PolyU presents “Hakka Heritage in the Bay Area: Shaping a Shared Future” — Greater Bay Area Hakka Cultural Joint Showcase; Diverse array of activities showcases Hakka culture, fostering cultural exchange across the Greater Bay Area

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will hold a two-week “Hakka Heritage in the Bay Area: Shaping a Shared Future” — Greater Bay Area Hakka Cultural Joint Showcase (the Showcase) starting 1 October 2026. Through a series of activities including an exhibition, dance drama, forum and intangible cultural heritage workshops, the Showcase will present the deep-rooted connections between Hakka culture and Hong Kong, while promoting cultural exchange, appreciation of heritage and innovation across the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

As a highlight of the third PolyU Chinese Culture Festival, the Showcase is generously supported and co-organised by the Overseas Friendship Associations of Huizhou, Heyuan, Meizhou and Shaoguan. The launch ceremony will be held on the morning of 1 October at the PolyU Lam Tai Fai Amphitheatre, unveiling a series of exciting activities. First to take the stage will be the “Exhibition on the History, Culture, and Prominent Figures of Hakka in the Greater Bay Area”, which will run from 1 to 16 October. The exhibition introduces Hakka culture in the GBA, showcasing the profound shared cultural heritage of the four cities of Huizhou, Shaoguan, Heyuan and Meizhou, highlighting the “common origin of the four prefectures”, with a special focus on “Guangdong-Hong Kong solidarity” and “connecting overseas Chinese worldwide”. It also features reproductions of a number of precious overseas remittance letters and other historical materials relating to Hakka communities across the Strait and overseas, bearing witness to the deep affection of the Hakka people for their homeland. At noon, the original dance drama “1942 Through the Blockade Line”, performed by the Huizhou Song and Dance Theatre, will also be staged, presenting on stage the rescue operation undertaken during the period of the Japanese occupation that renowned literary figure Mao Dun hailed as the greatest endeavour in the War of Resistance, rescuing hundreds of cultural figures and patriots from Hong Kong.

On 2 October, PolyU will also host a high-level forum on GBA Hakka culture, at which Professor XIAO Wenping, Dean of the Hakka Culture Research Institute at Jiaying University, and Dr LAU Kai Yiu, Lecturer of the PolyU Department of Chinese History and Culture, will introduce the audience to the depth and heritage of Hakka culture. In addition, to allow participants to experience the unique charm of Hakka culture first-hand, intangible cultural heritage workshops will be held on 6, 7, 14 and 15 October, covering “Dragon Style Martial Arts”, “String Puppetry”, “Traditional Zhongxin Lantern Craft” and “Yao Embroidery”, conveying the beauty of intangible cultural heritage through interactive experiences.

The PolyU Chinese Culture Festival is a major annual event of the University, promoting Chinese culture through a rich and diverse array of activities. It aims to cultivate a sense of national sentiment and cultural confidence among PolyU staff, students and the public, and to strengthen a sense of national identity, pride and belonging.

“Hakka Heritage in the Bay Area: Shaping a Shared Future” — Greater Bay Area Hakka Cultural Joint Showcase is free of charge. PolyU students, staff, alumni and members of the public are welcome. For details: https://polyu.me/4rnRwUz.

Programme introduction and online ticket registration for the dance drama “1942 Through the Blockade Line” (for public): https://polyu.me/4Asrtjl. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.


The high-level forum on GBA Hakka culture will be held on 2 October, featuring Professor Xiao Wenping, Dean of the Hakka Culture Research Institute at Jiaying University (left), and Dr Lau Kai Yiu, Lecturer at PolyU’s Department of Chinese History and Culture (right), as speakers.