Hong Kong Tourism Board Launches First International Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival at Victoria Park
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Tourism Board unveiled its first-ever International Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival at Victoria Park on Sunday, transforming the public space into a luminous celebration of traditional craftsmanship and cultural exchange. The 11-day event, themed "Reunion," showcases more than 3,000 lanterns from 20 countries and regions, alongside over 400 traditional Hong Kong handmade lanterns. The undoubted highlight is an 8-meter-tall banyan tree lantern installation commissioned from a 33-member Nanjing team, representing the first time the ancient Qinhuai lantern craft—recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage—has been themed around Hong Kong's iconic banyan trees.
Key Points
- The International Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival runs from September 17 to 27 at Victoria Park, with daily lighting from 6:30 PM to 11 PM, extended to midnight on September 25 (Mid-Autumn Festival)
- The 8-meter-tall "Tree Shadows Flowing Light" lantern group features one large and three small banyan trees, designed with a walk-through structure allowing visitors to stroll among the illuminated trees
- A 33-member Nanjing Qinhuai lantern craft team with over 20 years of experience created the installation, using innovative flange bolt assembly technology for transport and reassembly
- The festival includes a dedicated Hong Kong Lantern Garden displaying over 400 traditional handmade Hong Kong lanterns, preserving local craftsmanship
- Team representative Yu Zhongzhi stated the goal is to bring intangible cultural heritage into citizens' daily lives through free public access in Victoria Park
Why It Matters
This festival represents a deliberate effort to bridge traditional intangible cultural heritage with contemporary Hong Kong identity, moving beyond passive observation to allow citizens to physically engage with and create lasting memories at a beloved public space traditionally associated with banyan tree gatherings .
This festival represents a deliberate effort to bridge traditional intangible cultural heritage with contemporary Hong Kong identity, moving beyond passive observation to allow citizens to physically engage with and create lasting memories at a beloved public space traditionally associated with banyan tree gatherings .