Tai O Heritage Hotel marked the Chinese New Year with a series of community-focused events, including its inaugural Charity Day, a public art installation, and a traditional boat parade, to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

On Feb 24, the hotel, in partnership with the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), hosted over 180 guests from underprivileged families for its first-ever charity day. The celebration began with uplifting drum beats and a lion dance performed by students from Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College, infused with youthful energy to highlight the importance of conserving intangible cultural heritage. Participants were also invited to write their wishes on blessing cards.

The hotel continued its community engagement by presenting a public art installation entitled “Hundredfold Blessings.” The piece features a collection of 188 wooden blessing boards, each uniquely hand-painted by members of the Tai O community and volunteers. Adorned with calligraphy of the character “fuk” (福, meaning “fortune”) in both traditional and creative styles, the boards extend heartfelt wishes for good fortune.

Inspired by local traditions, the hotel also partnered with the Tai O Cultural Association and villagers to organize the first Chinese New Year boat parade. The event aimed to extend blessings to the neighborhood while showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of Hong Kong’s fishing village.

Daryl Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation, expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort. “We are thankful for the opportunity to showcase the cultural significance of Tai O Heritage Hotel and the Tai O community, and would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the local community and our partners for their tremendous support throughout this remarkable journey,” he said.

Ng also welcomed the government’s pilot scheme to foster “urban-rural integration,” which aligns with the hotel's vision of promoting Tai O through cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.

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The Tai O Heritage Hotel, a UNESCO-awarded establishment, is a not-for-profit social enterprise operated by the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation. Housed in a revitalized 1902 police station, the hotel promotes cultural heritage through sustainable tourism and educational initiatives. Since opening in 2012, it has welcomed over 2 million guests from Hong Kong and overseas.