Asia+ Festival 2025: Celebrate Cultural Diversity with Free Performances in Hong Kong on November 16

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ 2025 to showcase cultural diversity of Asia and Belt and Road countries and regions

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ 2025, one of the signature programmes of the Asia+ Festival 2025 presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), received enthusiastic support from various consulates general and overseas cultural organisations in Hong Kong. The event will take place on November 16 (Sunday), from 2pm to 6pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and Foyer, showcasing the cultural and artistic essence of around 30 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Admission is free, and members of the public are welcome to attend and celebrate the vibrancy of cultural diversity together.

This year's edition is themed "Dancing in Immensity", featuring an array of folk dances and music performances, booths displaying traditional costumes and handicrafts, and signature delicacies from various countries and regions, reflecting the rich and diverse artistic heritage. Visitors can also join a variety of workshops, including traditional dance and music, craft-making, and umbrella painting, suitable for families.

In addition, the "Vibrant Dance - National Costume Exhibition" will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer from November 16 to 23, showcasing a vivid collection of traditional attire and dance costumes from participating countries and regions.

An online recap programme featuring highlights of the day will be available from November 30 on the LCSD's Community Programmes Office (CPO) website (www.cpo.gov.hk/en/activity/tc-aecp-2025-carnival), allowing wider access to the cultural showcase.

This year's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ will feature participation from various countries and regions, including Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Dominican Republic; Egypt; Hungary; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea; Kuwait; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Nigeria; Pakistan; the Philippines; Portugal; Qatar; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Türkiye; the United Arab Emirates; Vietnam; Zimbabwe; Hong Kong, China and Macao, China. For more information, please visit the CPO website or call 2591 1340.

The Asia+ Festival is held annually from September to November with the aim of creating a sustainable platform for arts and cultural exchanges. While focusing on Asia, the Festival this year also connects Belt and Road countries and regions in Europe, Africa and the Americas. Now in its third edition, artists from more than 30 countries and regions, including 12 new participating countries, will take part in the Festival, featuring over 100 performances and activities. Apart from stage programmes, there is also an outdoor carnival, a thematic exhibition, workshops, a backstage tour, masterclasses, talks, outreach performances and more. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visitwww.asiaplus.gov.hk.

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ 2025 to showcase cultural diversity of Asia and Belt and Road countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ 2025 to showcase cultural diversity of Asia and Belt and Road countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ 2025 to showcase cultural diversity of Asia and Belt and Road countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ 2025 to showcase cultural diversity of Asia and Belt and Road countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ 2025 to showcase cultural diversity of Asia and Belt and Road countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

TD urges public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays

The Transport Department (TD) announced today (April 1) that, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs) during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays, cross-boundary travellers are urged to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.

Enhancing services for travel convenience

The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to accommodate the diverse travelling needs of passengers, including:

• The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line (ERL) between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times during the above period based on passenger demand for the convenience of residents and visitors;

• Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed;

• Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed;

• Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and

• The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.

Travel during non-peak hours

It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

Of note, HZMB users to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic. They should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The traffic of Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads may also be affected, and passengers should remain patient while waiting.

As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau and the Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.

Information dissemination

For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.

The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.

The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post