This Mid-Autumn, Walk Over Hot Coals for the Monkey King

Tom BillingeSeptember 30, 2020

Long overshadowed by the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Monkey King Festival is a unique slice of Chiu Chow culture that includes shamans, trances and incredible feats of endurance....

A Little BreakCultureTraditionWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments1481 views 06 min read

Unswerving Loyalty: Kwan Tai, Hong Kong’s God of Brotherhood

Tom BillingeAugust 4, 2020

How a warrior revered for his loyalty became one of Hong Kong's most respected deities. ...

CultureHeritageHistoryTraditionUsual Suspects & LandmarksWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments3317 views 08 min read

An Extraordinary Temple and a Master Builder: Hong Kong’s Lo Pan Festival

Tom BillingeJuly 2, 2020

This July, construction workers will gather at one of Hong Kong's most extraordinary temples – one of only two in the world dedicated to Lo Pan....

A Little BreakCultureHeritageHistoryTraditionWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments900 views 08 min read

Enter the Dragon Boat: A New Spirit Hits Hong Kong Waters

Cardin ChanJune 18, 2020

On the eve of Tuen Ng, a dragon boat club considers the spiritual and cultural meaning of these quintessential Hong Kong vessels. ...

CultureHeritageHistoryTradition0 Comments1138 views 09 min read

Dragon Boats from the Past: A Festive Chapter from Gwulo’s New Book

Zolima CityMagJune 18, 2020

We present an excerpt from the latest book published by David Bellis, founder of the popular Hong Kong history website Gwulo....

CultureHeritageHistorySportTradition0 Comments491 views 06 min read

Tin Hau Festival: Celebrating the Birthday of Hong Kong’s Supreme Goddess

Tom BillingeApril 15, 2020

From a Fujianese fishing village to the streets of Hong Kong: the story behind Tin Hau, Hong Kong's most popular deity. ...

Big StoriesCultureHistoryTradition0 Comments2545 views 19 min read

The Story of Kwun Yum, Hong Kong’s Mother Goddess

Tom BillingeJanuary 30, 2020

One goddess is worshipped above the rest: Kwun Yum, the Goddess of Mercy. But how did she achieve her exalted position?...

CultureTradition0 Comments6329 views 09 min read

Still Human: A Film About a Domestic Helper, a Paraplegic – and Human Dignity

Elizabeth KerrJanuary 9, 2020

Oliver Chan's highly anticipated debut feature brings together Hong Kong-based Filipina actress Crisel Consunji and local legend Anthony Wong....

CinemaCulturePeoplePortraits0 Comments3450 views 010 min read

Tear Gas City: How the Microwave Arts Festival Reflects Hong Kong in 2019

Christie LeeNovember 13, 2019

As the whole world seems to burn, the programme director of Hong Kong’s oldest new media arts festival thinks art has the power to heal –and serve as a warning....

ArtMusicVideo artVisual Art0 Comments369 views 06 min read

The Hong Kong International Literary Festival – How Did It All Begin?

Zabrina LoNovember 2, 2019

The founders of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival tell the odd tale of how a pioneering event took root in Hong Kong....

BooksCultureLanguage0 Comments117 views 09 min read

Hong Kong’s Kids International Film Festival is an Antidote to Corporate Blockbusters

Elizabeth KerrJuly 19, 2019

The third edition of KIFF offers a thoughtful mid-summer programme for kids, teenagers and grown-ups who like good films....

CinemaCulture0 Comments129 views 05 min read

Can Quebec Films Help Hong Kong Explore its Own Identity? Indie Collective YEC Says Yes

Elizabeth KerrJuly 17, 2019

For more than two decades, independent collective Ying E Chi has pushed the boundaries of Hong Kong film – and a new programme of Québécois movies continues the mission....

CinemaCulture0 Comments442 views 012 min read

Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in Hong Kong: Are Film Festivals Still Relevant?

Elizabeth KerrJune 13, 2019

As Hong Kong celebrates 50 years of the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight, it raises the question of whether traditional film festivals still have an important role to play....

