Rich city traditions help attract tourists

South China Morning Post

13-05-2025

Hong Kong is playing host to numerous new events as it seeks to broaden its appeal and adapt to the tastes of today's tourists. But traditional cultural attractions retain their value and must be preserved as tourism evolves. The iconic Cheung Chau Bun Festival, dating back to the 18th or 19th century, remains one of the most colourful and creative. More than 22,000 people recently headed to the outlying island for the culmination of the four-day event.
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An enthusiastic reception was given to the children featured in the 'floating parade'. This year, some were dressed as government ministers, famous athletes and a character from the popular mainland film Ne Zha 2. Meanwhile, the traditional 'ping on' steamed buns were very much in demand. People queued for hours for tickets to see the climax of the festival, the breathtaking bun scramble, which resulted in third-time winner Janet Kung Tsz-shan being crowned 'queen of bun queens'.
Hong Kong is gearing up for a month of activities showcasing and celebrating intangible cultural heritage in June. The campaign, the first of its kind, will coincide with and support China's Cultural and National Heritage Day. Many events are planned across six districts with the aim of attracting tourists and increasing awareness of the city's traditions. There will be carnivals and fun days, with cultural highlights ranging from a Hakka unicorn dance to Cantonese opera, puppetry, Chinese brush making and dragon boats.
Performances, exhibitions, workshops and conferences will be held at plazas, town halls, museums, libraries and schools. There will also be interactive booths.
Food is an important element, because Hong Kong is hoping the United Nations will recognise the city's culinary heritage. Techniques for making shrimp paste and rice dumplings are among the activities included.
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It is good to see efforts being made to maintain the city's traditions and present them to a wider audience. They are a vital and distinctive part of the city's history and culture and continue to appeal to visitors. As Hong Kong embraces everything from 'mega-events' to 'selfie tourism', maintaining its rich traditions must be a priority.