A series of sculpture exhibitions depicting characters created by late novelist Louis Cha Leung-yung, also known by his pen name Jin Yong, has been expanded to include a third venue – at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on Wednesday.

A statue of Chen Jinnan, a charming martial arts master from The Deer and the Cauldron, was unveiled by several guests, including the sculptor Ren Zhe, at a ceremony on Wednesday morning.

IN PICTURES: Standing tall

The display at the cruise terminal is part of a wider sculpture exhibition, titled “A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial, sculpted by Ren Zhe” to commemorate Cha, who is credited for broadening the appeal of wuxia, or martial arts fiction, through his 15 fictional titles.

Sculptor Ren Zhe said he hopes to pass on the beauty and power of human nature contained in Cha’s works to everyone

At the unveiling ceremony, Ren said he was very happy to see that the exhibition has generated such a great response.

He said the popularity of Cha’s works comes from their reflection of humanity and spirits that everyone strives to achieve.

Since the exhibition’s openings at Edinburgh Place on March 15 and the subsequent exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on March 16, it has attracted more than 140,000 visitors from home and aboard, according to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

Ren said as a cultural disseminator he hopes to pass on the beauty and power of human nature contained in Cha’s works to everyone.

Vivian Sum Fong-kwang, commissioner for tourism of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, said the sculpture exhibition has attracted many tourists over the past two months, adding that visitors have also praised Ren’s statues.

She said the extension of the exhibition highlights the cruise terminal’s new function - a site that can be rented by various groups and organizers to conduct diverse programs.

The display also marks the first collaboration between stakeholders in Kai Tak and the cultural industry, Sum noted, adding that it will inspire many more potential activities in the future.

Mark Hahn, spokesperson for Park Peninsula — a commercial-cum-residential development project at the Kai Tak waterfront — said the runway of the former Kai Tak airport has been transformed over the past two to three years.

Kai Tak Sports Park, which is slated to open early next year, will allow the district to host more sports and entertainment events, he added.

The sculpture exhibition of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum will run through Oct 7.

More Cha’s commemorative events will be staged, including lectures at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on Saturday and July 6, and thematic exhibitions of his book at public libraries across the city.

Cha was born in Haining, Zhejiang province in 1924. He moved to Hong Kong in 1948 and spent most of his live in the city, until he died in 2018, at the age of 94.

Contact the writer at fangxue@chinadailyhk.com