Category: Leisure

Hong Kong New Year Countdown Concert 2021-22

A slew of local artists including AGA, Alfred Hui, Gin Lee, Jay Fung, Joyce Cheng, MIRROR, Edan Lui and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra created a distinctly Hong Kong style Countdown Concert in West Kowloon.

Live music has been one of the industries hardest hit by Covid and after a 2021 almost devoid of concerts, we can only hope that the Countdown Concert is the start of a year full of gigs and the uplifting feeling and happiness that sharing live music brings.

The concert was live-streamed on New Year’s Eve and is now available on the HKTB youtube channel.

https://youtu.be/5o_SCHF5Ak0

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/Hong-Kong-Countdown-Concert-West-Kowloon-31-December-2021/i-T2X9s6B

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/Hong-Kong-Countdown-Concert-West-Kowloon-31-December-2021/i-rsFHkjQ

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/Hong-Kong-Countdown-Concert-West-Kowloon-31-December-2021/i-74BN29d

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/Hong-Kong-Countdown-Concert-West-Kowloon-31-December-2021/i-bd7Hd7D

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/Hong-Kong-Countdown-Concert-West-Kowloon-31-December-2021/i-HPhPb6q

Hong Kong New Year Countdown Concert – Set list

1.《＠princejoyce》鄭欣宜 (Joyce Cheng)
2.《Megahit》Anson Lo@MIRROR
3.《喘息空間》 Gin Lee
4.《金星女孩》Anson Kong@MIRROR
5.《Wonderful U》AGA
6.《So Called Love Song》AGA
7.《理性與任性之間》AGA
8.《開始倒數》AGA、 Jay Fung
9.《3am》AGA、 Jay Fung
10.《冬日寂寞考》Jay Fung
11.《思念即地獄》Jay Fung
12《另一個諾貝爾》陳卓賢@MIRROR
13.《狂人日記》Jer@MIRROR
14.《Tonight》AGA x 香港管弦樂團 (HK Philharmonic Orchestra)
15.《一步一悔過》Jay Fung x 香港管弦樂團 (HK Philharmonic Orchestra)
16.《女神》鄭欣宜 (Joyce Cheng) x 香港管弦樂團 (HK Philharmonic Orchestra)
17.《e先生連環不幸事件》Edan x 香港管弦樂團 (HK Philharmonic Orchestra)
18.《日出時讓街燈安睡》GinLee x 香港管弦樂團 (HK Philharmonic Orchestra)
19.《青春頌》許廷鏗 (Alfred Hui) x 香港管弦樂團 (HK Philharmonic Orchestra)
20.《IDK》Gin Lee
21.《幸福門》Gin Lee
22.《先哭為敬》Gin Lee、《很堅強》鄭欣宜 (Joyce Cheng)
23.《最難行的路》鄭欣宜 (Joyce Cheng)
24.《天下無雙》許廷鏗 x Jay Fung
25.《我的快樂時代》許廷鏗 (Alfred Hui) x Jay Fung
26.《修羅場》許廷鏗 (Alfred Hui)
27.《佛系人生》許廷鏗 (Alfred Hui)
28.《停半分鐘聽一闋歌》許廷鏗 (Alfred Hui)
29. 《鏡中鏡》姜濤
30. 《12》MIRROR
31.《BOSS》MIRROR
32《IGNITED》MIRROR

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2022/Hong-Kong-Countdown-Concert-West-Kowloon-31-December-2021/i-F3NbqsH

photos: HKTB

Hong Kong Public Holidays 2022

Dates for your dairy…

Labour Day and the Birthday of the Buddha in 2022 both fall on a Sunday, the day following them will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.

In addition, since the day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in 2022 falls on a Sunday, the second day following that Festival will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.

As Christmas Day in 2022 falls on a Sunday, the second weekday after Christmas Day will be designated as a general holiday in substitution.

Add Hong Kong’s public holidays to your e-calendar at 1823 Hong Kong Public Holidays iCal Calendar.

 

Hike The North Dragon Stream

A beautiful video from Wild Pi about hiking the North Dragon Stream, one of the Five Dragons of Tung Chung, and renowned for its pristine water.

https://youtu.be/d1OWtN-GEBs

Tung Chung’s Five Dragons refer to the five main streams at Wong Lung Hang (Yellow Dragon Valley). The five streams are: North Dragon Stream, Living Dragon Stream, Yellow Dragon Stream, Hidden Dragon Stream and East Dragon Stream.

Flowing into Tung Chung Bay, Yellow Dragon Stream – into which the others flow – is the major stream and it originates at Sunset Peak, Hong Kong’s third-highest mountain.

Warning: Hiking in streams is dangerous! Check the weather before setting out, never go alone.

Pick up your rubbish, don’t spoil nature’s beauty by leaving anything behind.

For more about Wild Pi :
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wild.pi
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wildpi3.14/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCiIukLawRWR_nDSrA3oRXTg

Centenary of Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower Bell

At 6pm today, 9 December 2021, a ‘Chiming Ceremony’ commemorated the centenary of the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower Bell. It’s the first time the bell has been heard in 70 years.

