small valley
TAI HANG

Little Tai Hang

Little Tai Hang is a hotel and service apartment located near the Lin Fa Temple. It was established in 2017 and consists of three separate buildings: The Corner House, The Lane House, and The Garden House.

The founder of Little Tai Hang is Tommy Pao, a descendant of the famous Yue-Kong Pao family in Hong Kong. As an architect, Tommy is responsible for the design and cultural positioning of the hotel buildings. He insisted on using red bricks as the exterior wall material, though require more maintenance, it can blend in with the historical ambiance of Lin Fa Temple and the cultural atmosphere of Tai Hang.

Honouring the Past and Inspiring the Future

For over a century, the auspicious beasts have stood atop the ridges of the Lin Fa Temple, along with the fire dragon, safeguarding both the temple and the community of Tai Hang.

The dragon fish is one of the nine sons of the dragon. It enjoys swallowing fire and spitting water, symbolising the prevention of conflagration while attracting wealth by swallowing treasures. The lion, known for its dominance over other animals, represents authority, wealth and auspiciousness. It guards temples and ensures peace stability of the region. In folklore, the Qilin (Chinese unicorn) is often depicted as the mount of Kwun Yum (Goddess of Mercy), and it is believed that wherever the Qilin appears, there will be blessings and good fortune.

Inspired by the auspicious beasts closely associated with the Lin Fa Temple, contemporary artist To Wun has created a new hybrid mythical creature. He skilfully combined traditional bamboo weaving techniques with contemporary painting styles, creating an agile dynamic structure. Through vibrant performances, he infuses his artwork with life, shedding lights on the cultural traditions inherited from the previous generations and spreading the blessing to Tai Hang.

Louis, To Wun

Louis To is a versatile contemporary artist. He learnt through studying on his own and other masters’ artworks, his works range from Chinese and Western painting, sculpture to traditional crafts of sugar-blowing and bamboo sculpting. 

Louis’s artistic career started in the 1990s. His paintings have received Awards of Distinction in Phillippe Charriol Foundation Art Competition in three consecutive year. His works have been exhibited at the Hong Kong Museum of Art for the Contemporary Art Biennale in 1996 and 1998. His first major solo exhibition was held at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in 1998. In 2000, he took part in the Inside Out: New Chinese Art show in New York PS1. In 2001, his oil painting titled Scream was exhibited at the British Museum. Some of his paintings were collected by the Bahamian Embassy. He also had several exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai and Macau, featuring some of his 3D Chinese character sculptures.

Louis is committed to mastering and preserving two traditional crafts of intangible Chinese cultural heritage -- sugar-blowing and the traditional bamboo sculpting. He was commissioned to create the leading Qilin of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival from 2013 to 2019. In 2022, he held a solo exhibition The Art of BAMBOO: From Qilin to Contemporary Sculpture at GEG Art Foundation. The same year his new work San Syu Wat Leot Are Not Here was selected for Art Central’s Yi Tai Sculpture & Installation Projects. 

Honouring the Past and Inspiring the Future

Composer and percussionist Tim Chan draws inspiration from the daily life of Tai Hang to create music. By capturing the authentic sounds of the community, he crafts compositions that belong to Tai Hang, creating a harmonious fusion of music and community. Tim also collaborates with To Wun to bring his compositions to life through live performances, where rhythm becomes the driving force behind the animated lion dance. 

Chan Ting-cheung, Tim

Composer and percussionist. Chan’s works are mainly about daily life, the city, and the sense of identity. He values interwoven presentations of media, such as spaces, visuals and sounds. His recent sound compositions have appeared in theatre and dance productions. He also engages in instrument-making, interactive sound installations, automated machinery and multi-channel audio design.

