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A festival that promotes the historical value of the Yau Ma Tei community was held on Sunday to let the citizens reminisce about Yung Shue Tau's traditional customs in the past.
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The Yau Ma Tei Festival - run under the theme of "Day x Night Vibes @18 Districts" - allows the public and visitors to learn more about the characteristics, local culture, history, and development of Yau Ma Tei through carnival games, nostalgic goods and food exhibition, Pun Choi banquet and cultural tour.
The events also feature spring couplet (Fai Chun) writing, fortune-telling, and the traditional wooden cart competition - the flagship activity - with runners dressed in fun costumes to push a wooden cart that is usually seen at the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market to reach the finishing line.
Runners dressed as pilots, babies, and even "Super Mario" competed and raised the joyful atmosphere to its highest as residents and visitors cheered for them along the way.
Participants said they would like to bring visitors a "different shopping experience in Hong Kong" while aiming to boost the business of the Yau Tsim Mong District and share the joy with citizens.
Some hoped the classic elements of Yau Ma Tei, like Temple Street and the folk culture at the fruit market, could be preserved. They believed it would attract more tourists as well as allow people to relive fond memories of the past.
A tourist surnamed Sun and her friend surnamed Jian - both from Sichuan - said they did not expect to see the costume run as they were just shopping around. They noted the festival was filled with the warmth of neighborly bonds and looking forward to joining some other festival in the future.
Separately, a night market at Kwun Tong Town Centre will feature various stalls, stage performances, and game booths for the public to enjoy the nightlife.
A distinctive bazaar was also held at Sheung Wan starting today, with sales stalls, diverse youth cultural performances, and new sports experiences to be arranged.
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