More than 100 local and mainland Chinese intangible cultural heritage (ICH) traditions, including Cantonese opera and Hakka unicorn dance, will take center stage during Hong Kong’s inaugural Intangible Cultural Heritage Month, running from May 31 to July 1.
All events will be free for the public, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Office announced.
The month-long celebration, themed “ICH Around Town”, follows last year’s policy address commitment to bolster ICH conservation efforts.
Kicking off the festivities is a two-day carnival at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on May 31, showcasing festive performances such as the national-level ICH-listed Hakka Unicorn (Qilin) Dance in Hang Hau, a 200-year-old ritual believed to bring luck and ward off evil; Cheung Chau's Piu Sik Parade, where children dressed as mythological figures on colorful floats, and the acrobatic lion and dragon dances; as well as Yingge, a Chinese folkdance merging opera, dance and martial arts originated in Chaoshan, Guangdong.
Interactive booths will offer hands-on experiences, including Wing Chun martial arts demonstrations and traditional fisherfolk wedding customs.
(gov) Traditional fishfolk wedding customs performance
On June 14, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum will host an ICH summit, while the Sam Tung Uk Museum will hold a two-day activity featuring fashion shows and various ICH experience workshops, such as sugar-blowing.
On June 22, Sha Tin's New Town Plaza and Town Hall will host performances and exhibitions featuring ICH practitioners from Jiangxi and Hong Kong.
Highlights include Jiangxi's Gannan Tea-picking Opera and Hong Kong’s fire dragon dance, alongside craft displays.
Food lovers can savor heritage at a culinary-themed exhibition at Oil Street Art Space in North Point from June 28 to 29, which offers a multisensory exploration of local food traditions.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Central Library will present Jiangxi’s Hakka culture through exhibits, videos, and live demonstrations from June 14 to July 1, with parallel displays of Hong Kong’s Hakka heritage.
A key feature is the ICH Highlights Tours, free guided walks exploring six districts, including Yau Tsim Mong, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Sha Tin, Eastern District and Islands District.
Starting May 16, citizens can register via the office's website while overseas tourists can join special tours co-organized with the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Activities range from bamboo steamer crafting to traditional pastry-making workshops.
The government expects over 100,000 participants across 80 performances, 60 workshops, and 20 tours and aims to establish the event as an annual tradition.
(Ayra Wang)
