Visitors join a photography exhibition during Le French May Arts Festival in Hong Kong.

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In Hong Kong, narrow alleys are a font for undiscovered riches. Visitors wandering in the alleys can discover many delicious examples of local food, creative art galleries and cafes. Living in such a small place, Hong Kong artists still have infinite artistic space and imagination. The spirit of culture and art endows this city with endless vitality.

Liao Weitang, a young Hong Kong writer, once said that Hong Kong is more than a shopping paradise and there is a Bohemian spirit in this city. “Most people think that Hong Kong is a place for tourism and shopping, but I would like to show people another side of Hong Kong.”

The Hong Kong SAR government attaches importance to culture and art, and various local and international art events run throughout the entire year. Various theater and musical events are held in Hong Kong every November and December. It’s a good time for visitors to experience Hong Kong’s unique artistic environment. In terms of performances, there is the Le French May Arts Festival, which has established positive reputations overseas, and the Chinese Opera Festival brings together Kunqu Opera and Cantonese Opera masters every year and showcases rich traditional culture. And in terms of exhibitions, the Hong Kong Book Fair, the largest book fair in Asia, has become a driving force to promote local people’s reading passion.

In recent years, the Hong Kong Repertory Theater, the Hong Kong Fringe Club and Windmill Grass Theater’s distinct orientation and high-quality performances have made Hong Kong plays earn a positive reputation in the field of culture and art. Liang Zuyao, the founder of the Windmill Grass Theater, said that there are many new forces that have been born within Hong Kong’s visual arts and drama community. Avant-garde art has gradually prevailed, reflecting Hong Kong’s cultural diversity and inclusiveness.

Now, Hong Kong’s music industry may have been gradually forgotten by many people, but underground bands have rented industrial factory buildings and refurbished them as their studios. There are many bands that gather to perform in the old industrial areas of Kwun Tong and Kwai Fong. Hong Kong’s young people have become their faithful fans.