iconic Victoria Harbour. The installation quickly became a sensation, with numerous spectators capturing and sharing photographs of the larger-than-life ducks. News outlets also took notice, and Prudential's ad campaign received extensive coverage, securing its status as one of the most creative and impactful advertising campaigns in 2023.