- About Us
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Hong Kong ICH
- What is ICH
- ICH Inventory of Hong Kong
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Representative List
- First Representative List of the ICH Inventory
- Spring and Autumn Ancestral Worship of Clans
- Bamboo Theatre Building Technique
- Cantonese Opera
- Technique of Making Hong Kong Cheongsam § Kwan Kwa Wedding Costume
- Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
- The Arts of the Guqin (The Craft of Qin Making)
- Herbal Tea
- Hong Kong-style Milk Tea Making Technique
- Nanyin (Southern Tunes)
- Paper Crafting Technique
- Mid-Autumn Festival - The Pok Fu Lam Fire Dragon Dance
- Taoist Ritual Music
- Sek Pun (Basin Feast)
- Mid-Autumn Festival – The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
- Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade
- Tin Hau Festival in Hong Kong§
- Hakka Unicorn Dance in Hang Hau in Sai Kung
- Wong Tai Sin Belief and Customs
- Yu Lan Festival of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community
- Taoist Ritual Tradition of the Zhengyi School
- The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong The Representative List
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Exhibitions and Events
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Exhibitions
- Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- ''Celebrating National Day — Auspicious Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Greater Bay Area'' Exhibition
- Guo Nian: Exhibition of the Spring Festival
- "Cultured Bay Area, Brilliant ICH — 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Intangible Cultural Heritage Show" Exhibition
- "Panda Flair Waterfront Cultural Heritage Exploration" Exhibition
- Traces of Human Touch — Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition
- Lost and Sound Exhibition Series I : Hong Kong Festivals and Traditional Craftsmanship
- Lost and Sound Exhibition Series II : Ordinary ∙ Extraordinary
- Lost and Sound Exhibition Series III : Sam Tung Uk and Traditional Village Culture
- Public Programmes
- Education Programmes
- Guided Tour Services
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Past Exhibitions
- 2024 "To Pass On" Series: Know more about Intangible Cultural Heritage
- 2024 Course on Hong Kong Traditional Paper Crafting Arts Series 2 - Exhibition on Paper Crafted Qilin of Punti Wai Tau
- 2024 Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China - Sik Sik Yuen Intangible Cultural Heritage Lantern Festival
- 2024 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- 2024 Exhibition on Student Work of the "Traditional Craftsmanship.Transmission of Paper Crafting Technique"– Rabbit Lanterns
- 2024 Discover Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Academy of Intangible Cultural Heritage
- 2024 ICH Internship – ICH Exhibition in Southern District
- 2024 South China Book Festival: Soaring Creativity - Hong Kong Pavilion
- 2024 "Intangible Cultural Heritage Illuminates Life" Intangible Cultural Heritage Cultural Exchange Showcase
- 2024 Exhibition for Promotion of Culture and Tourism under the Series of Hong Kong-Guangxi Cultural Exchange Activities
- 2024 "Taste of Intangible Cultural Heritage" Roving Exhibition
- 2024 Course on Hong Kong Traditional Paper Crafting Arts Series 2 - Exhibition on Fa Pau Crafting Technique
- 2024 Dancing Dragon with Lanterns to Greet the New Year
- 2024 "Taste of Intangible Cultural Heritage" Roving Exhibition
- 2024 A Journey into the Past and Present - Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition
- 2023 Hong Kong Talents and Arts
- 2023 Hong Kong Week @Bangkok
- 2023 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making Exhibition
- 2023 Exhibition on "Paper Crafting Technique in Hong Kong: History, Transmission and Innovation"
- 2023 Genesis and Spirit - Tea for Harmony.Yaji Cultural Salon : Exhibition of the Tea Culture of Zhejiang
- 2023 Delights of ICH - Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Video Show
- 2023 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- 2022 Student Work of the 'Traditional Craftsmanship.Transmission of Paper Crafting Technique' Workshop
- 2021 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong' Exhibition
- 2021 Genesis and Spirit – Online Programmes on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
- 2021 'The Jiao Festival of the Hing Chun Yeuk, Sha Tau Kok' Exhibition
- 2020 'Folk Festival in These Days ...' Exhibition
- 2020 'The Oral Legacies Series II: The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong' Exhibition
- 2019 'The Oral Legacies ─ Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong' Exhibition
- 2019 Inheritance – The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Japan Exhibition
- 2019 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- 2019 Genesis and Spirit – Enchanting Shandong ‧ An Exhibition on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Shandong
