Hong Kong’s UNESCO-awarded Tai O Heritage Hotel welcomed more than 4,000 visitors from Hong Kong and overseas during its four-day open house activity recently.

Visitors explored the Grade II historic building, which boasts over 120 years of history, and experienced the rustic charm of the Tai O fishing village from May 22 to 25.

The hotel integrated augmented reality (AR) technology into guided tours, allowing visitors to journey back in time and learn about the building’s history and original appearance as the Old Tai O Police Station.

In a community outreach effort, the hotel partnered with the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui and the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) to host more than 700 underprivileged family members, offering them a chance to explore the cultural tapestry of Tai O fishing village.

Visitors enjoyed authentic Tai O delicacies made with local ingredients at Tai O Lookout, the hotel’s glass-roofed restaurant. They also participated in workshops organized with the Tai O Cultural Association, including mold-pressing, rubbing, and silk-screen printing, to create unique keepsakes.

The open house marked the launch of a month-long photo exhibition, “Presenting Roof Ridge Stages of Tai O”, which runs through June 22. The exhibition highlights the Shiwan ceramic figurines on the roof ridges of Tai O’s temples.

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Known for vibrant colors and vivid forms, Shiwan ceramics artistry is listed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The hotel also engaged schools and youth in heritage appreciation. Students from Christian and Missionary Alliance Tai O Kindergarten dressed as folklore characters from the ceramic figurines at the open house ceremony. Meanwhile, students from Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College attended sharing session and handicraft workshops of the exhibition.

Trained Youth Ambassadors from Walk in Hong Kong led tours, sharing stories of the Old Tai O Police Station and related conservation work.