Culture & Leisure
“Seed to Cup” promotes coffee farming culture in Hong Kong
- 2023-11-09
- Society
- By: Ngai Fung NG、Wai Yan MIUEdited by: Tsz In Warren LEUNG
- 2023-11-09
A newbie farmer right here in Hong Kong is promoting locally-grown coffee, the “Seed to Cup” project aims to take coffee lovers from the beans to a steaming hot drink.
Kulturnatten's 30th Anniversary: A Night of Light and Culture in Copenhagen 13/10/2023
- 2023-10-20
- Society
- By: Tsz Yau CHANEdited by: Wisha LIMBU
- 2023-10-20
Copenhagen's annual Culture Night, known as "Kulturnatten," dazzled the central city with lights, music, and a resilient spirit despite challenging weather conditions. The 30th Anniversary of this celebration had an impressive turnout of over 63,000 attendees. All cultural night events required a Culture Pass at a cost of 110 Danish Krone (HK$121) from either a mobile app or through 7-Eleven stores. The Culture Pass covered free transportation on trains, buses and the Metro in selected city areas from 4 am to 4 pm during the event. The charming streets of Copenhagen were transformed into a vibrant tapestry of culture. Museums, city halls, and churches which normally closed at night were all lit with majestic light shows. Reflecting on the event's growth since 1993, Marie Myschetzky, Secretariat manager for Kulturnatten, noted the remarkable expansion from 45 events in the first year to over 200 high-quality special events after 30 years. Myscheytzky emphasised the event’s role in making culture and the city accessible to everyone. "New generations are invited behind the scenes of the city, and spaces are created for delving into history and contemporary topics in an exciting way," she said. As night fell, the once-silent library underwent a magical transformation into a mysterious maze adorned with lasers and music, concealing treasures of acorns. Kathrine, 41, and her son Cal, 3 visited the Norrebro Library and went on a treasure hunt in the Labyrinth of books and shelves. Young detectives like Cal eagerly embarked on a quest to discover hidden acorns. Upon finding them, Cal skillfully assembled them into figurines using sticks and glue. “The Culture Night event is really good for family activities. Cal gets to visit places that are usually closed at this time,” said Kathrine. “When I was young, I would go to other ball parties at Culture …
Digital Art Fair 2023 highlights AI-generated art on nostalgic theme
- 2023-10-19
- Society
- By: Juncong SHUAI、Junzhe JIANGEdited by: Bella Ding
- 2023-10-19
The 2023 Asia edition of the Digital Art Fair kicked off with nostalgia at K11 Art & Cultural Centre today, highlighting AI-generated art. It is the first post-pandemic digital art fair in Hong Kong with a special exhibition zone dedicated to AI-generated art. “AI can unlock the creativity of artists,” said Jessica Marinaro, senior director at digital artwork market, MakersPlace, “Artists can train AI to be an expert in their work and be prompted like ‘if you were me, what would you do next’.” The Red Prayer of Park Young Sook’s Moon Jar I & II is the result of collaboration between new media artist, Ming Shiu and her AI partner Genesis Kai. They used traditional Korean Joseon ceramics to explore interaction with Asia’s diverse cultures. “We artists have also been super nostalgic but we will use the tools of the future,” said Herman Rahman, Co-Curator and Fair Manager of Art & Technology. Take Your Time, a site-specific and multi-sensory installation, was created by Hong Kong artist, Jonathan Jay Lee under the inspiration of old neon lights in this city. The artwork is meant to showcase and preserve the cultural heritage of Hong Kong utilising digital technology, according to Digital Art Fair. Echoing a theme of nostalgia but beyond generative arts, digital artist Henry Chu launched Rainfall Piano this year, which is made of just LED lights, screens and stones. “I was driven by technology to showcase something new because it could easily attract people’s eyeballs and earn quick money,” said Chu, “But I want to go back to the purity of art…many artists are focusing on the origin of the art after the pandemic.” This year’s fair also includes four other sections: the immersive zone filled with 3D animations, the Inspire Zone of web3 technologies, the Prestige Zone displaying …
Hong Kong Electronics Fair attracts global buyers with creative technology and consumer electronic products
- 2023-10-14
- Society
- By: Ka Man Wong、Ji Youn LeeEdited by: Nga Ying LAU
- 2023-10-14
Hong Kong Autumn Electronics Fair kicked off on Friday at Wan Chai’s Convention and Exhibition Centre and attracted 3,200 exhibitors from 22 regions, hoping to expand business opportunities. Registered booths showcased home and office appliances and featured wireless charging, network technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) home appliances. Huizhou TCL Mobile Communications, ranked second in Omdia’s 2022’s Global TV Household Database, presented their tab series with a pad like Amazon’s Kindle. “The fair helps TCL reach the potential customers, sell tablets with full-colour electronic paper display to foreigners or overseas education institutes,” Liu Cui-chan, 30, a product manager of TCL said. Felix Chan, 23, is an engineer for MircroFlow, a startup which specialises in manufacturing microbe detecting kits ten times faster than commercial products. MicroFlow partnered with HKBU to introduce faster detection kits for drug-resistant germs. “I didn't know so many people were interested in my products,” he said. “I think it is a great chance to talk about my product to a