How to Explore Traditional Culture in Hong Kong

Scratch beneath Hong Kong’s neon light veneer to find a city teeming with ancient traditions, fascinating rituals and deeply held beliefs. From calligraphy to kung fu, here’s how to explore a more spiritual side of the Fragrant Harbour.

Far more than just pen to paper, calligraphy is considered to be one of China’s most important visual arts. Fancy yourself a dab hand with the old sable brush? Hong Kong’s renowned calligraphy master Wah Gor leads workshops in Kowloon, some of which are open to non-Chinese speakers too.

Find your inner Bruce Lee with a kung fu class at International WingTsun, a martial arts school founded by local Grandmaster Leung Ting in 1967, the last closed-door student of the legendary Ip Man. Not to be confused with the traditional Wing Chun method, Leung created his own form of teaching called WingTsun, which emphasises self-defence using physics, human anatomy and biomechanics to strengthen your body and mind. Hi-YAH!

History buffs can get lost in Hong Kong’s rich heritage with local historian and writer Jason Wordie, a walking encyclopedia of juicy city knowledge. You pick the neighbourhood (Wordie covers everywhere from Mong Kok to Sham Shui Po) and he’ll do the rest. For the full day package, opt for the New Territories jaunt which offers a peek at the old walled village of San Wai and its Qing dynasty-era mansions.

Pins in that voodoo doll not doing the trick? Then try a Petty Person Beating, which is – happily – not as violent as it sounds. Venture under the Ngo Keng Kiu flyover in Causeway Bay, considered to be a feng shui hotspot for dispelling evil, and simply cross one of sage old lady’s palms with Hong Kong dollars. Your chosen ‘beater’ will then light some incense, fashion a paper tiger and beat said ‘petty person’ with her shoe. This ritual is thought to be especially powerful on 5th or 6th March, or ‘Jingzhe’, the 3rd of the 24 solar terms.

For more curious sorcery, you should also head towards the northernmost part of Jordan’s Temple Street Night Market, a packed thoroughfare that’s famed not only for its local delicacies but its fortune-teller booths too. These spiritual soothsayers claim to be able to divine your future by looking at your hands, or even ears, and using everything from Chinese astrology to real live birds. Look for any tents brandishing signage in English for a reading you can understand!

Wah Gor / 12/F / Long Ma Bldg / 552 Nathan Rd / Kowloon / +852 2875 8132 / wahgor.hk

International WingTsun / 1/F / Tang Mansion / 438 Nathan Rd / Kowloon / +852 2771 2048 / leungting.com

Jason Wordie / +852 9805 5501 / jasonwordie.com

Petty Person Beating / cnr Hennessy Rd & Canal Rd / Causeway Bay

Temple St Night Market / Temple St / Kowloon / after sunset / temple-street-night-market.hk