Little happiness in Tai Hang

Several intersecting and well-organised streets naturally encircle a small old town-- it is the heart of Tai Hang. Here, you will find small shops, garages, ordinary restaurants, coffee shops, pre-war old houses and contemporary decorations. Today, each place retains its own distinctive features, making it a charming and atmospheric neighbourhood.  The Hira Hira creative team, who have a passion for seeking, creating, and sharing beautiful things, have entered the Tai Hang community and made paper craft for the shops. The artworks will be displayed in the shops with AR interactive activity to enhance the journey experience.

More at: ✦ Bing Kee Cha Dong✦ Chin Jor Fan Tong✦ Coffee Bunnies✦ en fleur✦ The Minimal✦ Papabubble✦ Psyroot✦ Unar Coffee Company✦

Hira Hira

Hira Hira was co-founded by Zi Ying and Yan Lam in 2015, with members Sharon and Wing Yi. 

The Japanese ‘ヒラヒラ’means ‘astatic’. Hira Hira is a drifting grocery store who likes to find, create and share beautiful things. The team focuses on making Japanese unique toy decorations such as "Paper Craft" and "Paper Figures" to give new life to the abundant resource at hand - "abandoned paper", and transform it into unique and lovable works. Hira Hira also engages in various forms of creativity, including illustration, paper crafts, embroidery, fabric arts and calligraphy.

Flowing Years / Weaving Future

"Huanhua" comes from the poem Bu Ju (Divination of Dwelling)  by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu: " The water of the Huanhua Creek flows to the west, the owner chooses a secluded place in Lin Tang." Du Fu used the poem to describe his selection of a serene and tranquil residence on the western bank of Huanhua Creek. Weaving artist Zoe Siu uses "Huanhua" as a metaphorical representation of the Hakka people who initially chose to settle in the Wun Sha Creek ravine. She has created three-dimensional weavings that resemble the ripples and movements of the creek’s water. Despite the passage of countless years, the essence of Tai Hang remains unchanged with the constant and serene flow of water. A series of works will be scattered in different corners of Tai Hang.A series of works will be scattered in di erent corners of Tai Hang. Zoe also leads students from Hong Kong True Light Middle School to learn Hakka band weaving culture, and together they create new patterns of blessing to be displayed at the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Cultural Centre, envisioning the future of the Tai Hang community.

More at: ✦ NO.2 Café & Restaurant✦ SonneCAD✦ Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre

Zoe Siu 

Hong Kong-based knot designer, Zoe Siu is best known for her bold, sculptural accessories and striking ropework installations. Weaving together traditional craftsmanship with inventive design, Zoe’s creations are both sophisticated yet playful, contemporary yet timeless.  In 2011, Zoe founded the accessories label ZOEE. She has since created a diverse range of innovative, knot-inspired jewellery collections, attracting stockists from major cities across Asia. 

In addition to designing accessories, Zoe has been pushing boundaries further by exploring the architectural possibilities of rope, transforming retail and gallery spaces with ropework installations that are both sculpturally bold and painstakingly intricate. Zoe has created huge knot installations for ELEMENTS & K11 Art Mall. Dedicated to promoting the art of knotting, Zoe regularly runs workshops for international brand launches, including OMEGA, Hennesy V.S.O.P, and Marimekko, etc..

Lin Fa Temple, Tai Hang

Lin Fa Temple in Tai Hang, a declared monument, was built in 1863. It is dedicated to Kwun Yum (Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara) and used to be the main venue of worship of the Tai Hang residents in the past. It remains an important spot for the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance.

The architectural style of Lin Fa Temple is unique. The front hall of the temple was built on a platform and supported by stone pillars, while the main hall was built on a boulder. However, the boulder is currently blocked by the outer wall and only part of it can be seen from the inside of the temple. According to the legend, Kwun Yum once appeared on the boulder. Thus, the temple was built to commemorate and worship this holy relic.

The temple was originally located on the hillside facing the sea. During high tides, sea water would surge up to the temple, creating an illusion that the temple was floating on the water like a lotus. Due to ongoing reclamation projects, the tides have receded, only buildings remained.