wider audience”. The Hall of Fame Zone at the new wing encompassed consumer electronics products of emerging brands from South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Hong Un-gi, 28, the sales specialist for Hantle, a Korean manufacturer of scanners and ATMs, flew from Korea through a government program aiming to connect Korean companies and international buyers administered by the Korean Institute for Advancement of Technology. “One of my goals is to look at similar industries and competitors and reference their sales techniques,” Hong said. “I want to build new connections and get potential buyers.” The organiser, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and partners are also hosting more than 80 events and forums at the fair, according to the press release. International product demos and a pitching competition for startups are planned for later …
Tai Hang Fire Dragon dances for the first time in four years
- 2023-10-05
- Society
- By: Lisheng CHENG、Ji Youn LeeEdited by: Yu Yin WONG
- 2023-10-05
The Tai Hang Fire Dragon danced for the first time in four years during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This year’s performance from Sept. 27 to Sept. 30, is part of the government's efforts to revive Hong Kong’s entertainment and tourism sectors after a long stretch of pandemic lockdowns. As festive season kicks off, people from across the world are back in the city, some specifically for the fire dragon. Alex Grion, 16, is a tourist from France. “I enjoy the strong traditional Chinese culture atmosphere here,” he told The Young Reporter. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has a rich 180-year history. It originated from a folk story about a buddhist monk who was told to create a burning dragon out of incense to ward off pestilence. Nowadays, residents of the area create a dragon out of incense sticks and burn it during the three day Mid-Autumn festival celebration to wish for good luck. The ritual has been recognised as a national heritage by the mainland and Hong Kong in 2011 and 2017 respectively, John Lau, a 50-year-old Tai Hang resident, was so excited and kept cheering. “I have participated in this activity since I was a child. The dragon is a symbol of peace and happiness for us,” said John. The 67 metre dragon is traditionally carried by 300 of Tai Hang’s current and past residents, and stretches about the length of two blocks. Michelle Cheung, 60, runs a souvenir booth for the dragon dance. HIs products range from T-shirts to commemorative dolls holding incense sticks. The shop owner is glad to see the dragon’s comeback. “After so many years of the epidemic, seeing so many people come to participate this year is actually a reflection of Hong Kong's renewed vitality. Because everyone had to stay at home and not …
K-Market brings life to Kennedy Town during Mid-Autumn Festival
- 2023-10-02
- Society
- By: Hanzhi YANG、Xiya RUIEdited by: Ming Min AW YONG
- 2023-10-02
Since Friday, strings of lanterns have lit up Belcher Bay Promenade in Kennedy Town to welcome the Mid-Autumn Festival. Many of the visitors also brought their own lanterns. Compared with last year's Mid-Autumn Festival, when Kennedy Town was quiet amid the pandemic, this year’s K-Market has brought life back to the district.l. Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, the K-Market will run from September 29 to October 2 from 3pm to 11pm. Entrance is free. Jointly organized by the Development Bureau, Sketch Culture and SlainteHK, the fair is also known as the "Night Market and Music Festival". Several local bands and DJs transformed it into a music town from 4pm to 10pm. The festival includes around 60 retail booths, offering dry goods and food stalls, free activity booths, handicraft workshops, and more. At around 9:30 PM, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu arrived to inspect and feel the festive spirit. "I'm so happy to hear that there is something to buy and eat," said Lee. He asked visitors about their views on the K-Market and hope each place to be unique and popular. Lin Caiying, a mother of four from Foshan in Guangdong, chose Hong Kong as their family’s destination during the Mid-Autumn Festival. "I have always wanted to travel to Hong Kong, but I was unable to cross the border before," said Lin. "But when the border reopened this year, and we have seven days off because of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, my husband and I decided to bring our children to see," she said. "My kids made flower knots in a craft workshop and they love it. It’s the best Mid-Autumn Festival holiday for us," she said. Both kids were holding lanterns as souvenirs. With local bands and DJs taking turns to perform …
New archeological discoveries from Sanxingdui sites unveiled at Hong Kong Palace Museum
- 2023-09-27
- Culture & Leisure
- By: Juncong SHUAI、Yuqi CHUEdited by: Chengqi MO
- 2023-09-27
