Calgarians get to experience taste, sights and sounds of Hong Kong at weekend event

A weekend event at the Chinese Cultural Plaza gave lthousands of Calgarians a chance to sample Hong Kong authentic cuisine, culture and sounds.

Calgarians experienced the vibrant spirit of Hong Kong this weekend.

The Chinese Cultural Centre provided the space for the weekend-long celebration of Hong Kong’s sights, sounds and flavours.

The event featured open-air food stalls serving authentic cuisine, entertainment and interactive experiences.

“This year we have dai pai dong,” said Ricky Chan, the president of the Hong Kong Association of Calgary. “(It’s) a Hong Kong signature open air food store -- so the store will close, put it in a very tiny space, and when they open, they just opened up on the street.”

Organizers said as more people from Hong Kong immigrate to Calgary, it’s important for city residents to know how Hong Kong has evolved over the decades.

“Most of the western people, they still think Hong Kong is like (it was in) 1950 with the fishbowl and the harbour,” Chan said. “Well, but that’s like 50 years ago. Last year, Hong Kong is like a (dominant) financial economy in the Asia area.”

Census data from 2021 shows that there are almost 11,000 immigrants from Hong Kong who call Calgary home.

The event continues until 6 p.m. Sunday.