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Once in a decade Jiao Festival organised by the indigenous Tang clan

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

Kam Tin once in a decade Jiao Festival organised by the indigenous Tang clan of Kam Tin

Hop up to Kam Tin if you have time for the once-in-a-decade Jiao Festival organised by the indigenous Tang clan of Kam Tin over a five-day, six-night span that began today, dating back over 300 years. It’s worth a visit if you have the time, as it’s unique. ( I’m guessing “up” is the direction most of you would travel. )

Kam Tin village still has a Main Street with a very “local” community feel that hasn’t changed much in the many years I’ve known it, and it is buzzing. It now even boasts three modern coffee shops alongside a good selection of tea shops, etc (check out Good Day!), you won’t starve.

Importantly, this event sees Hong Kong’s cultural heritage of many types combining in one single event and location during the days and nights, with Chinese Opera performances, of course, featuring prominently, which are quite special.

A welcome and much-needed moment in time to lift people a bit, it also serves to keep the Kam Tin community and families grounded in their own history, as Hong Kong remains subdued in the wake of the recent disaster.

See the link below – the event is described in the SCMP as below :

“Known in Chinese as ‘repayment for benevolence’, Kam Tin’s Jiao Festival dates back to 1685, when the Tang clansmen sought to thank two officials for allowing them to return to their homeland in Yuen Long.”
https://lnkd.in/gKhdJQB5

As the once-in-a-decade Kam Tin festival draws to a close, the walled village stands as a reminder of what once was an area with a rich history and some danger. Today it’s peaceful, and if you missed the chance to visit – hop up any time.

Kam Tin is one of the few ways left to experience a bit of old(er) Hong Kong that’s not changed too much in pace or look, or feel in decades.

From quirky tea shops to an old bakery, to more modern coffee shops, it’s a time capsule, that is a village and a real neighbourhood. While the city has flattened relentlessly via high-rise impersonal development, this area has remained relatively unscathed. Probably, as the main street is still 100% low-rise.

For me, Kam Tin is “living history” in many ways, where you are greeted by friendly faces daily, and it still carries much of what I enjoyed of 70’s Hong Kong.

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