The Kowloon-Canton Railway Kowloon Terminus used to be located at the present site of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback and built on reclaimed land overlooking the harbour; the Kowloon Terminus opened in 1916 as the southernmost railway station of China and served as a gateway between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

1931 TST Air view

A lack of space for expansion saw the southern terminus move, in 1974, to a new station built on land reclaimed from Hung Hom Bay.

The station building was demolished in 1978 except the clock tower which was conserved thanks to the efforts of the Heritage Society. Additionally, six pillars of the original station building were moved to the Urban Council Centenary Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui East.

Now known as the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, the tower is a popular landmark. The Bell of the Clock Tower began service in 1921 and ceased operation in 1950.

Now in 2021 the Bell’s chime will be brought back and report the time via a digital bell system synchronised with the web clock of the Hong Kong Observatory, sounding hourly every day between 8am and midnight.

A “Centenary of the Bell – Resonance of Time” exhibition will run from 10-24 December in the foyer of the HK Cultural Centre. More information at www.hkculturalcentre.gov.hk/en/hkcc/TSTClockTower

Images courtesy of the relevant owners

Ngong Ping Nature Centre Reopens

After renovation, the Ngong Ping Nature Centre at Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island has reopened.

The Centre houses three interactive exhibits about Lantau’s culture, history and biodiversity; information about local hiking trails and offers a “free guided-tour service of famous scenic spots and native trees around Ngong Ping.”

The Centre also now rents maps and hiking poles.

Ngong Ping Nature Centre guided tour schedule 2021

Ngong Ping Nature Centre
Ngong Ping Village
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm daily including Public Holidays

Hong Kong Underwater Photo Competition 2021 Winners

The winners of the 10th Hong Kong Underwater Photo Competition 2021 – for photos taken in the year up to 30 September 2021 – have been announced and the winner in the Macro & Close-Up category is Fran Cheung for her image “Single-eyed Hairy Shrimp” (above) taken off  Yin Tsz Ngam. While Henry Li is the Champion of the Standard and Wide Angle Category.

Macro & Close-Up

First Runner-up: 
Poon Yiu Nam David – I Believe I Can Fly, taken off East Dam

Second Runner-up: 
Henry Li

Standard & Wide Angle Champion: Henry Li

First Runner-up: 
Yu Wing Chung

Second Runner-up: 
Ho Tsz Hung Daniel

Exhibition of winning entries will be held as follows:

Date: 28 November – 2 December 2021
Time: 10am to 7pm
Venue: Venue A, Level 7, Fortune Metropolis, Hung Hom

Date: 2-6 January, 2022
Time: 10am to 7pm
Venue: Atrium C, L2, MOSTown, Ma On Shan

There is also a virtual exhibition of the winning entries at www.golocal360.co/HKUPVC2021/index.htm which is online until 27 November, 2022.

A booklet about this year’s competition and the winners can be downloaded here

Cheung Chau Bun Scramble and Piu Sik Parade 2021 Cancelled

The organisers of the annual Cheung Chau Da Jiu, Cheung Chau Bun Festival, have cancelled the Bun Scrambling Competition and the Piu Sik (Floating Colours) Parade due to the ‘Covid’.

The festival, which takes place on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar year, runs from 17-20 May this year.

Legends say that the festival began after Cheung Chau was devastated by a plague in the late Qing dynasty. To dispel the plague Chiu Chow natives invited Taoist priests to set up a sacrificial altar near the Pak Tai Temple to pray to deities, offer repentance and to comfort departed souls. The residents also paraded deity statues along village lanes.

The plague ended soon after the ritual. Since then, residents on Cheung Chau have been organising the annual Jiao Festival to express gratitude to Pak Tai for blessing the area with peace.

Cheung Chau Jiao Festival

Cheung Chau Jiao Festival

Cheung Chau Da Jiu, Cheung Chau Bun Festival
Date: 17-20 May 2021
Venue: Cheung Chau
Tickets: Free

Cheung Chau Bun Scramble and Piu Sik Parade Cancelled

The organisers of the annual Cheung Chau Da Jiu, Cheung Chau Bun Festival, have cancelled the Bun Scrambling Competition and the Piu Sik (Floating Colours) Parade due to the ‘Wuhan Flu’ health precautions.

The festival, which takes place on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar year, runs from 27th April to 1 May this year.

Legends say that the festival began after Cheung Chau was devastated by a plague in the late Qing dynasty. To dispel the plague Chiu Chow natives invited Taoist priests to set up a sacrificial altar near the Pak Tai Temple to pray to deities, offer repentance and to comfort departed souls. The residents also paraded deity statues along village lanes.

The plague ended soon after the ritual. Since then, residents on Cheung Chau have been organising the annual Jiao Festival to express gratitude to Pak Tai for blessing the area with peace.

Cheung Chau Jiao Festival

Cheung Chau Jiao Festival

Cheung Chau Da Jiu, Cheung Chau Bun Festival
Date: 28 April – 1 May 2020
Venue: Cheung Chau
Tickets: Free