4th Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival Launches with 260 Events Across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao

2024-10-19 22:38 Last Updated At：10-20 00:08

4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival opens today

The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival opened today (October 19) at the Hong Kong Coliseum, kicking off over 260 events to be held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) from today until November 24. The Festival is presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

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4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival opens today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival opens today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In a video speech addressing the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival is an annual mega event for the arts and culture industry in the GBA. This year also marks the first time for Hong Kong to be the host city of the Festival, presenting audiences with the rich arts and cultural essence of GBA cities. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for its ongoing support to the arts and cultural exchanges and collaborations in the GBA, enriching the cultural soft power of the region. He is confident that this year's Festival can further promote cultural integration and talent exchanges among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao and inject new creativity and vitality into arts and cultural development, while showcasing to the world the new landscape of a bay area for culture.

Mr Lee noted that with the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is dedicated to developing into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and has been steadfastly presenting rich and diverse arts and cultural mega events. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages of enjoying strong national support while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world under the principle of "one country, two systems", thereby driving its cultural exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland and overseas countries, promoting Chinese culture, and telling the good stories of China on the global stage.

The Deputy Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Ms Zhao Hong, gave her video speech at the ceremony. Officiating guests at today's opening ceremony included the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Deputy Director Generalof the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Li Shuguang; and the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Cheang Kai-Meng.

The opening programme of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, "Sound River", featured a new work of the same name written by contemporary renowned Chinese composer and conductor Tan Dun. This concert is also one of the highlight events in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Under Tan's baton, the concert tonight featured the newly formed Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival Orchestra, comprising over 100 members from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and the Macao Orchestra, to perform the world premiere of "Sound River". Sixteen meticulously crafted short videos capturing the vanishing sounds, instruments and culture of the ancient cities along Tan's journey from Europe, through the Arab world to Central Asia, then to the GBA in the past 12 years, were screened during the performance. Through interweaving light, shadow and music, audience members were able to explore the past and future of the "Silk Road of sound". In addition, the concert featured the indigenous singer Wuyuntana and Mainland singer Zhou Shen, who delivered the concert's theme song, bringing the concert to a final climax. The brilliant performance won warm applause from the audiences at the end of the performance.

The concert was broadcast live on various radio, television and online platforms, including RTHK Radio 4 (FM97.6-98.9), RTHK TV32, Phoenix Hong Kong Channel (Channel 85), the Festival website (www.gbacxlo.gov.hk), the RTHK website (www.rthk.hk), Ifeng (www.ifeng.com) and Feng Show APP, allowing audiences around the world to enjoy the evening live performance online and offline at the same time.

This year's Festival, with the theme of "Integration in Diversity - Power and Possibilities", aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the region and foster cultural exchanges and co-operation among the GBA cities. For detailed information about the rich programme line-up of the Festival, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk.

Hongkong Post to Release Five Sets of Unique Stamps Celebrating Biodiversity, Culture, and Heritage from July to December 2026.

Hongkong Post unveils new stamp issues for July to December 2026

Hongkong Post announced today (June 18) that five sets of special stamps on various themes will be issued from July to December 2026. Each stamp issue has its own ingenious design and distinctive style, making the stamps valuable collectables for philatelists and the public.

Located in a subtropical region, Hong Kong enjoys valuable geographical features - mountainous terrain and extensive coastline - and distinct seasons. They together nurture a rich variety of natural habitats, providing homes for a wide range of flora and fauna. Following the release of the "Biodiversity" special stamps in 2010, Hongkong Post will issue a set of four stamps on the theme of "Biodiversity II" to showcase the city's distinctive biodiversity, with a view to raising the public's awareness of ecological conservation and inspiring their collaboration in protecting our natural treasures.

Kowloon City District boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage and has undergone tremendous changes over the past few decades. Once home to the legendary Kowloon Walled City, the district has ushered in significant development opportunities since the relocation of Kai Tak Airport to Chek Lap Kok in 1998. Following the successive completion of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon City District will host more international and national sporting events, further boosting the development of local tourism. Hongkong Post will issue a set of four stamps on the theme of "Hong Kong Past and Present Series: Kowloon City District", setting out with the public on a journey through time to savour the past and present of Kowloon City District as well as its changing landscape.

Guangcai, the shortened form of "Guangzhou painted porcelain" or "Canton Famille Rose Porcelain", is one of the traditional crafts of Lingnan culture. The Guangcai making technique was inscribed onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong in 2024. The technique dates back to the early Qing dynasty and was transmitted from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in the 1920s. In addition to conserving the traditional hand-painting technique and auspicious patterns, Guangcai produced in Hong Kong also incorporates local painting techniques and special motifs, hence the name Gangcai ("Hong Kong painted porcelain"). Hongkong Post will issue special stamps on the theme of "Guangcai Making Technique" to promote Lingnan craftsmanship and local intangible cultural heritage, showcasing the ingenuity of Hong Kong artisans that has been passed down through generations.

Inscribed onto the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, the "24 Solar Terms" of the Chinese calendar reflect the change in seasons and meteorological patterns. Subsequent to the "24 Solar Terms - Spring", "24 Solar Terms - Summer" and "24 Solar Terms - Autumn" special stamps issued in 2020, 2023 and 2025 respectively, Hongkong Post will issue special stamps themed on "24 Solar Terms - Winter", featuring six solar terms of winter, namely "Winter Commences", "Light Snow", "Heavy Snow", "Winter Solstice", "Moderate Cold" and "Severe Cold". As the final episode of the "24 Solar Terms" series, this special stamp set marks the successful completion of the entire four seasons stamp collection.

As a treasure of Chinese culture, Chinese medicine has a long history in disease prevention and treatment as well as health preservation and has made a significant contribution to safeguarding people's health. With the implementation of various policy measures, and the successive commissioning of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, Chinese medicine has become an important integral part of Hong Kong's healthcare system. Hongkong Post will release a set of four stamps and one stamp sheetlet on the theme of "Development of Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong" to showcase key milestones in the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong.

In addition, the "2025 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps" with new denominations are expected to be issued later this year. Details will be announced in due course.

Customers may place advance orders for the above new stamp products from today on Hongkong Post's online shopping platform ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk). Customers may also visit the Facebook page "@Hongkong Post Stamps" (www.facebook.com/HKPStamps) for more details. Customers who place orders by July 2 (Thursday) will receive attractive gifts and bonus points. Further information about placing orders can be obtained from the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) or by calling the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau hotline at 2785 5711.

4th Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival Launches with 260 Events Across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao

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