A Feast of Stories with Rustic Charm

Now as Lai Chi Wo Story Room, the village house is part of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark “Same Roots • Same Origins” project and is jointly presented by the government’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Lions Nature Education Foundation and Lai Chi Wo Pui Shing Tong. The AFCD team who was involved in the planning process recounted another Hakka tradition that takes the form of singing, “In the past, brides were to sing ‘Weeping Marriage Songs’ on their weddings to show their reluctance to leave. Some of them also took the chance to voice their bitter complaints about the predominant patriarchal values in their community. We learnt of this custom first hand from a female villager who had emigrated to the UK. She teared up as she recalled her own experience.”

What the Hakka shared include valuable belongings too such as medical books and pedigree of the clan that are now on display at the Chinachem-funded establishment. Divided into four thematic sections, namely daily lives, wedding rituals, traditional medicine and Hakka folk songs, the exhibition offers visitors a few glimpses of the olden days. Fancy for more personal touch? You are welcome to chat with the staff. Helping villagers reconnect with their own communities is a central idea of the “Same Roots • Same Origins” project. It also aims to conserve the cultural heritage of the geopark communities and to contribute to their sustainable development.



“We have invited natives of Lai Chi Wo to manage the venue and act as docents, hoping that they can share with visitors their private stories."