Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage to be celebrated in new annual initiative

Bamboo pole noodles, dragon boat races and cheongsam-making are expected to be included in a new annual initiative to celebrate Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage and enhance the city’s appeal to tourists.

The Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Month will debut in June, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department revealed on Friday in its preview for activities in the coming year.

“It’s a very popular trend, many young people are interested in finding out more about history. The same goes for tourists. The Peak and the Avenue of Stars are no longer the only spots they visit,” Eve Tam Mei-yee, deputy director of the department, said.

“Visitors want to learn more about what is unique about a place, such as its history and culture, that you cannot find anywhere else in the world,” she said.

She added that hosting the initiative annually in June could help build awareness among those interested in planning trips to Hong Kong.

Manda Chan Wing-man, director of the department, said the initiative would feature a few of the 18 districts in Hong Kong each year, focusing on what each had to offer in terms of intangible cultural heritage, with details to be announced in the coming months.