Culture of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a country where East blends with West and old exist in harmony with new. The contrasts are highly visible when you see a small temple next to modern high-rise office buildings. The people of Hong Kong remain close to their traditional beliefs and religions even though the country has progressed in several ways.

There are more than 600 old and new temples, shrines and monasteries scattered across the geographical extent of Hong Kong. Some are ancient while some are relatively new. Man Mo Temple on Ladder Street in the Western District is the oldest and the most important place of worship in Hong Kong. These places of worship are always crowded with devout burning incense, praying and consulting fortunetellers. Some of Hong Kong's most modern attractions are dedicated to their religions. The mesmerizing and mystical Big Buddha sitting on a plateau on Lantau Island and the world’s largest bronze outdoor-seated Buddha at 8 feet are open for public visit.

The influence of traditional Chinese culture is strongly visible in day-to-day life of the people of Hong Kong. Aureate Chinese opera, embellished with vibrant color and full of life is performed on outdoor stages at the Temple Street Market. During Chinese New Year, auspicious occasions and festivals, the lion and dragon dancers give live performances on the streets comprising of dance and acrobatics.

Though the lion dances are famous worldwide, they are more popular in Hong Kong particularly during the festive seasons. One can witness the colorful display of large lion costumes dancing all through the season. This 'kung-fu' style encore is sometimes performed on special events such as corporate anniversaries and the opening of new businesses. It is believed that lion dances can bring good luck as the lion is considered a holy animal and seen as a spirit that has its own importance in Chinese mythology. Lion dances are usually accompanied by the bursting of firecrackers to scare away evil spirits.

There are two types of Chinese lions in the exclusive Hong Kong culture – the northern and southern lion. The only difference in the northern and southern lions is their appearance and movements. The northern lion is yellow, furry with a less mobile mouth, while the southern lion has a very flexible mouth with an elaborately colored body and shorter fur.

The people of Hong Kong have borrowed the tradition of tea drinking from the Chinese culture. A scholar of the Tang Dynasty initiated the tea drinking culture in China who has devised the first definitive treatise on tea making almost 1,200 years ago. It is now a serious business in both Hong Kong like in the Chinese culture.  An ardent tea enthusiast generally has their own special teapot made usually of clay, when they go for their tea drinking sessions. It is believed that the smaller the teapot, the better the tea. The smell of the tea is instilled in the pot and the fragrant is thus stronger.