The enormous bamboo festival stage of the Kam Tin Ten-Yearly Thanksgiving Festival, currently held in Kam Tin, Yuen Long, has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest temporary bamboo altar globally.
Photo source: FB of Joyce Chan
The Kam Tin Ten-Yearly Thanksgiving Festival is held every ten years. According to the introduction on the Guinness World Records website, the festival is one of the oldest walled village traditional festivals in Hong Kong and has been held 34 times up to now. The main venue of the festival this year is set up at the temporary sacrificial site in front of the Chou Wong Yi Kung Study Hall in the Shui Tau Village. Covering an area of over 40,000 square feet with a height of about five stories, the bamboo scaffolding stage of the festival opens to the public for free.
Photo source: FB of Leisure Photography
Originally used as an altar, the five-storey bamboo scaffolding has been transformed into a stage for performances. During the festival, there will be displays showcasing the recognized intangible cultural heritage of bamboo scaffolding stage construction techniques, and guided tours to let visitors appreciate the glamour of traditional Hong Kong culture.
On Saturday (May 9), which marked the 23rd day of the third lunar month and the birthday of Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Sea, a grand Tin Hau Festival Parade took place in Yuen Long. Setting off from downtown Yuen Long amid thunderous gongs and drums and exuberant dragon and lion dances, the grand parade made its way to the Tin Hau Temple, drawing large crowds of residents and tourists along the route.
The Tin Hau Festival Parade, Photo by Bastille Post
Held annually on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, the parade has a history of more than 60 years and is one of the largest Tin Hau birthday celebrations in Hong Kong. In 2021, it was officially inscribed on the national list of intangible cultural heritage representative projects, offering a vibrant glimpse into Hong Kong’s folk traditions.
The Tin Hau Festival Parade, Photo by Bastille Post
The parade set off from downtown Yuen Long, winding its way through Kau Yuk Road, Long Ngai Path, and Ma Tin Road before arriving at the Tin Hau Temple as the destination. Along the route, flower plaques showcased a riot of colors, while dragon and lion dancers performed with majestic energy, accompanied by the thunderous rhythm of gongs and drums. Cheers and applause followed the parade along the way, drawing large crowds of locals and tourists.
The Tin Hau Festival Parade, Photo by Bastille Post
The Tin Hau Festival Parade, Photo by Bastille Post
The Tin Hau Festival Parade, Photo by Bastille Post
The Tin Hau Festival Parade, Photo by Bastille Post
The Tin Hau Temple, Photo by Bastille Post
The Tin Hau Temple, Photo by Bastille Post
Mr. Leung, a Yuen Long resident, said he attends the Tin Hau Festival Parade every year, but always represents a different village. This year, he joined on behalf of his wife’s village in Sha Po. Compared to previous years, he noted that the overall atmosphere felt more lively, with more dragon dance teams and more eye-catching color schemes. "This custom is a must-have here in the New Territories," he said. In his view, through this lively parade, local residents can deepen their connection to Hong Kong's traditions and see traditional culture vividly brought to life.
Mr. Leung, Photo by Bastille Post
Mr. Lo and Ms. Kong, villagers from Shung Ching Village, said they were delighted to be part of the parade’s leading team. As for them, Ms. Kong was taking part for the second time, while Mr. Lu was experiencing the parade for the first time. They described the weather as "quite comfortable", adding that the pleasant temperature made the parade smoother and more enjoyable, which was a fitting sign of good fortune to celebrate the Tin Hau’s birthday. They also emphasized that the Tin Hau Festival Parade is an important part of Hong Kong’s folk culture and hoped it could be continued and further promoted in the future, so that more Hong Kong residents would have the chance to experience firsthand the warmth and heritage of the New Territories.
Mr. Lo and Ms. Kong, Photo by Bastille Post
Lukas, a tourist from Germany, said participating in the Tin Hau Festival Parade was a rare cultural experience during his first visit to Hong Kong. Although he knew little about the customs surrounding the goddess’s birthday, he was amazed and deeply impressed by the sight of sparkling golden dragons and the thunderous sound of gongs and drums. In his opinion, witnessing such a lively festival scene gave him a deeper appreciation of the vibrant folk traditions of Chinese culture.
Lukas, Photo by Bastille Post
In addition, a ceremonial stage was set up along Long Ngai Path, where Miss Alice Mak, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, along with other distinguished guests, watched the parade teams pass by and joined in celebrating the festive atmosphere of Tin Hau’s birthday with residents and tourists.
The ceremonial stage, Photo by Bastille Post