- 2019 Hong Kong Flower Show: Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Paper Crafting
- 2019 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Paper Crafting
- 2019 'The Oral Legacies: Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region' Exhibition Month
- 2018 An Artist's Impression of HKICH
- 2018 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Paper Crafting
- 2018 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Paper Crafting
- 2017 The Oral Legacies: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong Exhibition
- 2017 The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- 2017 Genesis and Spirit: Recalling Jiangnan – An Exhibition on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Zhejiang
- 2017 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- 2016 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- 2016 300 Years of Hakka Kung Fu: Digital Vision of its Legacy and Future
- 2016 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage - Exhibition on 'Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making'
- 2016 Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage - 'Paper-crafting Technique on Southern Dragon' Exhibition
- 2015 Exhibition and Talks on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Gansu
- 2014 Indigenous Hong Kong - An Exhibition on our Intangible Cultural Traditions
- 2014 The Legend of Silk and Wood: A Hong Kong Qin Story
- 2013 Genesis and Spirit: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Guizhou Exhibition
- 2012 The Greatest Skills of Shu : Intangible Cultural Heritage of Sichuan Exhibition
- 2011 Genesis and Spirit: Intangible Cultural Heritage of China Exhibition
- 2011 Application for Inscription on the Third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Hong Kong Items
- 2010 Golden Dragon of Ma Tin Tsuen, Yuen Long
- 2009 Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China
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Past Events
- 2025 Tradition x Contemporary: Steamer Making Technique and Bamboo Art
- 2025 Meet the Masters
- 2024 HK Muse Fest 2024 - "Super ICH" Fun Day
- 2024 HK Muse Fest 2024 - Fun@Museum Carnival
- 2024 Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China - Sik Sik Yuen Intangible Cultural Heritage Lantern Festival
- 2024 ICH Domain
- 2024 Arts or Action, Why Not Both? ICH Extraordinary: Chinese Martial Arts and Films
- 2024 Special Programme for Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade
- 2024 ICH June
- 2024 "ICH Craftsman Spirit" Cultural and Natural Heritage Day
- 2024 Education Programmes - Traces of Human Touch
- 2024 Hakka Dialect Beginner Course
- 2024 "Mobile ICH" School Programme
- 2024 "Mobile ICH" Public Programme
- 2024 Fun in ICH
- 2024 The Hong Kong Tin Hau Festival Conference
- 2024 Meet the Masters
- 2023 National Experience Exchange Activity on "Intangible Cultural Heritage in Communities"
- 2023 "ICH in Reach" Fun Days
- 2023 Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Week and Foshan Qiuse Parade
- 2023 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Intangible Cultural Heritage Exchange Conference
- 2023 Presentation Ceremony of Commemorative Plaques for Representative Items of National ICH
- 2023 Design District Hong Kong
- 2023 Wonder of Wonder: Jinan University Study Tour of Hong Kong and Macau
- 2023 Life Festival Dongguan
- 2023 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day
- 2023 Special Programme for Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade
- 2023 'Meet the Masters!' Series
- 2023 Fun in ICH' Series
- 2022 Meet the Masters
- 2022 Muse Fest HK — 'Joy with ICH' Fun Days
- 2022 Singing Nanyin as We Go
- 2022 Intangible Cultural Heritage Seminar – Hong Kong Cheongsam Making Technique
- 2022 'Fun in ICH' Series
- 2021 Muse Fest HK — Making Joy: ICH Fun Day
- 2021 'Fun in ICH' Series
- 2021 ICH @ Schools Programme Series
- 2020 'Fun in ICH' Series
- 2020 ICH Talk Series: Migrants and Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage
- 2019 'Fun in ICH' Series
- 2019 ICH Talk: The Aesthetics and Sewing Craft of Cheongsam for Men and Ladies
- 2019 "Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade" Talk
- 2019 ICH Ambassadors Training Course – Young Eyes on ICH
- 2018 'Fun in ICH' Series
- 2018 ICH Ambassadors Training Course – Young Eyes on ICH
- 2018 "Fun in ICH" Fun Day
- 2018 "Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade" Field Trip
- 2018 The 2nd 'ICH Day @ Hang Hau'
- 2018 Hong Kong Flower Show: Appreciating Intangible Cultural Heritage in the World of Flowers
- 2018 'The Oral Legacies Series II: The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong' Exhibition Fringe Activities
- 2018 ICH Fun Day
- 2017 Narrative Singing.New Interpretation of Nanyin
- 2017 'Take a Closer Look at ICH' Fun Day cum Launching of 'ICH Legacy: Passing on with Passions' Video
- 2017 ICH Mission – Lectures on Craftsmanship of Tai Hang Fire Dragon
