Asia+ Festival 2025 Celebrates Cultural Diversity with Vibrant Performances in Hong Kong

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+, one of the highlight programmes of the Asia+ Festival 2025, was held this afternoon (November 16) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and Foyer. With staunch support from various consulates-general and overseas cultural organisations in Hong Kong, the event brought together cultural and artistic aspects of around 30 countries and regions from Asia and along the Belt and Road. Presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the event featured ethnic music, dance, traditional costume displays, handicrafts, and signature delicacies, presenting a vibrant and diverse cultural experience. It drew over33 000 local residents and tourists, and was met with great enthusiasm.

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, noted in her opening remarks of the Asia+ Festival ceremony that the Festival aims to create a sustainable platform for arts and cultural exchanges across Asia and the Belt and Road regions. This flagship festive event reaffirms Hong Kong's role as an East-‍‍‍meets-‍West centre for international cultural exchanges. Leveraging the city's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, the festival actively fosters people-to-people connectivity and cultural integration. The Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+, launched today, unveils the legendary sounds of classical and folk music from different regions, showcasing the charm of diverse cultures.

Other officiating guests included the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan, the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, as well as representatives from consulates-general in Hong Kong of various participating countries of the Asia+ Festival.

Following the ceremony, a series of captivating ethnic performances commenced. Artistic troupes from participating countries and regions presented traditional music and folk dance performances, offering the audience an immersive multicultural experience. The event opened with a dazzling performance by an Egyptian dancer of the Tanoura, a dance known for its rich spiritual and ritual symbolism.

The venue also featured numerous cultural booths showcasing exquisite handicrafts from various countries and regions alongside stalls offering traditional snacks. Interactive workshops were held on-site, allowing visitors to experience ethnic dance and musical instruments, as well as participate in craft making and umbrella painting, activities suitable for all ages.

In addition, the "Vibrant Dance - National Costume Exhibition" is being held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer from today to November 23, displaying distinctive traditional attire and dance costumes from various countries and regions. The exhibition is free of charge and open to the public.

This year's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ will feature participation from various countries and regions, namely Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the 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.

Highlights from today’s performances will be edited into a recap video and made available online on November 30 via the LCSD’s Community Programmes Office website: www.cpo.gov.hk/zh-hk/activity/tc-aecp-2025-carnival.

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, are taking 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.

Source: AI-found images

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ showcases cultural diversity of some 30 countries and regions Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Fatal traffic accident in Pat Heung

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Pat Heung in the small hours today (January 25) in which a woman died.

At about 0.24am, a private car driven by a 25-year-old man was travelling along Kam Tin Road towards Pat Heung, while a taxi driven by a 60-year-old man was travelling along Kam Tin Road towards Yuen Long. When approaching the junction of Ying Ho Road, the taxi reportedly went out of control, side-turned and collided with the private car while making a right turn.

The taxi driver and a 65-year-old female passenger were trapped inside the vehicle and rescued by firemen. Sustaining multiple injuries, she was rushed to Pok Oi Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 1.45am. The taxi male driver sustained head injury and the private car male driver sustained left hand injury, were both sent to Pok Oi Hospital in conscious state. A 20-year-old female passenger on the private car sustained no injury and no hospital treatment was required.

The private car male driver and the private car female passenger were arrested for possession of offensive weapon and are being detained for further enquiries.

Investigations by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North and District Investigation Team, Yuen Long are under way.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800 or 3661 4759.

The fatal traffic accident in Pat Heung, Photo source: FB