The Bauhinia Tree
Do you know that the Hong Kong orchid tree, also known as Bauhinia blakeana and which appears on the national flag, is actually native from the Hong Kong Island? Despite its name, the peculiar five-petalled flower is not an orchid but a tree and was discovered in 1880 by a French missionary. Mesmerized by the beauty of this unique fuchsia flower, he...
Chinese legend
One of the most widespread legends is one of the Chinese zodiac which is passed down from generation to generation. The Jade Emperor ordered that animals would represent the 12 months of the calendar. In order to decide their order, he held a race across a river. Thirteen animals took part to represent each of the twelve calendar months. Considered as the...
Wong Tai Sin Temple
If you want to take part in the Chinese New Year celebrations, you must go to Wong Tai Sin temple. It is Hong Kong’s most famous and traditional temple and probably one of the largest. Located in Wong Tai Sin in Kowloon, the temple is dedicated to Hong Kong’s three main religions: Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Besides this unusual practice of...
Did you know? Chinese New Year dishes
We wrote about Chinese New Year’s traditions last week, now it’s time to discover what we eat during this Festival! The number of dishes varies between six, eight or ten to bring prosperity. Commonly eaten over Chinese New Year are dumplings. Their Chinese character “jiao” also mean “changing” so they are usually eaten at midnight to symbolize the transition into the...
Chinese New Year’s Traditions
This upcoming Chinese New Year will celebrate the Earth Dog and will be held on Friday 16 February 2018. This date, which changes every year, is chosen accordingly with the Chinese lunar calendar and is also called The Spring Festival. Here are some interesting facts about Chinese New Year’s traditions: - To welcome the new year, people will clean and tidy their...
Spooky story alert
Like most old buildings, Sai Ying Pun Old Mental Hospital comes with its own fair share of spooky ghost stories. Constructed in 1892, it was originally used as a living quarter for nurses until World War II, and then converted into a psychiatric hospital until 1961. Unoccupied for the next decade, the Hong Kong government decided to renovate it in...
Stephanie from Hong Kong A La Carte featured in ”Silence, ça pousse! à Hong Kong”
Great show, great team and great end result. Hong Kong A La Carte is very pleased for making it possible. Both episodes are online! Discover our other media projects here! Do not hesitate to contact us for your TV show or reportage projects in Hong Kong at contact@hkalacarte.com...
The story behind the papier-mâché shops
If you wander around lower Sai Ying Pun you will notice shops selling odd papier-mâché imitations of luxury bags, cars, iPhone and so on… These uncommon finds, which look like handy craft ‘decorations’, are actually papier-mâché offerings for late relatives, friends or beloved ones. In Taoism and Buddhism, they are used for different occasions. During festivals like Chinese New Year,...
Old Colonial Peak
In the late 1890s, Europeans who resided in the City of Victoria gradually moved to places of higher altitude to evade a Bubonic Plague which was spreading from China. Many houses were built to accommodate more and more families who were also finding the heights of Victoria Peak more comfortable and cooler than the City Centre. Houses were first built on...
The Lantern Festival
The mid-autumn festival is one of Hong kong's biggest celebrations. Its purpose is to thank the moon for generous harvests. The festival occurs on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, hence changing date every year. Several legends are connected to this festival: People say that the beautiful Chang O, wife of the Divine Archer, flew into...