Traditional Chinese craftsmanship can be seen in the different parts of the temple, such as the Shiwan Taosu decoration on the main ridge, the wood-carved panel, the stone-carved altar and the bronze clock. The design of the Lin Fa Temple incorporates elements of Western architecture. The front of the temple features a small balcony and parapet walls, and unlike the typical central entrance found in traditional Chinese temples, the gates of the temple are located on the sides. 

Little happiness in Tai Hang

Several intersecting and well-organised streets naturally encircle a small old town-- it is the heart of Tai Hang. Here, you will find small shops, garages, ordinary restaurants, coffee shops, pre-war old houses and contemporary decorations. Today, each place retains its own distinctive features, making it a charming and atmospheric neighbourhood.  The Hira Hira creative team, who have a passion for seeking, creating, and sharing beautiful things, have entered the Tai Hang community and made paper craft for the shops. The artworks will be displayed in the shops with AR interactive activity to enhance the journey experience.

More at:  ✦ Bing Kee Cha Dong✦ Chin Jor Fan Tong✦ Coffee Bunnies✦ Little Tai Hang - The Corner House✦ The Minimal✦ Papabubble✦ Psyroot✦ Unar Coffee Company ✦

Hira Hira

Hira Hira was co-founded by Zi Ying and Yan Lam in 2015, with members Sharon and Wing Yi. 

The Japanese ‘ヒラヒラ’means ‘astatic’. Hira Hira is a drifting grocery store who likes to find, create and share beautiful things. The team focuses on making Japanese unique toy decorations such as "Paper Craft" and "Paper Figures" to give new life to the abundant resource at hand - "abandoned paper", and transform it into unique and lovable works. Hira Hira also engages in various forms of creativity, including illustration, paper crafts, embroidery, fabric arts and calligraphy.

Wun Sha Street Stalls

The 1940s to the 1960s was the heyday of the Wun Sha Street vendors. There were nearly 100 of them selling vegetables, snacks, foreign goods and fruits. Later, in the 1970s, the government gradually replaced them with fixed hawker stalls. There were less street vendors onwards – some were forced to move to indoor wet markets for business. At one point, Wun Sha Street had only about 8 hawker stalls remaining, selling products such as vegetables, hardware, candles.

According to the residents in Tai Hang, many would visit the congee stalls or tea stalls before heading to work or school, enjoying a bowl of congee with Chinese fried dough sticks or a cup of creamy milk tea. Some vendors specialised in beef entrails or “Faat Daat Tong”, a cheaper version of the Sugus. Additionally, there were various types of market stalls offering products, such as fish, dried seafood, vegetable, pork, beef, chicken and duck. The scouts from the Queen's College would also visit the market to purchase fresh vegetables for their outdoor cooking activities.

Recently, the government has issued a large number of hawker licenses for the first time, leading to the emergence of new stalls in Tai Hang. These new stalls offer a variety of products such as sauces, fabric crafts, books, and more, continuing the story of the Tai Hang street stalls.

Stay in a moment with incense

Incense plays a vital role in Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. Burning incense can purify the space, stabilise the mind and calm the nerves, which has been gaining popularity as a form of therapy. In ancient times, incense was also used to measure time. Burning one stick of incense is equivalent to one hour in modern times.

Artist Max Cheng visited five small shops in Tai Hang and communicated with the shop owners to understand their preferences. Together, they mixed and created their own handmade incense flavours, allowing them with an immersive experience in the art of incense making. Max invited carpenter Lam Chi to design and produce unique incense trays for each shop and created incense based on the formulas chosen by the shop owners. During business hours, the shop owners will light the incense, allowing customers and passersby to experience the artwork through their sense of smell, connecting them to the memory of the Fire Dragon dance.

The handmade incense of each shop is tailor-made with unique scent. It is hoped that the visitors can spend as long as an hour (the time that required to burn an incense) in Tai Hang, engaging in conversations with different shops, and discovering interesting stories and objects in Tai Hang.

