Hong Kong, one of the world’s international financial centers, is a city of miracles. In just 150 years, it has been transformed from a remote fishing village into a renowned metropolis that embraces the aesthetics of East and West, the imperial age of the 19th century and the postmodernism of the digital age. Thanks to its geographical location, the city has demonstrated immense cultural inclusiveness, sometimes at the expense of its cultural identities, to accommodate the seemingly incompatible cultural activities, from Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s giant rubber ducks in Victoria Harbour to billboard-sized flower plaques dedicated to Taoist deities.

Hong Kong was reunited with the motherland in 1997 as the nation’s first special administrative region under the “one country, two systems” framework. The lifestyles in Hong Kong are urban-centric and cosmopolitan, with a highly educated population and a workaholic culture for business success. With 92 percent of its population being ethnic Chinese, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is very much a Chinese city where traditional Chinese culture, etiquette, customs and festivals are deeply rooted in the vibrancy of the city’s life.

Geographically and culturally, the SAR is a nexus “where East meets West”, a common slogan to attract tourists from all over the world. The bilingual city, with traffic signs and billboards printed in both Chinese and English, makes it easy for everyone, from Western expats to visitors from the north. While traditional Chinese couplets on red paper, or fai chuns, on the door frames remind visitors of the glorious past of imperial China, the porcelain statue of Tudigong, or the God of Land, sitting beside the door is deemed a “must” for many shop owners, including those selling information technology products, to pursue their business success in the modern era.

The ever-growing market for the performing arts in the GBA will enhance the quality of Hong Kong’s arts and cultural products. This will achieve the goal of building the GBA into a high-quality living circle where people can work and travel efficiently and conveniently between cities

As the two giant ducks floated their way across Hong Kong’s shores, the most eye-catching scenery was the duo parading on Victoria Harbour with the skyscraper-filled skyline as a landmark backdrop. The “Happy Go Ducky’s” trip to Hong Kong was warmly received by locals, who braved the sizzling hot weather to take pictures of their “double happiness”. Few people may have noticed that Victoria Harbour’s skyline, the landmark backdrop, also shows influences of the feng shui tradition. Feng shui, or the Chinese geomancy, is an ancient practice that claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surroundings. These elements come together and inspire various architectural designs in Hong Kong, making the harbor skyline a masterpiece of harmony and modernity. It is said that ancient tradition helps people who work and live in these buildings to enjoy healthy lives.

In recent decades, the Pearl River Delta has experienced the most rapid urban expansion in human history, transforming a predominantly agricultural region into the world’s “largest contiguous city cluster”, now known as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

With a history of multiculturalism, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced a Culture and Tourism Development Plan to develop the GBA into a cultural exchange hub for the cultures of the East and the West and a world-class tourism destination, helping to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international cultural metropolis and an international tourism hub.

The plan will promote development, cultural exchanges and communications in the GBA, and create opportunities for arts and cultural organizations in the region to make joint efforts to advance to the world market.

The ever-growing market for the performing arts in the GBA will enhance the quality of Hong Kong’s arts and cultural products. This will achieve the goal of building the GBA into a high-quality living circle where people can work and travel efficiently and conveniently between cities. Hong Kong, with its cultural diversity and economic vitality, will create the wonder of the world’s cultural exchange center.

Ivan Chu is a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies. 

Eugene Chan is a program leader and senior lecturer of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.