CityUHK’s City Quest tells Hong Kong stories; award-winning photos to be showcased at Airport starting August
Wandering the historic alleyways of Sham Shui Po, catching the golden hour over Victoria Harbour, or using AI to write poetry about a quiet street corner—everyone has their own way of discovering Hong Kong. Organised by City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and launched in July last year, the flagship community engagement initiative City Quest has inspired over 4,200 participants over the past year to step off the beaten track and connect with the city's hidden stories and cultural roots.
Starting from 4 August, CityUHK will collaborate with the Airport Authority Hong Kong to present the "City University of Hong Kong: City Quest・The Love of Being in Community" exhibition at both Hong Kong and Shanghai airports, as part of the "HKIA Arts and Culture Festival 2026: Resonance of Two Cities - Hong Kong and Shanghai". The exhibition will showcase selected photography works from the Smartphone Photo Contest, presenting the diverse, inclusive and vibrant urban charm of Hong Kong to local and overseas travellers.
City Quest has comprised three key initiatives that encouraged participants to rediscover Hong Kong from various perspectives. The Story Writing Competition invited participants to portray Hong Kong through essays, short stories and AI-assisted poetry. The Smartphone Photo Contest encouraged participants to capture the city’s diverse lifestyles through mobile photography under the themes of People, Cityscape and Culture. The Docent Ambassadors featured CityUHK students serving as docent ambassadors to participate in the planning of events, including community tours in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City Walk, a sailing and music experience on Victoria Harbour, sunset water-bike tours, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking on Victoria Harbour, City Quest x Harbour Beats, Stargaze Camp for All, etc., enabling participants to explore Hong Kong from both land and sea, and experience Hong Kong’s multifaceted charm.
Three CityUHK students who served as Docent Ambassadors shared how the programme broadened their horizons and enriched their personal growth. Kevin Wu Zifeng, a student of International Relations and Global Affairs, said that the programme enabled him to move beyond campus life and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of various districts in Hong Kong. He said he hopes that more students from similar backgrounds will take the initiative to explore the city and become more connected with the local community. Daisy Fan Cheuk-lam, who studies Public Affairs and Management, described City Quest as “a mysterious journey that allows participants to experience stories from every corner of Hong Kong through all five senses”. Through interactions with children, older adults, ethnic minority communities and people from diverse cultural backgrounds, she gained a fresh appreciation of the city while becoming more confident, proactive and communicative. Jack Fok Yui, a Business Economics student who helped organise the Set Sail! A Musical Voyage across Victoria Harbour activity, said that combining music with Victoria Harbour’s iconic scenery and cultural exchange allowed him to rediscover the warmth, humanity and unique charm of Hong Kong.
The project celebrated its year-long journey with an awards ceremony and exhibition showcase recently. Several CityUHK students who had served as City Quest Docent Ambassadors were recognised for their outstanding contributions to programme planning, community-guided tours and the promotion of Hong Kong culture. An exhibition was held alongside the ceremony, featuring works from the Story Writing Competition and Smartphone Photo Contest and highlights from the Docent Ambassadors, providing guests with an opportunity to revisit the programme’s memorable moments over the past year.
In his remarks, Professor the Honourable Michael Ngai, Council Chairman, said that City Quest encouraged participants to rediscover Hong Kong and connected the University with the wider community through words, images and first-hand experiences. He noted that the programme enabled people from diverse backgrounds to appreciate Hong Kong’s unique cultural heritage and human stories. He expressed his gratitude to the Government, partner organisations and community groups for their unwavering support in bringing to life the vision “Everyone is a Tourism Ambassador”.
Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice-President (Community Engagement), said that City Quest exemplifies CityUHK’s commitment to community engagement and knowledge exchange by encouraging students to step beyond the campus and explore Hong Kong with community members through creativity and action. He added that the programme’s impact will continue through the publication of an anthology featuring award-winning entries from the Story Writing Competition and Smartphone Photo Contest, enabling more members of the public and visitors to appreciate Hong Kong’s stories and cultural richness through words and images.
Other CityUHK representatives attending the ceremony included Ms Grace Yu, Council Member; Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise); Professor Ray Cheung Chak-chung, Associate Provost (Digital Learning); Professor Wong Hang, Associate Vice-President (Community Engagement); and Professor Alex Wong Chun-yuen, Dean of Students.
Government representatives included Mr Oscar Wong Ho-yu, District Officer (Sham Shui Po); and Ms Ida Yu Wai-yan, Liaison Officer-in-charge (District Liaison), Kowloon City District Office. Also attending as a representative of the programme’s key sponsor was Mr Shang Jin, Honorary Vice Chairman of the Group Technology Committee of Xiaomi Corporation.