More at: ✦ Allure Customised Hair✦ Moon of Silence✦ Nice Florist✦ TOMO

Max Cheng

Graduated from The Academy of Visual Arts at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Max Cheng creates art with the sense of smell, mostly uses installation and mixed media as the medium. He emphasises on the value of object itself and uncovers creativities in daily life.

He established okapi studio after graduation and travelled to China, Japan, Nepal and India to learn about different types of incenses. He collaborates with charities and different organisations to produce scent products, holds incense-making workshops and organises local farm docent tours and exhibitions. Through various activities, Max aims to promote the multi-facet of “incense culture” and the idea of “closing the loop” by making incense from natural ingredients and utilising incense ash as fertiliser. 

He sets up “Lin Heung House” with senior alumnus to offer a place for incense-making experience. okapi studio encourages the public to get close to the nature and be expressive with a pair of hands.

Little happiness in Tai Hang

Several intersecting and well-organised streets naturally encircle a small old town-- it is the heart of Tai Hang. Here, you will find small shops, garages, ordinary restaurants, coffee shops, pre-war old houses and contemporary decorations. Today, each place retains its own distinctive features, making it a charming and atmospheric neighbourhood.  The Hira Hira creative team, who have a passion for seeking, creating, and sharing beautiful things, have entered the Tai Hang community and made paper craft for the shops. The artworks will be displayed in the shops with AR interactive activity to enhance the journey experience.

More at: ✦ Bing Kee Cha Dong✦ Chin Jor Fan Tong✦ Coffee Bunnies✦ en fleur✦ Little Tai Hang - The Corner House✦ The Minimal✦ Papabubble✦ Unar Coffee Company✦

Hira Hira

Hira Hira was co-founded by Zi Ying and Yan Lam in 2015, with members Sharon and Wing Yi. 

The Japanese ‘ヒラヒラ’means ‘astatic’. Hira Hira is a drifting grocery store who likes to find, create and share beautiful things. The team focuses on making Japanese unique toy decorations such as "Paper Craft" and "Paper Figures" to give new life to the abundant resource at hand - "abandoned paper", and transform it into unique and lovable works. Hira Hira also engages in various forms of creativity, including illustration, paper crafts, embroidery, fabric arts and calligraphy.

Stay in a moment with incense

Incense plays a vital role in Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. Burning incense can purify the space, stabilise the mind and calm the nerves, which has been gaining popularity as a form of therapy. In ancient times, incense was also used to measure time. Burning one stick of incense is equivalent to one hour in modern times.

Artist Max Cheng visited five small shops in Tai Hang and communicated with the shop owners to understand their preferences. Together, they mixed and created their own handmade incense flavours, allowing them with an immersive experience in the art of incense making. Max invited carpenter Lam Chi to design and produce unique incense trays for each shop and created incense based on the formulas chosen by the shop owners. During business hours, the shop owners will light the incense, allowing customers and passersby to experience the artwork through their sense of smell, connecting them to the memory of the Fire Dragon dance.

The handmade incense of each shop is tailor-made with unique scent. It is hoped that the visitors can spend as long as an hour (the time that required to burn an incense) in Tai Hang, engaging in conversations with different shops, and discovering interesting stories and objects in Tai Hang.

More at: ✦ Allure Customised Hair✦ Nice Florist✦ Sense Garden 

Max Cheng

Graduated from The Academy of Visual Arts at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Max Cheng creates art with the sense of smell, mostly uses installation and mixed media as the medium. He emphasises on the value of object itself and uncovers creativities in daily life.

He established okapi studio after graduation and travelled to China, Japan, Nepal and India to learn about different types of incenses. He collaborates with charities and different organisations to produce scent products, holds incense-making workshops and organises local farm docent tours and exhibitions. Through various activities, Max aims to promote the multi-facet of “incense culture” and the idea of “closing the loop” by making incense from natural ingredients and utilising incense ash as fertiliser. 

He sets up “Lin Heung House” with senior alumnus to offer a place for incense-making experience. okapi studio encourages the public to get close to the nature and be expressive with a pair of hands.

