Published: 10:50, January 25, 2026
Raising the roof
By Andy Chong
A couple snaps a selfie outside the bamboo structure in Kam Tin, Yuen Long, Jan 17, 2026. After serving as a ceremonial hall for Taoist rituals from Dec 13 to 19, 2025, it was transformed into a theater. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

With roots stretching back to 1685, Kam Tin's once-in-a-decade Jiao Festival has returned, this time with a centerpiece recognized by the Guinness World Records-a temporary bamboo structure soaring over 30 meters tall. 

The festival, one of Hong Kong's oldest religious events, is now where heritage comes alive. With blessing ceremonies, Cantonese Opera shows, and lion dance competitions, it connects past and present, uniting generations in a celebration of shared identity and continuity. 

China Daily's Andy Chong turned his lens on this enduring tradition, offering a glimpse into the powerful community spirit it embodies.

Crowds fill the five-story-tall bamboo theater to enjoy a Cantonese Opera performance on Jan 19, 2026. As a key part of the Jiao Festival, these performances continued through Friday. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
A lion dancer leaps into the air during a competition on Jan 17, 2026, where 28 teams from the local community, the Chinese mainland, and overseas showcased their skills in front of thousands of spectators. A local squad claimed the top honor. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
A panoramic view of the bamboo theater in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. Seventeen workers dedicated two months and used over 30,000 bamboo poles and beams to complete the structure. (DJ CLARK / CHINA DAILY)
A scaffolder works on the bamboo theater on Jan 19, 2026. The technique he uses is an official Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
An elderly man writes free fai chun (a traditional decoration featuring Chinese calligraphy) for festivalgoers on Jan 18, 2026. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

 

A Cantonese opera performer speaks on her mobile phone backstage on Jan 19, 2026. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

 

Children delight in playing traditional Chinese instruments outside the bamboo theater on Jan 17, 2026. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Visitors wait to enter the bamboo theater for Cantonese Opera performances on Jan 19, 2026. Cantonese Opera, Hong Kong's first world intangible cultural heritage, was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Spectators take photos during the lion dance competition on Jan 17, 2026. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)