China: The keeper of traditional lantern making in Hong Kong

Every year, near the Mid-Autumn Festival, the "lantern street" of Daqiao Market in Yuen Long District of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China) becomes a favorite destination for locals and tourists.

Ms. Hoang Kien De's family shop is especially popular thanks to the traditional lanterns that her family makes themselves and are copyrighted.

Originally selling incense and candles, every Mid-Autumn Festival, the storefront is "dressed up" with special lanterns. Amid the rich lantern market in Hong Kong, Ms. Hoang Kien De's family lanterns still assert their own position.

The traditional lantern stall of Ms. Hoang Kien De's family has a variety of products. (Photo: Mac Luyen/VNA)

With the desire to meet market tastes, her family always researches and improves product models, polishing and perfecting every small detail so that the lanterns always retain their soul, attractive shape and color.

Sharing with VNA reporters in Hong Kong, Ms. Hoang Kien De said that her family has been making lanterns and incense for more than 40 years, through three generations. The lanterns are always loved by children, making her, her husband and son determined to maintain the profession until now.

With his passion and good design ability, Mrs. Hoang Kien De’s eldest son creates many new lantern models every year. This year, the lanterns are battery-powered and come in many interesting shapes such as spaceships, pumpkin cars, frog princes, panda lamps, owl lamps, shark lamps, etc.

Lanterns shaped like sea turtles, goldfish, rabbits, grapefruits or star fruit... are also selling very well. Some are made from cellophane, colored paper, and some are made from wedding dress fabric. Regardless of the material or accessories, each lantern is carefully processed to ensure the safety of children while playing.

The lanterns range in price from a few dozen to several hundred Hong Kong dollars. Each product demonstrates the skills and techniques that Ms. Hoang Kien De’s family has cultivated and accumulated over many years.

Ms. Hoang Kien De said that business this year is still as "bustling" as every year. Many products have "sold out" as soon as they come out. Her store has a number of "regular" customers who come to buy lanterns every Mid-Autumn Festival. Among them are foreign customers who buy many different types of lanterns every year.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Ms. Hoang Kien De’s family usually has a month to rest before starting to look for designs for the following year. Designing and producing lanterns requires a lot of time, so mass production cannot be done in a short time.

Ms. Hoang Kien De said that making handmade lanterns is not easy, but the passion for making brilliant lanterns that captivate many customers has kept her family in this traditional profession.

It is that love and passion that breathes life into the lanterns, making each finished product carry the warmth and pride of her family.

Stepping into Daqiao Market's "Lantern Street", visitors will see thousands of brightly colored handmade lanterns adorning the market, each exuding the warmth of tradition and modern craftsmanship. If you want to have a unique Mid-Autumn Festival experience or take photos with your family, Daqiao Market's "Lantern Street" is a great choice.

This is a must-see destination for those who want to learn more about Hong Kong's traditional culture, the world of glittering lanterns and the perfect place to take truly dreamy photos.