Little happiness in Tai Hang

Several intersecting and well-organised streets naturally encircle a small old town-- it is the heart of Tai Hang. Here, you will find small shops, garages, ordinary restaurants, coffee shops, pre-war old houses and contemporary decorations. Today, each place retains its own distinctive features, making it a charming and atmospheric neighbourhood.  The Hira Hira creative team, who have a passion for seeking, creating, and sharing beautiful things, have entered the Tai Hang community and made paper craft for the shops. The artworks will be displayed in the shops with AR interactive activity to enhance the journey experience.

More at: ✦ Bing Kee Cha Dong✦ Coffee Bunnies✦ en fleur✦ Little Tai Hang - The Corner House✦ Papabubble✦ Psyroot

Hira Hira

Hira Hira was co-founded by Zi Ying and Yan Lam in 2015, with members Sharon and Wing Yi. 

The Japanese ‘ヒラヒラ’means ‘astatic’. Hira Hira is a drifting grocery store who likes to find, create and share beautiful things. The team focuses on making Japanese unique toy decorations such as "Paper Craft" and "Paper Figures" to give new life to the abundant resource at hand - "abandoned paper", and transform it into unique and lovable works. Hira Hira also engages in various forms of creativity, including illustration, paper crafts, embroidery, fabric arts and calligraphy.

Flowing Years / Weaving Future

"Huanhua" comes from the poem Bu Ju (Divination of Dwelling)  by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu: " The water of the Huanhua Creek flows to the west, the owner chooses a secluded place in Lin Tang." Du Fu used the poem to describe his selection of a serene and tranquil residence on the western bank of Huanhua Creek. Weaving artist Zoe Siu uses "Huanhua" as a metaphorical representation of the Hakka people who initially chose to settle in the Wun Sha Creek ravine. She has created three-dimensional weavings that resemble the ripples and movements of the creek’s water. Despite the passage of countless years, the essence of Tai Hang remains unchanged with the constant and serene flow of water. A series of works will be scattered in different corners of Tai Hang.A series of works will be scattered in di erent corners of Tai Hang. Zoe also leads students from Hong Kong True Light Middle School to learn Hakka band weaving culture, and together they create new patterns of blessing to be displayed at the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Cultural Centre, envisioning the future of the Tai Hang community.

More at: ✦ Little Tai Hang-The Corner House✦ NO.2 Café & Restaurant✦ Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre

Zoe Siu 

Hong Kong-based knot designer, Zoe Siu is best known for her bold, sculptural accessories and striking ropework installations. Weaving together traditional craftsmanship with inventive design, Zoe’s creations are both sophisticated yet playful, contemporary yet timeless.  In 2011, Zoe founded the accessories label ZOEE. She has since created a diverse range of innovative, knot-inspired jewellery collections, attracting stockists from major cities across Asia. 

In addition to designing accessories, Zoe has been pushing boundaries further by exploring the architectural possibilities of rope, transforming retail and gallery spaces with ropework installations that are both sculpturally bold and painstakingly intricate. Zoe has created huge knot installations for ELEMENTS & K11 Art Mall. Dedicated to promoting the art of knotting, Zoe regularly runs workshops for international brand launches, including OMEGA, Hennesy V.S.O.P, and Marimekko, etc..

Little happiness in Tai Hang

Several intersecting and well-organised streets naturally encircle a small old town-- it is the heart of Tai Hang. Here, you will find small shops, garages, ordinary restaurants, coffee shops, pre-war old houses and contemporary decorations. Today, each place retains its own distinctive features, making it a charming and atmospheric neighbourhood.  The Hira Hira creative team, who have a passion for seeking, creating, and sharing beautiful things, have entered the Tai Hang community and made paper craft for the shops. The artworks will be displayed in the shops with AR interactive activity to enhance the journey experience.