CinemaCulture0 Comments227 views 011 min read

The Immigrant Dragons, Part IV: Generations United in Bendigo

Billy PottsMay 8, 2019

Back home in Australia, the world's largest imperial dragon joins his predecessors – and so do the citizens of Bendigo, united by Chinese tradition....

CultureTradition0 Comments1069 views 09 min read

G Affairs: Lee Cheuk-pan Keeps His Film Uniquely Hong Kong

Elizabeth KerrMarch 20, 2019

Ahead of his Hong Kong International Film Festival debut, director Lee Cheuk-pan asserts the need for local movies to tell local stories....

CinemaCultureInterviewsPeople0 Comments527 views 010 min read

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Returns – In Search of a Home

Elizabeth KerrMarch 14, 2019

New HKIFF executive director Albert Lee has the Hong Kong International Film Festival looking to the future....

CinemaCulture0 Comments282 views 010 min read

Macau’s Film Festival Punches Above Its Weight

Elizabeth KerrDecember 5, 2018

The third edition of the International Film Festival and Awards Macao sees the festival coming into its own....

Cinema0 Comments188 views 09 min read

A Big Audience for Hong Kong Bands: Clockenflap 2018

Christopher DewolfOctober 30, 2018

Although its biggest acts are usually from abroad, Clockenflap is also the place to discover Hong Kong's independent music scene....

ArtMusicVideo art0 Comments260 views 06 min read

Don’t Ignore Hong Kong’s Quietly Growing Literary Scene

Amanda SheppardOctober 25, 2018

The latest edition of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival is bigger than ever, highlighting an increasingly robust literary scene....

BooksCulture0 Comments266 views 07 min read

Joe Lam and Joanne Leung Have Made Hong Kong’s Only LGBT Film Festival More Relevant Than Ever

Elizabeth KerrSeptember 5, 2018

After nearly three decades the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival seems more vital than ever....

CinemaCulture0 Comments678 views 010 min read

In Trendy SoHo, the Ghosts of 30 Houses Rise for a Remarkable Festival

Cardin ChanAugust 30, 2018

Every year, the historic neighbourhood of 30 Houses stages a unique celebration for Yu Lan, the Hungry Ghost Festival – but as gentrification presses on, how much longer will it survive?...

A Little BreakCultureTraditionWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments1341 views 07 min read

Hong Kong Bites: Dragon Boat Dumplings – Zung Zi 粽子

Andrea LoJune 14, 2018

The story behind Hong Kong's stickiest summer treat....

CultureFoodTradition0 Comments1212 views 08 min read

Forgotten Icon: The Disappearing Art of Dragon Boat Building

Gabriella ZanzanainiJune 13, 2018

Hong Kong's dragon boat festival is going strong – but the industry that once supplied it is fading into obscurity. ...

CultureSportTradition0 Comments1922 views 011 min read

Hong Kong’s Skyline Gets Dressed Up for Christmas

Christopher DewolfDecember 20, 2017

Thousands of people once flocked to Tsim Sha Tsui East to see the Christmas lights. While the crowds have thinned, the displays still shine....

CultureSmall Stories & Secret StoriesTradition0 Comments1115 views 05 min read

Lumieres Hong Kong: Shedding New Light on Hong Kong’s History

Sarah KaracsNovember 23, 2017

The first ever edition of Lumieres Hong Kong brings luminous art to some of Hong Kong's most important historic sites....

ArtHeritageHistoryStreet Art0 Comments456 views 04 min read

Wong Tai Sin’s Birthday: How Did the Mysterious God of Health End Up in Hong Kong?

Tom BillingeOctober 4, 2017

The biggest temple in Hong Kong is preparing for the birthday of its resident deity ,Wong Tai Sin, whose cult is the fastest growing in southern China....

CultureHeritageHistoryInspring ItinerariesTraditionUsual Suspects & LandmarksWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments1996 views 09 min read

Songs the Drowned Men Sing: Hong Kong’s Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festivals Come Back to Life

Ryan KilpatrickAugust 31, 2017

A Chiu Chow twist on the Hungry Ghost Festival is making a comeback in Hong Kong....

