
Hongkongers perform ‘lost music' of ancient China in the West for the first time
Young Hong Kong musicians are recreating the 'lost music' of ancient China through unique compositions and have performed the pieces in the West for the first time with groundbreaking concerts in London and Paris.
Advertisement
The recent tour by the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble is part of wider efforts by the city to forge cultural ties overseas.
Since 2018, the group has performed more than 60 concerts in Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as one in Tokyo.
It played at the international Museum Summit on March 27, as Hong Kong wrapped up a month of high-profile cultural events.
But the 'Go West' tour was a landmark, allowing audiences in Europe to experience such music for the first time.
Advertisement
Leonie Ki Man-fung, founder and honorary director of the ensemble, said the musicians had realised her dream of reviving music featured in murals and scores from the caves of ancient Dunhuang in Gansu province, located in northwest mainland China, that date back as far as the 4th century.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
04-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
New venue in Hong Kong should iron out its kinks
Kai Tak Stadium has won deserved acclaim for its debuts as Hong Kong's new prime venue for major sporting and entertainment events. Credit must be given for intensive preparations such as trial runs to identify problems that can arise around mega-events involving huge crowds. Advertisement The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens and concerts by British group Coldplay and Cantopop star Nicholas Tse Ting-fung stress-tested the city's latest showpiece. It passed with flying colours, showcasing its ability to handle large-scale events seamlessly. Moreover, it hosted a K-pop concert in the 10,000-seater Kai Tak Arena alongside one of Tse's concerts. Ultimately, however, customer experience also determines whether it lives up to high expectations. In that respect it is good that complaints about blocked views are being addressed. More than 230 complaints filed with the city's consumer watchdog after Coldplay's four shows at the 50,000-capacity stadium were followed by more after Tse's concerts. Advertisement According to the Consumer Council, in one case involving HK$6,000 the complainant said that when buying four tickets, the system did not indicate that they were for seats with obstructed views, which only became apparent on receipt of printed tickets.


South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
Success of ‘Art March Hong Kong' reaffirms city's status as dynamic international art hub
03:39 Major events reaffirm Hong Kong as a global art hub Major events reaffirm Hong Kong as a global art hub Visitors to Hong Kong last month would have seen first-hand how the dynamic metropolis has fully embraced art. Advertisement Major international events, including the 12th edition of Art Basel Hong Kong and the city's own Art Central fair, had – very visibly – taken up residency in the heart of the city, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Central Harbourfront, where local galleries hosted exhibitions and parties. Other activities including special auctions under the 'Art March Hong Kong 2025' celebration initiated by Hong Kong's art and culture hub, the West Kowloon Cultural District, and the fourth Museum Summit, organised by the city's Leisure and Cultural Services Department, emphasised how Hong Kong has achieved its aim to become an international art hub. It is now also the third-largest centre for art auctions in the world. Art patron Alia Al-Senussi (left) and painter Fatina Kong believe the Hong Kong government's efforts have helped the city to achieve its aim to become a global art hub. Organisers say this year's three-day Art Basel Hong Kong drew an estimated 91,000 visitors, including 'prominent private collectors and art patrons from over 70 countries and territories', who came to look at artworks from the collections of 240 galleries from across the globe. Among them was collector and art patron Alia Al-Senussi, who has also served as Art Basel's United Kingdom, Middle East and North Africa representative for over a decade. She believes international art galleries and artists are drawn to Hong Kong because it offers both inclusivity and opportunity. 'People travelling to a new place often get intimidated by the idea of something foreign or different to them,' she says. 'But when artists and collectors in the art world come to Hong Kong, they understand how to make those connections to people, even from their own hometowns – and so, being in Hong Kong makes the world small, but in the most special way. Advertisement 'Whether it's at Duddell's over lunch, or in the convention centre at a booth, or over a drink at Dragon-i late at night … it's a really perfect place to come and be able to make those connections.' Her Libyan heritage and education in the UK and the United States have made her an ideal interlocutor for the global art scene. For years, she has visited Hong Kong for art collaborations and curated exhibitions, including one at restaurant and cultural space Duddell's in Central, featuring Saudi Arabian artist and doctor Ahmed Mater, believed to be the first artist from that country to showcase his work in the city.


South China Morning Post
27-04-2025
- South China Morning Post
‘Chiikawa' anime captures hearts with relatable themes and cute characters
After a long day at school, something small and cute can help distract us from the stress. Lately, for many in Hong Kong, this comes in the form of a cute character called Chiikawa. A Japanese artist named Nagano created this character. It went viral as a web comic in 2017. In 2022, it was adapted into an anime, called Chiikawa. Its name means 'something small and cute'. This show and its characters have become popular in Japan and other parts of Asia. In Hong Kong, Chiikawa fan accounts have tens of thousands of followers on Instagram. Ken Fung is a clinical psychologist at Jadis Blurton Family Development Centre in Hong Kong. He says the show is popular because it looks cute and has themes that young people understand. It often talks about fear and failure. 'At first glance, Chiikawa's appearance is cute ... but the episodes are far deeper than that,' Fung said. Why is this character so popular? In the series, Chiikawa and his friends need to work hard to earn money for the things they need. Their jobs are not exciting or fun; they need to hunt monsters, remove weeds and put stickers on fruits. These tasks are similar to what many students do every day. Chiikawa's friend, Hachiware, once complained: 'I wish the stuff we wanted would just pop out of the ground.' Even though they face many challenges, Fung said the characters openly talked about their sadness and fear of failure. He shared the example of how Hachiware admitted he did not know the answers to a test, so he just guessed. Chiikawa was relieved because he had done the same. 'The show ... helps [us] understand that these emotions are normal parts of life,' Fung said. Happiness in the small things The anime also shows the small moments of joy in life when yummy food magically appears or when Chiikawa has a meal with his friends. 'They really enjoy simple things like spending time together, even if it's doing nothing special and just eating together,' Fung said. 'These scenes show us that even ordinary, everyday life can be beautiful, and we often forget that.' The show's message about showing support for friends is also important for young people. 'I really like how the characters' relationships show that in a world filled with challenges, kindness can help them overcome even the toughest obstacles,' Fung said. Use the puzzle below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story. Suggested answers Before you read: Answers will vary. Stop and think: Fung says that this show can introduce kids to real and difficult topics such as sadness and failure. Even though it is a kids' show, it is not always happy. He also says the show highlights simple joys in life. It proves that everyday like is still fun. Consider: Chiikawa has to do boring and ordinary things throughout the day, such as pulling weeds and putting stickers on fruits. Students also sometimes have to complete boring tasks. Chiikawa also has a problem where he guesses answers on a test and feels bad about it, something students can relate to.