[It's Hong Kong] Spring Issue 2026

In this 21st century AI era, do we still need handicrafts? In Hong Kong, over 100 traditional crafts are now listed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory, encompassing bamboo artistry, wood carving, Guangcai porcelain production, seal engraving, mahjong tile carving, birdcage making, umbrella crafting, gold artistry, white ironwork, bamboo steamers, wooden boats, dragon boats, opera stages, and neon signs... These represent the rich and diverse craftsmanship that once thrived in this city. Today, with the proliferation of cheap, mass-produced items from around the world in online and physical stores, why would people pay a premium for handcrafted items that take longer to create? In our current world, where local distinctiveness is increasingly blurred by globalization, and AI simultaneously brings unexpected possibilities and a sense of unease, how will our hands and hearts adapt? If we were to rediscover, redefine, and recreate, could certain crafts help us gain a deeper understanding of this city and our own identities, even connecting us with our historical and cultural heritage? Spring Issue 2026, 308 pages, a special expanded edition. Comes with a "Hong Kong Traditional Goods" poster. Let's get hands-on! —— Complimentary Gift: 📜 "Hong Kong Traditional Goods" Poster In the past, most daily necessities were made by hand from natural materials such as bamboo, grass, wood, rattan, straw, feathers, and copper. This poster showcases nearly 40 traditional "mountain goods" of various uses. Each vintage item is a testament to human skill and a record of how people once lived. Highlights of This Issue: REcollect// Crafts in Every Trade, A Handcrafted Life Bamboo artistry, wood carving, Guangcai porcelain, seal engraving, hand-carved mahjong tiles, birdcages, umbrellas, cotton batting, traditional face threading, gold artistry, white ironwork, bamboo steamers, wooden boats, dragon boats, opera stages, and neon signs... Many of these traditional crafts and artisanal skills have existed since the early days of Hong Kong's opening in the 19th century. REminiscence// The Goldsmith's Golden Age The gold-smithing industry once flourished locally, with the number of gold shops multiplying alongside Hong Kong's economic boom. When, where, and how did this "golden age" begin? How has the 90-year-old Chen Kwong Kee Jewellery store on Queen's Road Central witnessed these changes? REmember// An Era of Vintage Objects – Tai O & Kuk Po Tai O and Kuk Po preserve the living imprints of the Shui people and Hakka people, respectively. Fishing nets, sampans, farming tools, and tableware that encapsulate generations of life wisdom not only exude the beauty of craftsmanship but also bear witness to the hardships of the Tai O people who lived by the sea, and the labor of the Kuk Po Hakka people who reclaimed land from the sea. REtrace// Pottery Homeland – Tai Po Ceramics Village & Castle Peak Kiln Tai Po Ceramics Village had a complete production line as early as the Ming Dynasty and was the only kiln site in the region producing blue and white porcelain. The "HK Crafts Pottery Kiln" in Tuen Mun continued the ceramic techniques of Shiwan in Guangzhou and still preserves Hong Kong's only long, tunnel-shaped wood-fired kiln (Dragon Kiln). These two places also reveal very different Hong Kong stories. REconstruct// The Multifaceted World of Hong Kong Scaffolding Opera stages are becoming a rarity due to the scaling down of traditional festivals, and construction scaffolding is gradually being replaced by metal frames. Numerous Hong Kong photographers have documented local bamboo scaffolding craftsmanship from various angles, while also showcasing the diverse life scenes beneath these structures. REimagine// HK Bamboo Festival Millennial Hong Kong designer Wincy Kung has used her imagination to construct a large-scale "Hong Kong Bamboo Art Festival," transforming Central into a vibrant and colorful bamboo stage. The festival also integrates Hong Kong's food culture, street life, and various intangible cultural heritage elements. REconnect// Craft and Art, Master and Apprentice Hong Kong boasts a diverse range of handicrafts, but intergenerational inheritance faces numerous challenges. "Pia You Living Art," aiming to revitalize and perpetuate traditional crafts, has chosen to connect different generations through an apprenticeship system, facilitating skill transfer while reinterpreting craftsmanship. REmade// A New Chapter in Craftsmanship – Hong Kong Earthen Bricks & Wooden Furniture Designer Leung Hong-kan's "Hong Kong Earthen Bricks" project starts with soil, studying its composition and even recycling waste soil to regenerate usable clay, steering local ceramic craftsmanship towards sustainability. Ong Wing-yan, a new-generation carpenter, transitioned from the advertising industry to woodworking, establishing the wooden furniture brand "MADE," hoping to keep a light for Hong Kong's woodworking craft. REdraw// Hand-Drawn Kam Tin Grand Opera Stage Two architects from the "Explore Ancient Hong Kong" page attempt to hand-draw the cross-section and longitudinal section of the giant opera stage in Kam Tin village, aiming to deeply understand bamboo scaffolding architecture for future reference. REcreate// Bamboo Pavilion Spirit on Yim Tin Tsai The bamboo pavilion standing by the sea on Yim Tin Tsai in Sai Kung uses eco-friendly bamboo as its material. Its design, structure, and construction methods differ from the public's impression of opera stages or construction scaffolding, becoming a medium that connects people with nature and with each other's souls. ISBN: 978-988-71502-0-6 Price: HK$180 Printed and Produced in: Hong Kong Publication Date: Late March -- Exclusive Offer for Online Store: Free Gift: "Traditional Gold Shop Receipt" Postcard (one of a random selection) Queen's Road Central in the Central and Sheung Wan districts, and Shanghai Street in Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei, were once areas lined with traditional gold shops, marking the golden age of Hong Kong's gold-smithing craft. These vintage receipts are meticulously and beautifully printed, also documenting the operational methods of the industry. (Collection provided by John Wu)