CultureHeritageHistoryTradition0 Comments1218 views 17 min read

The Seven Sisters Festival: Heavenly Love and a Rock Near Wan Chai

Tom BillingeAugust 24, 2017

Astronomy and Chinese mythology are intertwined in the Chinese Valentine's Day ...

CultureTradition0 Comments1517 views 07 min read

For the Love of Beauty: Le French May Celebrates Its 25th Edition

Zolima CityMagMay 4, 2017

Beauty, heritage and the universality of art are topics close to the heart of Le French May's CEO, Julien-Loïc Garin....

ArtInterviewsMusicPeoplePerforming ArtVisual Art0 Comments398 views 08 min read

Tam Kung: Hong Kong’s Seafaring Child God

Tom BillingeApril 27, 2017

Every year, Shau Kei Wan celebrates Tam Kung, a mysterious god worshipped by Hakka people around the world. ...

CultureTradition0 Comments975 views 09 min read

Sonar Lands in Hong Kong, Bringing Music and Technology Along With It

Sarah KaracsMarch 30, 2017

A legendary Barcelona festival arrives in Hong Kong for a day that will feature household and pioneering electronic acts alongside an expo that promotes an experimental, creative and playful relationship with technology. ...

ArtMusic0 Comments231 views 07 min read

Pak Tai, Mysterious Black God of the North

Tom BillingeMarch 29, 2017

On the third day of the third lunar month, enigmatic temples around Hong Kong will be alive with worshippers making offerings to the so-called Black Deity....

A Little BreakCultureHeritageHistoryTraditionWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments2859 views 08 min read

Why Clockenflap is About More Than Just Music

Christopher DewolfNovember 17, 2016

Clockenflap has built up its credentials as a world-class music festival, but co-founder Jay Forster hopes to make its arts component just as relevant....

ArtInterviewsMusicPeoplePerforming ArtStreet ArtVisual Art0 Comments325 views 08 min read

Why Close-Knit Shek O Erupts in Celebration Once Every Ten Years

Gabriella ZanzanainiNovember 8, 2016

How a small village community at the southeastern tip of Hong Kong Island has stayed true to itself for centuries. ...

A Little BreakCultureHeritageHistoryTraditionWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments1022 views 011 min read

A Close Look at Hong Kong’s Rare, Extravagant Spiritual Purification Festivals

Tom BillingeNovember 8, 2016

The Chinese calendar is packed with holidays, but there is one type of festival that every village decides when and how to celebrate, Tai Ping Ching Chiu. This year, it's Shek O's turn....

CultureTraditionWhere To Go, To Play, To Rest0 Comments903 views 08 min read

Bookish Pursuits at This Year’s Hong Kong International Literary Festival

Helen DalleyOctober 27, 2016

This year’s festival is the most eclectic so far, with big names like Lionel Shriver lining up against Australian slam poet and hip hop artist Omar Musa....

BooksCulture0 Comments311 views 08 min read

Walking the Talk: Gallery Hopping and Building Culture During Hong Kong’s Art Week

Payal UttamOctober 19, 2016

In a city with many commercial art fairs and not enough museums, the Hong Kong Gallery Association’s Art Week is trying to connect people with art...

ArtStreet ArtVisual Art0 Comments494 views 06 min read

How to Avoid Hong Kong’s Hungry Ghosts This August

Tom BillingeJuly 31, 2016

Why you should forget about taking a selfie this month – and other tricks to survive Hong Kong's Hungry Ghost Festival. ...

CultureTradition0 Comments4226 views 06 min read

All About Ching Ming, Hong Kong’s Tomb-Sweeping Day

Tom BillingeMarch 30, 2016

What's the story behind Ching Ming, one of the most important holidays on the Chinese calendar? ...

Big StoriesCultureHistoryTradition0 Comments2359 views 09 min read

Forgotten Hong Kong Icon: Burning iPhones for the Afterlife

Gabriella ZanzanainiMarch 24, 2016

Where paper effigies bring a happier future...

CulturePeoplePortraitsTradition0 Comments879 views 07 min read