Asia+ Festival: Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances to showcase diverse cultures of Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions (with photos)
To develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, this year's Asia+ Festival, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), continues to collaborate with consulates general and overseas cultural organisations in Hong Kong to stage the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances. The event will take place on November 10 (Sunday), from 2pm to 6pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and Foyer, where the cultural essence and artistic talent from over 20 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions will be featured. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join.
The theme for this year's edition is "Celebration in Splendour". Through folk music, dance, costume display, handicrafts and special delicacies, the event enables visitors to learn about how people of different nations celebrate milestones and important moments in their lives. Highlights include ethnic dances from Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye and Vietnam; as well as traditional musical instrument performances from Kazakhstan, Korea and Kuwait. Of particular note is a 20-plus-member Kuwaiti group who will for the first time fly in to perform a sword dance and Middle East instruments, namely Daf and Mirwas.
​ Members of the public can also enjoy handicraft displays from Bangladesh, Pakistan and other places, and participate in a vast range of workshops such as traditional dance, headgear making, spoon painting, Christmas decoration drawing, paper umbrella painting, and fragrant sachet making. Japanese sake and snacks from Türkiye and Vietnam will also be available at the food stalls on-site for the enjoyment of visitors of all ages.
​ Additionally, an exhibition entitled "Sartorial Splendour – National Costume Exhibition" will be held from November 10 to 17 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer. The eight-day exhibition showcases beautiful costumes and accessories that Asian people wear during festive events and celebratory performances. These include wedding attire and ethnic costumes from multiple countries and regions; Kuwait's wedding attire and headdress; Laos' Sinh skirts; Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and Dayak attire from the aboriginals in Malaysia; wedding attire from Myanmar; T'boli ethnic costumes from the Philippines; and Ao Dai gowns from Vietnam. There will also be a trial session of traditional Chinese costumes for visitors to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.
​ Along with the aforesaid live performances and exhibition, the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances will also offer an online programme recapturing the event highlights, to be broadcast on November 24 on the LCSD's Community Programmes Office (CPO) website (www.cpo.gov.hk/activity/en-aecp-2024-carnival/).
​ Twenty-three countries and regions will participate in the event, including Hong Kong, China; Macao, China; Bangladesh; Cambodia; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea; Kuwait; Laos; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; the Philippines; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Türkiye and Vietnam. For more details of the event, please visit the CPO website or call 2591 1340.
The second Asia+ Festival is running from September to November, highlighting the arts and cultures of nearly 30 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions. Apart from stage programmes, there are also thematic exhibitions, an outdoor carnival, film screenings, outreach activities and more, numbering over 100 in total. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/.
