Chinese Culture Festival 2026: City of Lights: Spirits of the Past

Loke, a Hong Kong neon light designer, is determined to revitalise forgotten old signboards in the city to conjure up Hong Kong’s collective memory. In search of the meaning of ‘light’, he goes through the labyrinth of light and shadows, using the map left behind by his master. On his way, he meets a narrator of traditional marionette theatre who talks about philosophy, and witnesses a passionate encounter between the face-changing stunt of Sichuan Opera and street dance. He faintly hears the electrifying sounds of the drums of the Miao tribe, and encounters Chinese paper-cut that traces a magnificent landscape… these remnants from a thousand years ago take on magical colours under the neon lights. Tradition and innovation fuse seamlessly to create new dimensions and new warmth by young dancers. This journey to trace one’s ancestry demonstrates how the transformation of technology and art can ensure the sustained vitality of Chinese culture.