The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise the second edition of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) from June to September. The Festival brings a rich and colourful array of programmes, including finely selected Chinese operas from the LCSD’s signature programme ‘Chinese Opera Festival’ and outstanding local works recognised by the China National Arts Fund. Various local arts and cultural organisations will join hands to contribute a variety of first-rate programmes for the Festival, including music, dance, multi-arts, drama, films, exhibitions, lectures, artist talks and master classes. Check out the followings to learn more!Opening Programme - Dongpo: Life in PoemsThe CCF is now in its second edition. The opening programme, "Dongpo: Life in Poems" by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, is directed by internationally acclaimed choreographer and visual artist Shen Wei. Inspired by the poetry and life of the literary giant Su Dongpo, Dongpo: Life in Poems integrates music, dance, poetry, and painting into a captivating show. Su Dongpo’s calligraphy and poetry are both powerful and graceful, brimming with emotions and artistic style. Blending contemporary dance with various traditional Chinese culture elements such as poetry, traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, seal engraving, guqin, Chinese opera, and martial arts, this programme brings Su Dongpo’s ancient verses to life on stage, crafting an immersive journey where ‘poetry embodies dance and dance incorporates poetry’.Chinese Opera FestivalAs a core part of the CCF, this year's Chinese Opera Festival (COF) features six quality programmes covering Peking opera, Yuediao opera, Qinqiang opera, Yue opera, Cantonese opera and Kunqu opera. The COF will start off with the China National Peking Opera Company's new historical Peking opera, "Cession for Consolidation of the Song Regime". Set during the late Five Dynasties and Ten-Kingdoms period, it tells the story of Qian Chu, the King of Wuyue, honouring the rightful rule of the Song reign by voluntarily submitting his territory. The production conveys the profound themes of valuing people, pursuing peace and stability, and strengthening the communal spirit of Chinese national identity. Furthermore, there will be fantastic shows from a number of renowned art groups and artists, including the Henan Provincial Yue Diao Art Protection and Inheritance Center, the Xi'an Performing Arts Group's Youth Experimental Troupe of Qinqiang Opera, the Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe of Shaoxing and the Zhejiang Jingkun Art Center (Kun Opera Troupe). The performances will feature winners of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award such as renowned Peking opera artists Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, Yuediao opera inheritor Shen Xiaomei, Qinqiang artists Dou Fengqin, Tan Jianxun, Qu Qiaozhe, Wang Xincang, Qi Aiyun and Zhang Tao, as well as acclaimed Yue opera performers Wu Fenghua, Wu Suying and Chen Fei. "Tea Culture" SeriesThis year's CCF features a "Tea Culture" series, with the "Tan Dun WE-Festival", curated by Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, internationally renowned composer and conductor, Tan Dun, as one of the pre-festival programmes. In addition to the Tan Dun | "Tea: A Mirror of Soul" by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, there are also performances of dialogues between traditional and modern percussion, as well as ancient Dunhuang music and dances, which include "Xiangxi Tujia Women's Daliuzi & Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble" (the world premiere of "TEA-liuzi") and "Lost Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Manuscripts: 'The Vanishing Mogao Caves'". These performances enable music lovers to appreciate the charm of tea, while telling the good story of China's intangible cultural heritage in the new era. The "Tea Culture" series also includes other stage performance, exhibitions, talks and demonstrations.Free Exhibitions and ActivitiesTo offer the public with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive Chinese cultural programmes, in addition to the above-mentioned performing arts events, this year's CCF will continue to launch various free exhibitions and activities. They include the "Mystery of Chinese Writing" Roving Exhibition, "Genesis and Spirit - Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition on Jiangxi's Ganzhou "Hakka" Culture" (tentative title), "Amazing Oracle Bone Script" Exhibition, "The Power of Chinese Characters" Exhibition, "Tea Culture" series' "The History and Art of Tea" Exhibition, and more. The LCSD will hold the "Encountering Chinese Culture" Carnival presenting stage performances at the Sha Tin Town Hall and the New Town Plaza on June 22 (Sunday), as well as the library-on-wheels, intangible cultural heritage booths and performances, etc. In addition to the spectacular lantern displays of different themes, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival 2025 to be held in September and October will also arrange a wide range of activities. Details of the above activities will be announced later.
Chinese Culture Festival 2025Date: June to September 2025Programme Details: Programme Brochure / ProgrammeTicketing: Tickets are available at URBTIX and the Xiqu Centre Ticket Office (Unless otherwise specified for individual programmes)Thematic Website: https://www.ccf.gov.hk/en/