The Hong Kong Palace Museum exhibition of Sanxingdui relics opened Wednesday, with nearly half of the 120 artefacts unearthed since 2020 and showing for the first time in a major exhibition outside Sichuan province. The bronze, gold, jade and ceramic artifacts dating back 2,600 to 4,500 years are from the Sanxingdui, Jinsha and Bodun archeological sites on the Chengdu Plain. Twenty-three items are grade-one national treasures. Sanxingdui, referring to three remnants of man-made mounds that might have been part of ancient city walls, was first discovered in the late 1920s near Guanghan, Sichuan province. “The reason why we choose to unveil many of the new discoveries in Hong Kong is that compared to the mainland, there is a lack of knowledge of ancient Chinese culture,” said Lei Yu, the curator of Sanxingdui Museum. “The new archeological discoveries are significant because they extend our understanding of Sanxingdui or Shu cultures, with abundant bronze wares that have never been seen before,” Lei added. "After viewing these relics, I was particularly shocked by the beauty and design, which express the Sanxingdui people's respect for nature and gods," said Richard Cheng, a 65-year-old Hong Kong resident. "The exhibition really empowers my cultural confidence." The exhibition is divided into four thematic sections which explore the art, urban life, belief systems and the origins and legacy of the ancient Shu civilization. The exhibition has over 10 multimedia displays, including a holographic projection of a bronze tree and virtual reconstruction of a broken bronze figure. “After watching this exhibition, I find ancient Chinese culture so mysterious,” Zack Brown, 34, said. “ It’s amazing that scholars don’t exactly know what these artefacts were used for thousands of years ago, which leaves space for imagination.” Ray Chen, 22, a student from Chinese University of Hong Kong, said he was disappointed …
Hong Kong immigrants take a breather from “lower-end” UK jobs
- 2023-07-26
- Culture & Leisure
- By: Yixin GaoEdited by: Bella Ding
- 2023-07-26
With more than 144,000 Hong Kong people immigrating to Britain since the launch of the British Overseas Visa scheme in January 2021, their living and working conditions in the country are major concerns. Some found it difficult to get a decent job in the United Kingdom and others chose to start their own business or yielded to lower-end jobs in the foreign country. Fanny Leung, one of the shop owners of a Hong Kong style rice noodle restaurant called Yun Gui Chuan, considers the catering industry as a good opportunity to develop a new business. She said the rental cost of shops in London is much cheaper than in Hong Kong. But as some Asian ingredients are not commonly used in Britain, the expenses of importing ingredients are higher than in Hong Kong. The restaurant also needs to pay higher salaries to staff. “There are not many similar restaurants in London so the market environment is quite friendly to us. And even though some ingredients are relatively hard to get, many important ones (ingredients), such as pork, are much cheaper than in Hong Kong. However, the high tax rate is indeed a big disadvantage to running a business in Britain,” said Leung. However, revenue is more fluctuated in the UK. Fanny explained that one of the reasons is that footfall of the restaurant will be affected by the weather, season or even weekdays. “In Brick Lane, the footfall will have a great jump during the weekend, they may have to work continuously without resting or lunch hours to serve the customer.” She also believes that the footfall in winter will drop sharply, making their revenue varied. Yun Gui Chuan is a fast casual restaurant chain founded in Hong Kong more than 9 years ago. Operating a London branch of the …
Going green could be expensive but worthwhile in the UK
- 2023-07-21
- Culture & Leisure
- By: Bella Ding、Zimo ZHONG、Le Ha NGUYENEdited by: Bella Ding
- 2023-07-21
Paprika is a spice made from dried, ground peppers used in Spanish and English cuisines, and among different flavours, smoked paprika won great popularity with BBC listing 261 recipes in total using this ingredient under its food column. The ordinary smoked paprika sold at grocery stores costs around £1.69 for 75g while the same product tagged environment-friendly costs £1.3 for just 10g, or nearly five times more expensive, in Re: Store, a zero waste shop located in Hackney, London. Established in 2019 by founder Megan Adams, Re: Store encourages zero waste-conscious shopping to help protect the planet from harmful degradation. Consumers could bring their own containers for products or utilise paper bags provided by the shop to reduce the use of plastic for packaging. “Our customers want to shop locally and shop sustainably to reduce their environmental impacts,” said Shaniah Bond, assistant manager at Re: Store, “A lot of them like the process of bringing their own jars, filling them and taking them home.” Food waste situation in the UK According to the true cost accounting published by Sustainable Food Trust, people in the UK spend £120 billion annually on food, and an additional £116 billion in environmental and health costs caused by the food and farming industries, which are instead passed onto the public through taxes and expenses related to climate change and environmental damage. Sustainable food reduces the negative environmental impact during their production process, which no longer depends on businesses and systems based on extraction and growth but towards approaches based on the principles of regeneration, sustainability and the circular economy. According to Statista, UK households are estimated to throw away nearly 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging per year, or 66 items per household per week on average. In 2021, the waste reached a staggering number …
The "bun" is back!
- 2023-06-06
- Society
- By: Nola YipEdited by: Wisha LIMBU
- 2023-06-06
The 2023 Cheung Chau Bun Festival resumed last Friday after three years of COVID-19 restrictions. As one of the highlights of the yearly Jiao Festival, thousands of tourists visited the island to watch 12 competitors who entered the final of the Bun Scrambling Competition compete for the champion and a special prize called “Full Pockets of Lucky Buns”.