On October 26, 2024, the Centre for Global Engagement organized an enriching cultural tour for our inbound students at Tai O, a charming fishing village known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. This trip provided an excellent opportunity for our inbound exchange students and their buddies to bond while immersing themselves in the unique atmosphere of the area.
We kicked off our adventure with an exciting dinghy cruise around the island. Students not only had the opportunity to learn about the unique stilt houses during the boat ride but also got to use a small wooden ladder at the side of a stilt house to enter one of these fascinating homes. Another highlight was a hands-on cooking workshop where we learned to make Cha-guo, a delicious traditional treat from Tai O made with glutinous rice, peanuts, and purple haricot.
Everyone had a blast exploring the history and culture of the area, and we’re excited to share the feedback from our inbound exchange students about this enriching tour.
“The travel to Tai O village was quite long, but worth every minute. The highlight of the experience was definitely the landscape. I was already familiar with tilt houses as there are many spots in the cost of south East Asian countries, however getting into one and behind treated with such hospitality by the host was great. I think going with other people and experience it as a group also helped enhance the happiness of the first experience. I had a great time and would love to go again and see the paintings on the walls of the streets and the distinctions stray cats.”
Fatima (Spain)
“As an exchange student from mainland China, my classmates from various countries and I visited Tai O Village last Saturday under the guidance of Mandy and buddies. This trip was very fulfilling and interesting. The stilt houses made me deeply appreciate the wisdom of the people of Hong Kong. They cleverly utilize the water environment and display a unique lifestyle, which is admirable. At the same time, the surrounding scenery is also particularly beautiful. The blue sky, white clouds and water surface complement each other, which is refreshing. Also making Cha-guo with my own hands made me feel fun and reminded me of the traditional customs of my hometown,Guangxi. Shaweng,a local food was impressive, and I was pleasantly surprised by the crispy exterior and sweet filling. This experience made me cherish the friendship with my international classmates even more, and it let me have a deeper understanding of Hong Kong.”
Jingshan (Mainland China)