- 2017 The Secret Tea Recipe of 'Kamcha King' – Demonstration x Tasting x Hands-on learning
- 2017 "Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade" Field Trip
- 2017 ICH Day @ Hang Hau
- 2017 'ICH Mission – I wanna be an ICH Bearer' Series – Mastering the ABCs of the Ten Local ICHs
- 2017 Talk on 'Cheung Chau Jiao Festival' and Behind-the-Scene Look of the Piu Sik Floats
- 2017 ICH @ New Year
- 2016 'ICH Mission – I wanna be an ICH Bearer' Series
- 2016 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Mart
- 2016 ICH Mission – Lectures on Craftsmanship of Tai Hang Fire Dragon
- 2016 Yu Lan @ Every District – Talks on the Yu Lan Festival Tradition
- 2016 CH Fun @ Summer Time
- 2016 ICH Fun @ Sam Tung Uk
- 2016 "Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade" Talk
- 2016 Talk on 'Chenug Chau Jiao Festival' and Behind-the-Scene Look of the Piu Sik Floats
- 2015 Talk and Demonstration on the Craftmanship of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon
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Exhibitions
- Resources
- Funding Scheme
- Download
- ICH Inventory of Hong Kong
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Exhibitions
- Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage – Exhibition on Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making
- ''Celebrating National Day — Auspicious Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Greater Bay Area'' Exhibition
- Guo Nian: Exhibition of the Spring Festival
- "Cultured Bay Area, Brilliant ICH — 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Intangible Cultural Heritage Show" Exhibition
- "Panda Flair Waterfront Cultural Heritage Exploration" Exhibition
- Traces of Human Touch — Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition
- Lost and Sound Exhibition Series I : Hong Kong Festivals and Traditional Craftsmanship
- Lost and Sound Exhibition Series II : Ordinary ∙ Extraordinary
- Lost and Sound Exhibition Series III : Sam Tung Uk and Traditional Village Culture
- Public Programmes
- Education Programmes
- Educational Resources
- ICH Online
- Research and Publications
- Research and Publications

Intangible Cultural Heritage
Inventory of Hong Kong
Background
According to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (the Convention), each State Party has to identify and define the various elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) present in its territory, with the participation of communities, groups and relevant non-governmental organisations, to draw up ICH inventories as the basis for the safeguarding of ICH. The first ICH Inventory of Hong Kong was promulgated by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Government of the HKSAR) in June 2014.
Updating of the ICH Inventory
Article 12 of the Convention stipulates that "to ensure identification with a view to safeguarding, each State Party shall draw up, in a manner geared to its own situation, one or more inventories of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory. These inventories shall be regularly updated." Based on the survey and research findings, the ICH Advisory Committee recommended 34 proposed items for the ICH Inventory. The Government of the HKSAR collected views from the public on the items concerned from 27 August to 23 September 2024.
After considering all views received, the ICH Advisory Committee finally recommended the inclusion of the 34 items in the ICH Inventory. The 34 items have been reorganised as 27 items , increasing the number of items on the ICH Inventory from 480 to 507. The updated list was accepted by the Government of the HKSAR and promulgated in December 2024.
The distribution of the 507 items included in the ICH Inventory of Hong Kong under the five domains of the Convention is set out below:
Domain |
Major Items |
|
|
---|---|---|---|
Oral traditions and expressions | 10 | 14 | 21 |
Performing arts | 22 | 18 | 35 |
Social practices, rituals and festive events | 79 | 264 | 310 |
Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe | 4 | 4 | 7 |
Traditional craftsmanship | 105 | 42 | 134 |
Total * | 220 | 342 | 507 |
( * The sub-total and total figures are the numbers excluding the double-counted major items which carry sub-items.)
If you would like to report any events and items which you consider are of significant value, please fill in the Reporting Form for Possible Inscription onto the ICH Inventory of Hong Kong and send it back to us by e-mail, mail or in person.
- the item is transmitted from generation to generation within particular groups or areas, reflecting its history and development in Hong Kong;
- the item facilitates community relations and provides a sense of identity and continuity in the community; and
- the item is compatible with international human rights instruments.
Past ICH Inventory
First Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory of Hong Kong (June 2014)
Press Release
First Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory of Hong Kong announced today (June 2014)