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Kuk Po village in Hong Kong has more than 300 years of history. It now also boasts a festival that blends music, art and traditional cuisine.
Earlier this month, the mostly abandoned Hakka village, near the border with mainland China, welcomed a few dozen people eager to explore its heritage.
As part of a guided tour, visitors enjoyed a traditional Hakka-style meal at Chung Kee Store, a beloved eatery renowned for its braised pork with black bean sauce and handmade cuttlefish balls.
The Countryside Harvest Festival was Kuk Po’s first event to bring together cultural heritage, live music, art exhibitions and authentic food.
Hakka village invites visitors to taste a change of scenery in Hong Kong
Among the attendees was Jason Lee, a South Korean exchange student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The 21-year-old said he wanted to go beyond the usual tourist spots and explore the city’s quieter, more traditional side.
“Seeing local life up close – from the street food stalls to the fishing boats – was fascinating,” he said. “Coming from abroad, these everyday scenes gave me a completely new perspective on Hong Kong.”
Lee said his favourite part of the tour was walking along trails while listening to stories about the area’s development. He noted the city could benefit from promoting such experiences.
“It’s about finding the right balance between traditional tourism draws and showcasing Hong Kong’s lesser-known sides,” the student said.
William Ip, a seasoned guide with over 10 years of rural tour experience, praised the role of such festivals.
“It’s a good thing because most Hong Kong people feel that city life revolves around things like watching films, having morning tea, travelling to mainland China or flying to Japan,” Ip said.
He said visitors were also interested in authentic countryside experiences and he had welcomed many who came to the city for the hiking.
Boosting tourism
The festival is part of a push to encourage visitors to explore rural areas. The event was organised by the Countryside Conservation Office.
Kuk Po is nestled in a quiet area in the northeastern New Territories near Plover Cove Country Park.
Once a thriving village, it was largely abandoned as urban development drew residents away. Kuk Po’s only school closed its doors in 1993.
But Ip warned that finding a balance between maintaining quality of life and promoting tourism was crucial.
“For example, the villagers in [nearby] Sha Tau Kok don’t like it at all. That’s why half the area is inaccessible to us – we have to respect their preferences and find a balance,” he said.
Ip proposed organising short-term stays.
“If you just come for a day, spend two hours commuting in and out, and then leave – what kind of meaningful experience can you gain from that?”
He said extended stays could also provide opportunities for farming projects that could benefit the village in the long run.
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Breathing new energy into Kuk Po
Lee Muk-sing, Kuk Po’s village representative, emphasised the area’s beauty.
“Kuk Po is home to unique natural wonders and historic architecture,” he said.
“Its peaceful scenery brings calm and joy to everyone who visits.”
“This village shows that Hong Kong is not just a bustling city but also a haven for countryside charm.”
The festival invited 230 school students to take part in craft activities to capture the village’s history and pass down skills.
The gates of Kuk Po’s once-closed school also featured an art installation to bring to life its past.
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Polytechnic University’s school of design collaborated with artists to create more than 20 installations along a 1.4km-long path.
Visitors can still explore a photo exhibition featuring works by renowned photographers such as Changlin Fashi, Kelvin Yuen, Alfred Ko and Man Lim-chung.
Many of their works will be available for viewing until February 16.
At the opening ceremony, environment minister Tse Chin-wan said the government was committed to countryside conservation.
He said the festival was part of a vision to build a “sustainable future”.
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