On the morning of the 13th, outside the glass curtain wall of the Palace Museum in Hong Kong, the sparkling waves of Victoria Harbour and the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island shone together; Inside the curtain wall, a flash mob concert using traditional Chinese music as a medium leisurely began. The guzheng is warm and ethereal, the yangqin is crisp and clear, the bamboo flute is clear and melodious, the erhu is gentle and mellow, and the melodious music lingers in the high public space.
On the day of 2026 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, the Palace Museum in Hong Kong specially launched a flash mob performance called "Inheriting Harmony". The five traditional Chinese music performers dressed in Hanfu were elegantly dressed, and the music included the elegance of "Blue and White Porcelain", the gentleness of "Beautiful Flowers and Full Moon", the liveliness of "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon", and the clanging of "Descendants of the Dragon". Tourists who came and went to the exhibition stopped and listened attentively.
Traditional Chinese music, as an important carrier of excellent traditional Chinese culture, is also an important link in revitalizing cultural heritage and transmitting cultural heritage, "said Cai Xiaorui, founder of the Hong Kong Inclusive Arts and Music Association. This performance allows performers and audiences to be in close proximity and resonate in both directions, making cultural heritage a vivid inheritance that can be heard, felt, and resonated with.
On that day, the new special exhibition "Joyful Encounters - Huang Junshi's Calligraphy and Painting Collection and Art" at the Palace Museum in Hong Kong was officially opened to the public. The exhibition, citing the elegant meaning of the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion," is divided into three main thematic units, showcasing more than 60 precious collections and masterpieces of Hong Kong collector Huang Junshi, including calligraphy, painting, ancient painting collection, and collaborative calligraphy and painting by famous artists.
Li Zhongmou, Deputy Director of the Palace Museum in Hong Kong, introduced that the museum has launched a series of themed activities on Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, aiming to bring the public closer to cultural heritage and experience the charm of Chinese culture. At present, among the nine exhibition halls in the museum, five permanent exhibition systems showcase the collections of the Palace Museum and traditional Chinese culture, while the remaining exhibition halls showcase cultural treasures from around the world. Museums actively collaborate with peers at home and abroad to deepen cooperation in various fields such as cultural relic research, collection preservation, exhibition display, and public education, promoting the protection, inheritance, and dissemination of cultural heritage.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will hold the first "Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month" in 2025 and welcome the second one in 2026. On that day, about 400 experts, scholars, and enthusiasts from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao attended the Intangible Cultural Heritage Summit and Intangible Cultural Heritage Banquet, one of the key activities of this year's "Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month".
Cheng Meibao, the head of the Department of Chinese and History at City University of Hong Kong, said that with the support of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, there are many highlights in the practice of young people inheriting intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong. Many young musicians and creators with a background in performing arts actively explore folk arts such as Nanyin and Xianshui songs, relying on relevant funding projects to create original songs and perform special shows, injecting youthful vitality into traditional art through trendy interpretation methods.
Outside the venue, the festive metaverse experience project hosted by Chen Qian, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Hong Kong Shue Yan University, attracted many citizens to participate. Citizens only need to wear VR helmets to immerse themselves in the virtual scenes of Cheung Chau Bun Festival and Hong Kong Teochew Ghost Festival, experiencing the unique charm of these two national level intangible cultural heritage festivals.
This type of traditional festival is only held once a year, and many people inevitably miss the opportunity. By using metaverse technology to reproduce folk customs, it can not only attract the attention of young people, but also open up multiple paths for the protection and inheritance of traditional culture, "said Ms. Zhou, a citizen.
At the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre located in the San Tung Uk Museum in Tsuen Wan, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Special Administrative Region Government organized the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Celebration · San Tung Uk Diversity Fun Day" with a series of performances by ethnic minority children, including inclusive Cantonese opera, sea land dance of qilin, youth Chaozhou music, and Hakka folk songs. There were also workshops on flower ribbon weaving and auspicious pattern embroidery held on site, and traditional rural building restoration techniques were demonstrated and experienced by senior ancient building restorers, attracting many participants to stop by. Multiple fun experience booths each have their own characteristics. Citizens can personally make auspicious animal fragrance stones, magnet stickers, and enjoy creative crafting techniques and precious historical photos of the three houses.
Mr. Li, a citizen who came to visit, said that the immersive experience makes traditional culture lively and approachable, and he hopes that such down-to-earth intangible cultural heritage activities will continue to be held. The activities are rich and diverse, allowing visitors to watch authentic folk performances and experience traditional handicrafts firsthand, and to experience the charm of Hong Kong's diverse intangible cultural heritage up close. (Looking into the New Era)