More at: ✦ Chin Jor Fan Tong✦ en fleur ✦ Little Tai Hang - The Corner House✦ The Minimal✦ Papabubble✦ Psyroot✦ Unar Coffee Company ✦

Hira Hira

Hira Hira was co-founded by Zi Ying and Yan Lam in 2015, with members Sharon and Wing Yi. 

The Japanese ‘ヒラヒラ’means ‘astatic’. Hira Hira is a drifting grocery store who likes to find, create and share beautiful things. The team focuses on making Japanese unique toy decorations such as "Paper Craft" and "Paper Figures" to give new life to the abundant resource at hand - "abandoned paper", and transform it into unique and lovable works. Hira Hira also engages in various forms of creativity, including illustration, paper crafts, embroidery, fabric arts and calligraphy.

Flowing Years / Weaving Future

"Huanhua" comes from the poem Bu Ju (Divination of Dwelling)  by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu: " The water of the Huanhua Creek flows to the west, the owner chooses a secluded place in Lin Tang." Du Fu used the poem to describe his selection of a serene and tranquil residence on the western bank of Huanhua Creek. Weaving artist Zoe Siu uses "Huanhua" as a metaphorical representation of the Hakka people who initially chose to settle in the Wun Sha Creek ravine. She has created three-dimensional weavings that resemble the ripples and movements of the creek’s water. Despite the passage of countless years, the essence of Tai Hang remains unchanged with the constant and serene flow of water. A series of works will be scattered in different corners of Tai Hang.A series of works will be scattered in di erent corners of Tai Hang. Zoe also leads students from Hong Kong True Light Middle School to learn Hakka band weaving culture, and together they create new patterns of blessing to be displayed at the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Cultural Centre, envisioning the future of the Tai Hang community.

More at: ✦ Little Tai Hang-The Corner House✦ SonneCAD✦ Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre

Zoe Siu 

Hong Kong-based knot designer, Zoe Siu is best known for her bold, sculptural accessories and striking ropework installations. Weaving together traditional craftsmanship with inventive design, Zoe’s creations are both sophisticated yet playful, contemporary yet timeless.  In 2011, Zoe founded the accessories label ZOEE. She has since created a diverse range of innovative, knot-inspired jewellery collections, attracting stockists from major cities across Asia. 

In addition to designing accessories, Zoe has been pushing boundaries further by exploring the architectural possibilities of rope, transforming retail and gallery spaces with ropework installations that are both sculpturally bold and painstakingly intricate. Zoe has created huge knot installations for ELEMENTS & K11 Art Mall. Dedicated to promoting the art of knotting, Zoe regularly runs workshops for international brand launches, including OMEGA, Hennesy V.S.O.P, and Marimekko, etc..

4 Second Lane

4 Second Lane of Tai Hang (currently known as THE SHOPHOUSE) is a pre-war tong lau (tenement building) that has been listed as a Grade III historic building. The exterior of the building is constructed using the "Shanghai plaster" technique, which involves a mixture of gravel and cement to imitate the appearance of a stone-built structure.  "Shanghai plaster" is not actually derived from Shanghai but was commonly used in architecture from the 1920s to 1930s, combining Western techniques with Eastern characteristics. The interior decoration of the building also reflects the features of the 1930s, with popular elements such as coloured encaustic tiles and terrazzo flooring and the decorative edges on the ceilings.

This building has undergone several changes of ownership and has been used for various purposes, including residential, car garage and beauty salon. In 2020, the art space called THE SHOPHOUSE took over the premises and decided to restore its original features. As a result, the exterior walls which was painted in pink by the previous owner was uncovered, displaying the layer with "Shanghai plaster" technique. The interior space has also been restored to its original look. Regular exhibitions are held to showcase works of artists from around the world. Furthermore, a retail concept store named Otherthings was added, offering a variety of art pieces for purchase.

Stay in a moment with incense

Incense plays a vital role in Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. Burning incense can purify the space, stabilise the mind and calm the nerves, which has been gaining popularity as a form of therapy. In ancient times, incense was also used to measure time. Burning one stick of incense is equivalent to one hour in modern times.

