Guide to the Jiao Festival in Kam Tin
The Kam Tin Jiao Festival, also known as the Taiping Qingjiao (Purest Sacrifice Celebrated for Great Peace), is one of Hong Kong's longest-standing village ritual traditions, now in its 34th edition. This spectacular celebration occurs once every decade, with the most recent edition taking place in 2025. It represents a profound expression of gratitude, ancestral remembrance, and community unity among the indigenous Tang clan of Kam Tin in Hong Kong's New Territories.
Historical Origins
The tradition in Kam Tin dates back to 1685, rooted in a tumultuous period of Hong Kong history. During the Qing Dynasty's Great Clearance (1661-1669), coastal residents were forcibly evacuated to cut off supplies to Ming Dynasty loyalists. When the evacuation order was finally lifted, two Qing officials, Zhou Youde and Wang Lairen, worked to allow villagers to return to their ancestral lands.
The Chou Wong Yi Kung Study Hall in Shui Tau Tsuen was erected in 1685 by the Tang Clan in honor of Zhou Youde and Wang Lairen. The Jiao Festival emerged from this gratitude, also serving to console the spirits of those who perished during the evacuation. This historical event has profoundly shaped the festival's meaning, making it a cornerstone of walled-village identity in the region.
The Tang Clan
The Tang clan is Hong Kong's oldest, largest, and most prominent indigenous lineage. The ancestor of indigenous Tang, Tang Hon Fat, settled his family from Jiangxi to Sham Tin in 973. The clan has maintained a continuous presence in Kam Tin for over 900 years, developing a sophisticated network of walled villages built in the 17th century to protect against pirates and bandits.
The Magnificent Bamboo Structure
The festival's most striking feature is its monumental bamboo theatre. Once every decade, villagers in Kam Tin build a nearly 30-metre (100-foot) tall bamboo structure—large enough to hold almost half the capacity of the Hong Kong Coliseum. This colossal installation serves simultaneously as a ritual altar, opera house, and spiritual axis for the entire celebration.
In 2025, the structure measured 3,897.409 square metres and was achieved by Kam Tin Heung, earning recognition as the world's largest temporary bamboo altar in the Guinness Book of World Records. The structure is built using traditional bamboo scaffolding techniques—the same methods that grace Hong Kong's skyscrapers—adorned with vibrant plaques, flags, and illuminated at night, creating a breathtaking spectacle visible from afar.
The bamboo theatre consists of three main sections: the main altar housing deities, spaces for offerings, and the opera stage. Each deity receives its own temporary lodging (tan or altar), with more altars constructed reflecting greater spiritual merit for the community.
Duration and Scale
The festival is a substantial undertaking that runs for five days and six nights, typically held in December. The 2025 edition ran from December 13-18. The celebration costs approximately HK$20 million (US$2.6 million), funded through community contributions and reflecting the deep commitment of the Tang clan to preserving this tradition.
Rituals and Ceremonies
The Jiao Festival encompasses elaborate Taoist rituals aimed at requesting blessings from Taoist deities and restoring harmony between humans and the spiritual realm. Key ritual elements include:
Opening Ceremonies
Daoist priests perform purification rituals and establish sacred boundaries for the festival space. They symbolically open the "Gate of Heaven" to invite celestial spirits while closing the "Gate of Hell" to banish negative energies.
Vegetarian Period
During the festival, the entire community observes vegetarian eating. No meat is sold in local markets, and communal vegetarian feasts are held, bringing hundreds of participants together.
Deity Worship
Elaborate altars display offerings to numerous Taoist deities. Families and village groups present incense, food, and paper offerings to honor the gods and ancestors.
Ritual Processions
Grand processions wind through the villages, carrying sacred images and banners while accompanied by traditional music and lion dances.
Cantonese Opera Performances
Multiple days of traditional opera performances are staged on the bamboo theatre, entertaining both human spectators and the assembled deities. These performances are considered essential offerings to the gods.
