Perpetuation of the Heritage

Once a ceremony observed by Hailufeng migrants, the way the Jiao Festival has developed into a celebration for all of Cheung Chau brings to us the fact that cultural heritage can undergo changes in line with the social environment and community relationships, and that these changes are an expression of the creativity of the people involved. Since its establishment in 2004, the permanent “Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee” has modified many of the rules that govern the event, and now the elections for committee members are open to residents of all the clans. Decision was also taken to hold the Jiao parade on a statutory public holiday every year so that everyone in the city can take part. The Committee also assists academic experts in conducting in-depth research on the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival in order to have a systematic documentation of the festive activities at various periods, to trace how they changed over time, and to publish the findings. All of these innovations are designed to give local youths a better understanding of their heritage and foster a greater sense of belonging among them, so that they will welcome the responsibility of continuing this tradition. It is also hoped that visitors to the Festival will be able to understand the true meaning of this piece of living heritage as they enjoy the spectacle of the colourful floats and the thrilling bun scramble.

The Jiao Festival of Cheung Chau was inscribed onto the third national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011.