Artist Max Cheng visited five small shops in Tai Hang and communicated with the shop owners to understand their preferences. Together, they mixed and created their own handmade incense flavours, allowing them with an immersive experience in the art of incense making. Max invited carpenter Lam Chi to design and produce unique incense trays for each shop and created incense based on the formulas chosen by the shop owners. During business hours, the shop owners will light the incense, allowing customers and passersby to experience the artwork through their sense of smell, connecting them to the memory of the Fire Dragon dance.

The handmade incense of each shop is tailor-made with unique scent. It is hoped that the visitors can spend as long as an hour (the time that required to burn an incense) in Tai Hang, engaging in conversations with different shops, and discovering interesting stories and objects in Tai Hang.

More at: ✦ Moon of Silence✦ Nice Florist✦ Sense Garden ✦ TOMO

Max Cheng

Graduated from The Academy of Visual Arts at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Max Cheng creates art with the sense of smell, mostly uses installation and mixed media as the medium. He emphasises on the value of object itself and uncovers creativities in daily life.

He established okapi studio after graduation and travelled to China, Japan, Nepal and India to learn about different types of incenses. He collaborates with charities and different organisations to produce scent products, holds incense-making workshops and organises local farm docent tours and exhibitions. Through various activities, Max aims to promote the multi-facet of “incense culture” and the idea of “closing the loop” by making incense from natural ingredients and utilising incense ash as fertiliser. 

He sets up “Lin Heung House” with senior alumnus to offer a place for incense-making experience. okapi studio encourages the public to get close to the nature and be expressive with a pair of hands.

Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre

The building at 12 School Street was originally a school called “Hung Shing Yi Hok” (Confucius free school for the poor) during the late Qing dynasty. It was founded by the Hong Kong Confucian Society, which was led by the renowned Chinese community leader Lau Chu-pak. Constructed through donations from the residents of Tai Hang, it served as a free school for the community.

The school suffered severe damage during the Japanese Occupation. Luckily, thanks to the donations from local residents, the reconstruction was successful after the war. The names of the donors from both contributions are engraved on a stone tablet, which is currently displayed in the main hall on the ground floor.

Over the years, the building has been used for educational purposes. From 1984 to 1999, it was the Confucian Society Victoria English Primary School, and from 2007 to 2010, it served as the office of the Eastern District Children's Choir of the Eastern District Cultural and Recreational Association. Currently, it has been transformed into the "Tai Hang Fire Dragon Centre" as part of Revitalisation Scheme, showcasing the history of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon and the evolution of the Tai Hang Hakka Village.

The building features modern architecture style with a cubic structure, white exterior walls, a flat roof, iron windows and decorative iron railings. The interior design is simple and practical, in line with the modernist emphasis on functionality.

FLOWING YEARS / WEAVING FUTURE

"Huanhua" comes from the poem Bu Ju (Divination of Dwelling)  by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu: " The water of the Huanhua Creek flows to the west, the owner chooses a secluded place in Lin Tang." Du Fu used the poem to describe his selection of a serene and tranquil residence on the western bank of Huanhua Creek. Weaving artist Zoe Siu uses "Huanhua" as a metaphorical representation of the Hakka people who initially chose to settle in the Wun Sha Creek ravine. She has created three-dimensional weavings that resemble the ripples and movements of the creek’s water. Despite the passage of countless years, the essence of Tai Hang remains unchanged with the constant and serene flow of water. A series of works will be scattered in different corners of Tai Hang.A series of works will be scattered in dierent corners of Tai Hang. Zoe also leads students from Hong Kong True Light Middle School to learn Hakka band weaving culture, and together they create new patterns of blessing to be displayed at the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Cultural Centre, envisioning the future of the Tai Hang community. 

