The third PolyU Chinese Culture Festival to launch on 24 March, tracing the footprints of six literary masters in Hong Kong and celebrating a century of cultural heritage

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), with staunch support from various sectors of the community, successfully organised its annual Chinese Culture Festival over the past two years, receiving an enthusiastic response and widespread acclaim. Building on this success, the University will launch the “Third PolyU Chinese Culture Festival” next Tuesday (24 March). The festival’s inaugural event, titled A Window onto Vast Vistas: Master Writers’ Hong Kong Traces, is co-organised with the National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature.

Through an exhibition of rare archival materials, immersive reconstructions of literary study rooms, and a series of lectures and workshops, the programme invites the public to open a window onto literature and engage in a cross-temporal cultural dialogue with master writers. The initiative aims to nurture students’ and the wider community’s sense of national identity and cultural confidence, as well as to strengthen their sense of pride and belonging.

The exhibition highlights six prominent modern Chinese writers, namely Lu Xun, Xiao Hong, Mao Dun, Ba Jin, Liang Yusheng and Jin Yong, and features their precious manuscripts, letters and other archival materials. The exhibition also features specially reconstructed study rooms of Ba Jin and Mao Dun, faithfully recreating the ambience of their original study rooms. Through this immersive experience, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation of the literary masters’ footprints in the city and their intellectual spirit. The exhibition further seeks to strengthen the emotional connection between the public and the Nation’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

As one of the University’s signature annual cultural events and a key activity for whole-person education, this year’s PolyU Chinese Culture Festival brings together the preservation of literary classics and contemporary innovation. In addition to the core exhibition, a series of lectures, a reading session and workshops centred on Lu Xun, Xiao Hong and Jin Yong will be organised. Two public lectures on the convergence of technology and literature will explore the development of artificial intelligence writing and literary innovation, extending the dialogue from classical literary traditions to the challenges posed by emerging technologies, and inspiring a new generation of creators to reflect on the transmission of literary traditions in a rapidly evolving era.

The festival will also feature a screening of Da Xia Gui Lai (《大俠歸來》, literately “The Hero’s Return”), an episode from the documentary series Da Xia Jin Yong (《大俠金庸》, literately “The Great Wuxia Hero Jin Yong”), premiered in 2025 by the China Media Group after three years of production. Ms Duan Xin, the documentary’s Chief Director, will share insights into the creative process, offering a multi-dimensional portrayal of Jin Yong’s patriotism, cultural vision and personal charisma.

All activities of the third PolyU Chinese Culture Festival are offered free of charge. PolyU students, staff and alumni, as well as secondary students and members of the public, are welcome to participate. For programme details and registration information, please visit the event website: https://polyu.me/3PaMVGt.

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