FUTIAN District in central Shenzhen has not only stylish skyscrapers but also old-world charms. Its centuries-old walled villages witness the changes of time in Shenzhen; local villagers and migrants from all over the world form a unique venue of urban customs and practices — the walled village culture.

A walled village is a kind of traditional cluster housing which is completely surrounded by thick defensive walls, protecting the residents from the attack of wild animals and enemies. Usually, people living in a walled village are families. Walled villages can be found in southern Guangdong and Hong Kong’s New Territories.

On Dec. 26, the 2021 Futian Walled Village Culture Season was launched at City Mall, featuring intangible cultural heritage demonstrations, displaying profiles of the district’s 15 walled villages, holding games and Chinese folk performances, and inviting calligraphers to write Chinese blessing characters for visitors. In the meantime, events at the 15 Futian villages (Puwei, Futian, Gangxia, Huanggang, Shuiwei, Yunong, Shixia, Xinzhou, Shawei, Shazui, Shangsha, Xiasha, Shangmeilin, Xiameilin, Tianmian) and one Hong Kong walled village (Ma Cho Lung) were also livestreamed on a screen at City Mall.

In its third year, the Futian Walled Village Culture Season shows the cultural identities of the villagers of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao who share the same origin and encourages younger generations to learn about the walled village history. (Cao Zhen)