The towering bamboo altar at the Kam Tin Heung Jiao Festival has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest temporary bamboo altar, drawing attention to one of Hong Kong’s most significant traditional cultural events.
The 34th Jiao Festival of Kam Tin Heung, a once-in-a-decade celebration, began last Saturday (Dec 13) and runs through Friday (Dec 19). The festival’s centerpiece is a massive bamboo-built altar, which has become the highlight of the event.
According to the Guinness World Records website, the structure—certified on Dec 9—covers an area of more than 41,000 square feet and earned the title of “largest bamboo structure altar (temporary).”
Built using more than 25,000 bamboo poles and 3,500 wooden beams, the altar was constructed over more than two months by a team of more than 10 master craftsmen. Standing about five stories high, it can accommodate up to 6,000 people.
Located in front of the Chou Wong Yi Kung Study Hall in Shui Tau Tsuen, the bamboo altar is among the largest traditional opera stages in Hong Kong. Beyond its role as a ceremonial hall for Taoist rituals, the structure also serves as a performance venue, showcasing the craftsmanship of traditional bamboo scaffolding, which is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage.
In addition to the bamboo altar, the Kam Tin Heung Jiao Festival features a wide range of traditional activities, including the procession of the deity ghost king, blessing ceremonies, Cantonese opera performances, dragon and lion dances, and communal vegetarian feasts for villagers.
The Kam Tin Heung Jiao Festival dates back to 1685 and is regarded as one of Hong Kong’s oldest Jiaoist festivals. According to oral histories passed down within the Tang clan, the ritual was introduced to Kam Tin during the Qing dynasty, reflecting the family’s migration and settlement history in the New Territories.
An exhibition held at the festival site introduces the origins of the Kam Tin Heung Jiao Festival and its major ritual components, as well as related intangible cultural heritage items.
These include bamboo theater construction techniques, traditional paper craft, floral plaque making, Taoist ritual music, Hong Kong-style Chinese cheongsam tailoring, lion dancing, poon choi (basin feast), hand-puppet Cantonese opera, and ritual Cantonese opera performances.
The Kam Tin Heung Jiao Festival runs from December 13 to 18 in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. The accompanying Kam Tin Jiao Festival Exhibition is open from December 13 to 19, from 11am to 7pm, at the Jiao Festival site in front of the Chou Wong Yi Kung Study Hall. Admission is free.
marco.lam@singtaonewscorp.com
[Special Announcement] Marvel at light and art installations at “Light up Macao 2025”
“Light up Macao 2025” assembles 28 creative illuminations by teams from Macao, Chinese mainland, Portugal, Korea, Australia and the United States under the theme “Lightscape•Horizon”. Taking place across three districts (Nam Van District, Northern District and ZAPE District) at 6pm till 10pm from 6 December 2025 to 11 January 2026, this extravaganza also features a carnival of culinary delights, cultural and game booths from Fridays to Sundays near the Macao Grand Prix Museum in ZAPE District. Free shuttle buses are available from 5 pm to 10 pm on Fridays to Sundays and on designated festive days.
For more information, please visit: https://lum.macaotourism.gov.mo/
