The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) announced in a statement yesterday that it will host the “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day Carnival 2022” next month.
The statement noted that the “Cultural Heritage Day”, which has been celebrated annually on the second Saturday of June since 2006 according to a directive by the State Council in Beijing, was renamed “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” in 2017 with the aim of enhancing “public awareness of the importance of safeguarding cultural and natural heritage”.
The carnival, the statement underlined, will be held at Mount Fortress Garden and Macau Museum from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on June 11, and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on June 12.
The carnival will feature game booths, activities and demonstrations of making almond cookies and dragon beard candies, as well as stage performances including a lion dance, Wing Chun* and Choy Lee Fut** Martial Arts, among others, the statement added. Participants can also experience various intangible cultural heritage activities under the guidance of instructors, according to the statement, with people of all ages welcome to join for free.
Other activities, the statement pointed out, include the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Story Hawkers” and the “Monotype Family Workshop”, among others. Moreover, the “Porcelain Painting Workshop” will be held at the Mandarin’s House at 3 p.m. during the carnival days, and the thematic talk “Story of Chinese Characters” will be held at 3 p.m. on June 12 at the Macau Museum’s auditorium, where Pui Ching Middle School’s Chinese Cultural Arts Gallery curator Chong Chon Fai will showcase “the meaning and beauty of Chinese characters by introducing their structures and origins with intriguing historical stories”.
Meanwhile, during the two-day carnival, the statement pointed out, the Guia Lighthouse will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., while the Macau Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (no admission after 5:50 p.m.) with free admission. Guided tours are also available at various heritage sites on Saturdays and Sundays.
The statement said that registration is required for all performances and activities, which can be done at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event from 10 a.m. tomorrow, while registrations for the thematic talks are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The statement added that seats for other activities will be chosen by drawing lots if the number of registrants exceeds the maximum number of participants, with successful applicants to be notified via SMS.
Further information can be found at www.icm.gov.mo/chd.
In line with the Health Bureau’s (SSM) COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures, participants must wear a facemask, undergo temperature checks, and present both a valid venue code and health code of the day.
* Wing Chun (詠春) is a concept-based traditional southern Chinese kung fu (wushu) style and a form of self-defence, requiring quick arm movements and strong legs to defeat opponents.
** Choy Lee Fut (蔡李佛) combines the martial arts techniques from various northern and southern Chinese kung-fu systems – the powerful arm and hand techniques from the Shaolin animal forms from the south, combined with the extended, circular movements, twisting body, and agile footwork that characterise northern China’s martial arts.
This poster provided by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) yesterday promotes the upcoming “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day Carnival 2022”.
