Step Back in Time with Sham Tseng Village
Glimpse a traditional celebration in New Territories, complete with lion dances.
One of a handful of villages left in Hong Kong, the 200-year-old Sham Tseng Village in the New Territories is known for its roast goose and its rich cultural heritage. The village is gearing up to inaugurate its brand new office, an event that will be feted with a traditional celebration
If you’re keen to escape Central and bear witness to an old-timey Hong Kong spectacle, head to the Tsuen Wan area on January 15. Dancers will dress as a lion and a qilin (a mythical hooved creature), because they are lucky mascots; these rituals are carried out in hope that they will bring peace and prosperity to the village.
The action kicks off when lions and qilins sent by other well-wishing villages and neighborhood social associations show up at around 2pm. At 5pm sharp, the lion dance troupe will perform the traditional custom of “cai ching,” where it “eats” a cabbage held out as an offering, as green vegetables are considered auspicious. The highlight of the event, though, are performances by the lion and qilin dance troupes.
Take part in another old-fashioned pastime by joining the villagers for a dinner banquet. Poon choi, an old-time Hakka specialty that is a stew containing ingredients from beef and abalone to squid and bean curd and cooked for many hours, will be served along with other traditional dishes and desserts.
The site of the event is off of Tuen Mun Road, near Castle Peak Road in Tsuen Wan. First-time visitors can take the MTR to Tsuen Wan station and then take a minibus 98 to Ching Lung Tau and get off at Bellagio, a housing estate. Contact Nixie Lam at [email protected] by noon on January 14 for more information.
