Everybody thinks of Hong Kong as an ultra-modern bustling city – and rightly so – but what a lot of people don’t realise is that only about 25 percent of Hong Kong’s total land area has been developed into the tower-filled cityscape that we all know and love. There is much of our territory that is nature parks and sleepy villages, including the oft-looked North District.
The Joyful Miniature Association has now dedicated a whole exhibition to highlight the culture and rural charm of neighbourhoods like Sheung Shui, Fanling, Sha Tau Kok, Ta Kwu Ling, and more. Through a total of 28 miniature dioramas, including seven main art pieces, visitors can see replicas of this district’s history, architecture, and festivals.
Some highlights include the Lung Yeuk Tau Ritual Opera, a Taoist festival that is put on by the Tang clan once every 10 years, showing the inner workings of a traditional Cantonese opera show in a bamboo theatre; as well as the Liu Man Shek Tong, the ancestral hall of the Liu clan in Sheung Shui that dates back to the early Qing dynasty. The exhibition also captures the 300-year-old Fish Lantern Dance, which is held in Sha Tau Kok and a sight rarely seen for most Hongkongers.
Since we are such foodies in this city, the cuisine of the North District is also a special part of the show, with 12 signature dishes featured within the Walled Villages Hakka Cuisine miniature. See also dioramas of how cha kwo tea cakes are made, a local snack shop famous among hikers and cyclists for its tofu pudding, a festive communal banquet, and more.
The ‘North District in Miniature’ exhibition is running until July 9, at the atrium of Spot in Sheung Shui. It might be a bit of a trek out to the New Territories, but well worth a day trip to see tiny, exquisite renderings of a side of Hong Kong that you might otherwise never experience.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox
Recommended reading:
The Chairman is bringing exclusive dishes to LMO Freshly Baked
Ancient Egyptian treasures are coming to Hong Kong in this special exhibition
Barkada returns to Hong Kong’s food scene with a new home in Soho