Paper Offerings
Enormous quantities of joss paper, representing money, houses, and goods for the afterlife, are ceremonially burned to provide for ancestors and wandering spirits.
Closing Rituals
The festival concludes with ceremonies thanking the deities, closing the heavenly gates, and dismantling the bamboo structure. The final night often features the most dramatic rituals and performances.
Cultural Significance
The Jiao Festival serves multiple vital functions for the Kam Tin community:
Religious Purpose: It renews the spiritual contract between the living community and the divine realm, seeking blessings for peace, prosperity, and protection for the next decade.
Ancestral Remembrance: The festival honors those who suffered during the Great Clearance and maintains connections with generations of Tang ancestors.
Community Cohesion: Organizing such a massive event requires extensive cooperation, strengthening bonds among Tang clan members across different villages and generations.
Cultural Preservation: In rapidly modernizing Hong Kong, the festival preserves traditional craftsmanship, ritual knowledge, and cultural practices that might otherwise be lost.
Identity Affirmation: For indigenous villagers, the festival reinforces their distinct identity and historical roots in the New Territories, distinguishing them from later immigrants to Hong Kong.
Visiting the Festival
The Kam Tin Jiao Festival attracts thousands of visitors, including both local residents and tourists curious about traditional Chinese culture. While the next festival won't occur until 2035, those interested in experiencing it should note:
Dates and Schedule
2025 Festival Dates: December 13-18, 2025 (five days and six nights)
The festival began on Saturday evening, December 13, and concluded on Friday, December 18. Specific daily highlights included:
Opening Night (December 13): Evening ceremonies to inaugurate the festival and open the "Gate of Heaven"
Days 2-4 (December 14-16): Continuous Taoist rituals, Cantonese opera performances, lion dances, and vegetarian feasts throughout the day and evening
Late Night (December 17/18): The festival's climax occurred late Thursday night (near midnight), featuring the ceremonial burning of giant effigies
Final Day (December 18): Closing ceremonies and dismantling preparations
General Visiting Hours: The festival grounds are accessible throughout the day and evening, with most activities occurring from late morning through late evening. Cantonese opera performances typically run in the afternoons and evenings.
Practical Information
Location: Areas around Chow Wong Yi Kung Study Hall, Shui Tau Village, Kam Tin, Yuen Long
Accessibility: The festival is held in Kam Tin, accessible by public transportation from central Hong Kong. The massive bamboo structure is hard to miss.
Admission: Free entry to most areas and performances
Respect: Visitors should dress modestly and behave respectfully, as this is a genuine religious ceremony, not merely a tourist attraction.
Photography: Photography is generally permitted, but ask permission before photographing individuals, especially during solemn ritual moments.
Vegetarian Observance: Out of respect, visitors are encouraged to observe the vegetarian diet during their visit to the festival grounds.
Timing: Different rituals occur throughout the five days, with the opening and closing ceremonies being particularly significant. The burning of giant effigies late Thursday night represents one of the most dramatic moments of the entire festival.
The Future of the Festival
Despite Hong Kong's rapid urbanization and the pressures of modern life, the Tang clan remains committed to continuing this tradition. The younger generation increasingly participates, learning the complex rituals and organizational skills needed to stage the festival. The 2025 edition demonstrated that this ancient tradition remains vibrant and meaningful, adapting to contemporary circumstances while maintaining its essential character.
The Jiao Festival stands as a testament to the enduring strength of cultural traditions and the importance of community bonds. It reminds us that even in one of the world's most modern cities, ancient rituals continue to provide meaning, connection, and spiritual sustenance to those who practice them.
The Kam Tin Jiao Festival is far more than a colorful spectacle—it is a living tradition that bridges centuries, connecting the present-day Tang clan with their ancestors and with the divine forces they believe watch over their community. Occurring once every decade, it represents an extraordinary investment of time, money, and devotion, reflecting values that transcend the materialistic concerns of modern urban life. For those fortunate enough to witness it, the festival offers a rare glimpse into the spiritual and cultural depths of Hong Kong's indigenous heritage.
