[Chinese Culture Festival] Diversified and Interactive Offerings

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) from June to September. There is an array of programmes in the first CCF including programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival (COF), exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions and talks. Check out the followings to learn more!

 

Opening Programme - "Five Stars Rising in the East"

The opening programme of the CCF is the Dance Drama: "Five Stars Rising in the East" performed by the Beijing Dance Drama and Opera. The concept of the dance drama was inspired by a piece of Han dynasty brocade armguard unearthed from the ancient Niya cultural relics site in Hotan Prefecture of the ancient Silk Roads in Xinjiang. The woven pattern of this magnificent artefact, designated as a National Class One Cultural Relic, reveals characters that translate as "five stars rising in the East are auspicious signs for the Central Plain". Through spectacular dance movements, music, costumes and stage design, the production reshapes the aesthetics of the Han dynasty and the local customs of the Western Regions, allowing the profound Chinese cultural heritage carried by the precious cultural relic to be showcased onstage. It also demonstrates the spirit of unity and coexistence of the Chinese nation enduring for thousands of years.

 

Stage Performances

This year's CCF will collaborate with the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association to organise a number of stage performances, including the "Ode To China", the "New Dance Rhythms with Chinese Quintessence", the "Concert of Drum Music Art Ensemble of Jiangzhou, Shanxi and their Hong Kong Inheritors" and the "Chinese Magical Arts' Wonder", demonstrating the power of unity of the local cultural sector, as well as their solid competence and boundless creativity in promoting Chinese culture. During the CCF, arts groups of some of the outstanding local works selected for funding under the China National Arts Fund have been invited by the LCSD to present their works.

 

Film Screenings and Talks

In addition to stage performance, movie fans can revisit a number of selected local films and precious Chinese opera films in the CCF. They include "Integrating Traditional Morality with Modern Reality: Sil-Metropole Retrospective" showcasing 16 works of Sil-Metropole and its predecessors Great Wall, Feng Huang and Sun Luen as well as programme "Hairpin, Butterfly and Tong Tik-sang Revisited" which shows the Cantonese opera classics. There are also screenings of Cantonese operatic song films and Chinese opera films which demonstrate the crux of excellent Chinese culture.

On talks, there are "Exploring the Roots of Local Music in silk-and-bamboo, wind-and-percussion" and "Legacy and Vision: Conversations with Chinese Cultural Masters" which cover topics on traditional Chinese music, Chinese aesthetics, traditional culture, Chinese painting and calligraphy, Cantonese opera, drama, visual arts, cultural industry and more.

 

Free Exhibitions and Activities

In addition to the above-mentioned performing arts programmes, this year's CCF will launch various free exhibitions and activities for everyone to share the joy. They include the exhibition "A New Era of Ink Painting in Hong Kong", "Red Chamber Expressions - Art Exhibition and Red Studies Forum" and "Loong Legacies: Culture, Arts & Design Exhibition with IP Product Development Programme and Talks". On 9 June at the Plaza and Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall, the LCSD will hold the "Encountering Chinese Culture" Carnival which includes stage performances with Chinese cultural characteristics, "Library-on-Wheels", inspiring cultural booths, a foyer concert featuring Chinese music and more for all to experience the festive atmosphere at close range. In addition to the spectacular lantern displays of different themes, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals 2024 to be held in September will bring performances by a Mainland arts group, showcasing the rich variety of China's ethnic styles and traditional culture to the public. Details of the above programmes will be announced later.

 

Chinese Culture Festival 2024 Date: June to September 2024 Programme Details: Programme Brochure / Programme Ticketing: Tickets are available at URBTIX and the Xiqu Centre Ticket Office (Unless otherwise specified for individual programmes) Thematic Website: https://www.ccf.gov.hk/en/