More at : ✦ Little Tai Hang-The Corner House✦ NO.2 Café & Restaurant✦ SonneCAD

Zoe Siu 

Hong Kong-based knot designer, Zoe Siu is best known for her bold, sculptural accessories and striking ropework installations. Weaving together traditional craftsmanship with inventive design, Zoe’s creations are both sophisticated yet playful, contemporary yet timeless.  In 2011, Zoe founded the accessories label ZOEE. She has since created a diverse range of innovative, knot-inspired jewellery collections, attracting stockists from major cities across Asia. 

In addition to designing accessories, Zoe has been pushing boundaries further by exploring the architectural possibilities of rope, transforming retail and gallery spaces with ropework installations that are both sculpturally bold and painstakingly intricate. Zoe has created huge knot installations for ELEMENTS & K11 Art Mall. Dedicated to promoting the art of knotting, Zoe regularly runs workshops for international brand launches, including OMEGA, Hennesy V.S.O.P, and Marimekko, etc..

Stay in a moment with incense

Incense plays a vital role in Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. Burning incense can purify the space, stabilise the mind and calm the nerves, which has been gaining popularity as a form of therapy. In ancient times, incense was also used to measure time. Burning one stick of incense is equivalent to one hour in modern times.

Artist Max Cheng visited five small shops in Tai Hang and communicated with the shop owners to understand their preferences. Together, they mixed and created their own handmade incense flavours, allowing them with an immersive experience in the art of incense making. Max invited carpenter Lam Chi to design and produce unique incense trays for each shop and created incense based on the formulas chosen by the shop owners. During business hours, the shop owners will light the incense, allowing customers and passersby to experience the artwork through their sense of smell, connecting them to the memory of the Fire Dragon dance.

The handmade incense of each shop is tailor-made with unique scent. It is hoped that the visitors can spend as long as an hour (the time that required to burn an incense) in Tai Hang, engaging in conversations with different shops, and discovering interesting stories and objects in Tai Hang.

More at: ✦ Allure Customised Hair✦ Moon of Silence✦ Sense Garden✦ TOMO

Max Cheng

Graduated from The Academy of Visual Arts at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Max Cheng creates art with the sense of smell, mostly uses installation and mixed media as the medium. He emphasises on the value of object itself and uncovers creativities in daily life.

He established okapi studio after graduation and travelled to China, Japan, Nepal and India to learn about different types of incenses. He collaborates with charities and different organisations to produce scent products, holds incense-making workshops and organises local farm docent tours and exhibitions. Through various activities, Max aims to promote the multi-facet of “incense culture” and the idea of “closing the loop” by making incense from natural ingredients and utilising incense ash as fertiliser. 

He sets up “Lin Heung House” with senior alumnus to offer a place for incense-making experience. okapi studio encourages the public to get close to the nature and be expressive with a pair of hands.

Little happiness in Tai Hang

Several intersecting and well-organised streets naturally encircle a small old town-- it is the heart of Tai Hang. Here, you will find small shops, garages, ordinary restaurants, coffee shops, pre-war old houses and contemporary decorations. Today, each place retains its own distinctive features, making it a charming and atmospheric neighbourhood.  The Hira Hira creative team, who have a passion for seeking, creating, and sharing beautiful things, have entered the Tai Hang community and made paper craft for the shops. The artworks will be displayed in the shops with AR interactive activity to enhance the journey experience.

More at: ✦ Bing Kee Cha Dong✦ Chin Jor Fan Tong✦ Coffee Bunnies✦ en fleur✦ Little Tai Hang - The Corner House✦ The Minimal✦ Psyroot✦ Unar Coffee Company✦

Hira Hira

Hira Hira was co-founded by Zi Ying and Yan Lam in 2015, with members Sharon and Wing Yi. 

The Japanese ‘ヒラヒラ’means ‘astatic’. Hira Hira is a drifting grocery store who likes to find, create and share beautiful things. The team focuses on making Japanese unique toy decorations such as "Paper Craft" and "Paper Figures" to give new life to the abundant resource at hand - "abandoned paper", and transform it into unique and lovable works. Hira Hira also engages in various forms of creativity, including illustration, paper crafts, embroidery, fabric arts and calligraphy.