Living heritage of Hong Kong

After seven years of research and compiling, the Hong Kong government in June 2014 released a list of 480 items of "intangible cultural heritage" that best represent Hong Kong's rich local culture and historical legacy. The list covers a wide range of techniques, cultural practices, local dialects and music that make Hong Kong unique.

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Worshippers beating paper men with their slippers to exorcise evil spirits on a streetside during the Feast of the Waking of Insects. (March 6, 1969) Worshippers beating paper men with their slippers to exorcise evil spirits on a streetside during the Feast of the Waking of Insects. R. Tam/SCMP
A festive parade during Bun Festival celebrations on Cheung Chau outlying island. (May 25, 1969) A festive parade during Bun Festival celebrations on Cheung Chau island.C. Y. Yu/SCMP
Preserved duck eggs (left) and ordinary eggs in a stall. The preserved duck eggs are forty cents each while the ordinary eggs are $1.20 for three. (January 15, 1974) Preserved duck eggs and ordinary eggs displayed in a stall. Sam Chan/SCMP
Father and daughter looking at a paper-made decoration for the celebration of traditional Seven Sisters Festival. The decoration is made to celebrate the traditional Seven Sisters Festivals, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh moon of the lunar year calendar. (August 1, 1976) Father and daughter looking at a paper-made decoration for the celebration of traditional Seven Sisters Festival. The Seven Sisters Festival falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar. Chan Kiu/SCMP
A bakery preparing mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival. (August 30, 1976) A bakery preparing mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Sunny Lee/SCMP
A cooked food stall (also called (November 9, 1979) A cooked food stall (also called "dai pai dong") in the Central Market. SCMP
Rice dumplings are a kind of food usually consumed at Tuen Ng Festival. In the Warring Period of ancient China a faithful courtier of the Chu State, Qu Yuan, killed himself by jumping into a river after the king refused to accept his sound advice on some state affairs. To prevent his body from being eaten up by fishes, commoners threw rice dumplings into the river for fishes to eat so that they would leave Qu's body alone. Today, eating rice dumplings is a way to remember this patriotic courtier. (June 11, 1983) Rice dumplings are usually consumed during the Tuen Ng Festival. Robin Lam/SCMP
These women struggle to light their joss sticks in Wong Tai Sin Temple, Kowloon. They hope that Wong Tai Sin will bring them and their families fortune and good health. (February 22, 1985) Women struggle to light their joss sticks in Wong Tai Sin Temple, Kowloon. They pray that Wong Tai Sin would bring fortune and good health to their families. SCMP
Lantern season...A child riding through a street decorated with lanterns. (September 25, 1985) Lantern season...A child riding through a street decorated with lanterns. C. Y. Yu/SCMP
An obscuring haze...Foggy weather over Victoria Harbour. (March 14, 1986) An obscuring haze...Foggy weather over Victoria Harbour. SCMP
Chinese sausages hanging at King Wah Restaurant. (January 23, 1987) Sausages hanging at King Wah Restaurant. SCMP
Women beating little paper men with shoes before a paper replica of the White Tiger on Stone Nullah Street, Wan Chai, in the hope of driving evil spirits and bad luck away. The White Tiger Festival is a traditional festival that falls on the second moon of the lunar calendar. (March 5, 1987) Women beating little paper men with shoes before a paper replica of the White Tiger on Stone Nullah Street, Wan Chai, in the hope of driving evil spirits and bad luck away. The White Tiger Festival is a traditional festival that falls on the second moon of the lunar calendar. SCMP
A dragon dance performance in Yuen Long to celebrate the Tin Hau Festival. (April 20, 1987) A dragon dance performance in Yuen Long to celebrate the Tin Hau Festival. SCMP
A mother helps her child touch the ferocious-looking (April 20, 1987) A mother helps her child touch the ferocious-looking "Lee Kwai" during a Tin Hau celebration in Yuen Long. Lee Kwai is a character in the classical Chinese novel Water Margin. SCMP
A little girl blows a paper windmill during celebrations of Tin Hau Festival on Tsing Yi Island. (April 30, 1987) A little girl blows a paper windmill during celebrations of Tin Hau Festival on Tsing Yi Island. SCMP
A dragon dance performance in Shau Kei Wan to celebrate the Tam Kung Festival. (May 5, 1987) A dragon dance performance in Shau Kei Wan to celebrate the Tam Kung Festival. SCMP
A typical scene in Hong Kong: rows of salted fish for sale. (July 3, 1987) A typical scene in Hong Kong: rows of salted fish for sale. SCMP
Three giant incense sticks with sophisticated decoration are burning during the Monkey God Festival. (October 8, 1987) Three giant incense sticks with complex decorations burn during the Monkey God Festival. SCMP
Fishermen on Cheung Chau island drying some of their catch - shrimps. (September 23, 1987) Fishermen on Cheung Chau island dry the shrimps they catch. SCMP
A staff member of a Wan Chai restaurant displays rice dumplings for sale to coincide with the Dragon Boat Festival. (June 13, 1988) A staff member of a Wan Chai restaurant displays rice dumplings for sale during the Dragon Boat Festival. P Y Tang/SCMP
A Chinese junk sailing into Victoria Harbour during the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival International Race 1988. (June 26, 1988) A Chinese junk sailing into Victoria Harbour during the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival International Race 1988. C. Y. Yu/SCMP
Pictured here are mooncakes made by Wing Wah Restaurant. (September 14, 1988) Mooncakes made by Wing Wah Restaurant. Yu Chung-yin/SCMP
Lau Fau Shan oyster farmers drying oysters under the sun. Around 3,000 people in Lau Fau Shan depend on the oyster industry for their livelihood. (December 27, 1988) Lau Fau Shan oyster farmers dry oysters in the sun. Around 3,000 people in Lau Fau Shan depend on the oyster industry for a livelihood. David Wong/SCMP
Worshippers making their prayers on a pavement during the White Tiger Festival. (March 5, 1989) Worshippers pray on a pavement during the White Tiger Festival. SCMP
The Wo Hop Shek Cemetery in Fanling is a busy place during Ching Ming Festival. (April 5, 1989) The Wo Hop Shek Cemetery in Fanling is a busy place during Ching Ming Festival. SCMP
Residents of Grass Island (generally known as Tam Mun Chau) worship Tin Hau in hope of rewards during Tin Hau Festival. (April 26, 1989) Residents of Grass Island (generally known as Tam Mun Chau) pray to Tin Hau during the Tin Hau Festival. SCMP
The Aberdeen United Fishery team, winner of the Large Dragon Boat section of the Yau Ma Tei dragon boat race, crossing the finishing line. (June 8, 1989) The Aberdeen United Fishery team, winner of the Large Dragon Boat section of the Yau Ma Tei dragon boat race, crossing the finishing line. SCMP
A child in traditional Indian costumes dancing to celebrate the Hindu festival, Diwali. (October 29, 1989) A child in traditional Indian costumes dance in celebration of the Hindu festival, Diwali. Yau Tin-kwai/SCMP
During the Che Kung Festival, people burn joss sticks at the Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin. (January 29, 1990) During the Che Kung Festival, people burn joss sticks at the Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin. David Wong/SCMP
Salted fish sold at the Western District market. (April 22, 1990) Salted fish sold at the Western District market. SCMP

The Intangible Cultural Heritage list (482 items)

Download the dataset in CSV format created by SCMP here

Government's original inventory document