It presents creative musical theatre for children and live immersive installation using arts tech for audiences of all ages to experience Chinese culture, namely, the Five Elements, calligraphy, and the Forbidden City. Together with the “Chinese Culture: Learn to Play” educational kit, it offers both adults and kids a fresh and interesting perspective on the traditions, aesthetics and wisdom of Chinese culture.
Jockey Club Learning Chinese Culture through Arts Tech Theatre Programme – Palace Museum 36500
Children’s Creative Arts Tech Theatre
The Kangxi Emperor Dream-walking the Imperial Palace
To commemorate the centenary of the Palace Museum, Zuni has created a children’s musical “The Kangxi Emperor Dream-walking the Imperial Palace”, blending Arts Tech and immersive stage effects to introduce the architectural wonders of the Imperial Palace. This engaging performance helps young audiences explore Chinese concepts of space and time through the unique design of the Imperial Palace.
The story follows eight-year-old Kangxi, who, according to legend, had a dream on the night he ascended the throne. In his dream, he encounters a mystical creature—part cat, part dog—who reveals itself as the magical spirit and designer of the Imperial Palace. With a wave of a wand, the spirit transports Kangxi back to the first day of the Imperial Palace’s construction in the Ming Dynasty in 1406. Together, they travel through time and space, singing as they explore: sunrise to sunset, the Round Heaven and Square Earth, the principles of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, counting the twelve Earthly Branches and two-hour periods, and tracing the meridian from south to north along the central axis of the Imperial Palace. Through song and discovery, they unlock the spatial and temporal secrets of the Imperial Palace celebrating reverence for heaven and ancestors and the enlightened principles of governance.
Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre
2025.8.27-31（Wed-Sun）3pm 2025.8.29（Fri）7:30pm 2025.8.30-31（Sat-Sun）11am
Director & Arts Tech Installation Designer: Mathias Woo Music Director: Yu Yat-yiu Lyrics: Cedric Chan Illustration: Lai Tat Wing Creation / Arts Guides: Ray Tang, Luka Wong, Zachary Pink Yung
Important Notes
Tickets are free of charge; $10 handling fee per ticket.
Each person can register up to 4 adult tickets and 4 child tickets.
Limited availability, first-come, first-served.
・Admission by tickets ・Running time approximately 45 minutes with no intermission
・Best for ages 6 and above
・No latecomers will be admitted, until a suitable break in the performance
・Eating, drinking, and the use of flash photography, tripods, and selfie sticks are prohibited inside the venue to avoid disturbing other participants ・Please do not bring large luggage or any items that may inconvenience others; otherwise, the staff reserves the right to deny entry
・Zuni Icosahedron reserves the right to add, withdraw or substitute artists, vary advertised programmes, and/or terminate the programme without prior notice ・None of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, their respective affiliates or any other person involved in or related to the compilation of the contents herein (collectively, “the HKJC Parties”) makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of the contents or as to the results that may be obtained by the use thereof. In no event shall any HKJC Party have any liability of any kind to any person or entity arising from or related to any actions taken or not taken as a result of any of the contents herein
Jockey Club Learning Chinese Culture through Arts Tech Theatre Programme – Palace Museum 36500
Palace Museum 36500 Space + Time Arts Tech Installation / Mathias Woo
To commemorate the centenary of the Palace Museum, Zuni presents the “Palace Museum 36500: Space-Time” exhibition at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer. Integrating Arts Tech with modular architectural design, the exhibition constructs a three-dimensional “Nine Palaces” space — an embodiment of Chinese wisdom — offering a vivid, immersive experience of the inseparable relationship between time and space. Just like the Imperial Palace itself, the installation is oriented north-south, inviting visitors to step inside and explore the meridian axis of the Imperial Palace.
Within the installation, visitors interact with the 365 days of the year, the twelve Earthly Branches, the twelve double-hour periods, and the twelve Zodiac animals—experiencing the dynamic interplay of time and space through the unique spatial design of the Imperial Palace. Discover the harmonious layout of the courtyard houses, the configuration of the Five Elements, Five Directions, and Five Colours, and immerse yourself in the ancient wisdom of “unity of time and space” and the philosophy of Round Heaven and Square Earth.
Through this Arts Tech installation, visitors can explore how the architecture of the Imperial Palace masterfully integrates philosophy, art, and science — presenting a multidimensional vision of the grandeur of the Chinese universe.
Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
2025.8.28-2025.9.7 (Thu-Sun) ）
Arts Tech Installation: Mathias Woo Text and Research: Theresa Leung, Katrina Leung Production Manager: Carmen Cheng
Palace Museum 36500 (2025)
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Palace Museum. Over the past 36,500 days since its establishment in 1925, the Palace Museum has transformed from an imperial palace into a cultural treasure trove, housing millions of precious artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its architectural design and spatial layout are imbued with the Chinese scholarly wisdom of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Yin-Yang Five Elements, and the 24 Solar Terms. The 12 Earthly Branches – Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai – are not only used to chronicle years but also mark the 12 (two-hour) periods of a day, the 12 months of a year, and 12 Chinese compass points, reflecting the traditional Chinese understanding of space and time.
Under the theme Palace Museum 36500, this year’s project will be integrated with Arts Tech to explore the Palace Museum as the largest and best-preserved wooden quadrangle architectural complex in China. Through a series of activities including Community Workshops, Exhibitions, Children Creative Arts Tech Camp, and Chinese Culture “Play + Learn” Learning Kits, we aim to introduce people from every walk of life to the concepts of Day and Night, Yin and Yang, the 12 Earthly Branches, the harmony of humanity and nature, the ancient geographical concept of Round Sky and Square Earth, and the spatial and temporal principles of quadrangle architecture.
Calligraphy is the soul of Chinese culture. Learning about calligraphy is the only entrance to Chinese culture.
What is Chinese calligraphy?
Brushes in Chinese Calligraphy
Inks in Chinese Calligraphy
Four Essential Tools in Chinese Calligraphy
Five Major Scripts in Chinese Calligraphy
Zuni combined creative musical theatre for children and live immersive installation using arts tech with the Chinese Culture: Learn to Play educational kit, for both adults and kids to experience the knowledge and aesthetics of Chinese calligraphy. Through adventures in the Monkey King: Havoc in Calligraphy Metaverse, audience of all ages could learn about different strokes found in Chinese characters, evolution of the major scripts, and the development and usage of calligraphy tools, as a fun way to get to know traditional Chinese culture.
Special Guest Curator, Artistic Consultant | Dr. Kan Tai-keung
Calligraphy Consultant | Dr. Chui Pui Chee
Artistic Direction, Curating & Arts Tech Installation | Mathias Woo
This summer, experience the basics of calligraphy with us!
Zuni Icosahedron’s Jockey Club Learning Chinese Culture through Arts Tech Theatre Programme – Calligraphy features LEARN & PLAY Arts Tech Theatre The Monkey King: Havoc in Calligraphy Metaverse. Four Chinese calligraphy-themed sound and image experiential Art-Tech spaces will be set up in the Yuen Long Theatre.
At the show, audiences can expect to break the confines of their seats and follow the four Monkey Kings as their disciples. Explore the nook and cranny of the four calligraphy experiential spaces. Read with your eyes, listen with your ears, analyze with your heart, and interact with your hands. Learn your Chinese characters, experience different scripts, and understand the four treasures of the study. Savour the journey of calligraphy yourself.
We hope to ignite your interest in traditional Chinese culture through learning and playing!
Caritas Blissful Life Parents Resource Centre
Caritas Famaily Support and Networking Team – Sham Shui Po
Christian Family Service Centre, Jockey Club Shun Tin Youth Leap
Free Methodist Church Bradbury Chun Lei Nrusery School
Free Methodist Church Tuen Mun Children & Youth Integrated Services Centre
Hong Kong Children & Youth Service Tai Yuen After School Care Service
Hong Kong Christian Service Kwai Hing Early Education and Training Centre
Hong Kong Christian Service Morrison HillChild Development Centre
Hong Kong Christian Service Pui Oi School
Hong Kong Christian Service Tin Heng Nursery School
Hong Kong Christian Service Tin Tsz Small Group Home
Hong Kong Christian Service To-gather Parents Resource Centre (Kwun Tong)
Hong Kong Christian Service To-gather Parents Resource Centre (Sham Shui Po)
Hong Kong Society for the Deaf – New Territories Multi-services Centre
Hong Kong Whole Person Development Training Centre by FMCHK
Jockey Club Yung Shing Lutheran Integrated Service Centre (Love Around Fanling South Neighbourhood Supporting Programme)
MKKFA Kowloon Chamber of Commerce Centre for the Elderly
Pok Oi Hospital Mr Ng Hung Mow Memorial Family MUltiple Intelligences Centre
Pok Oi Hospital Mrs Cheng Liu Sam Memorial Children and Families Development Centre
S.K.H. Yuen Chen Maun Chen Jubilee Primary School
San Wui Commercial Society YMCA of Hong Kong Christian School
Seeds of Art Charity Foundation Co. ltd
Social Welfare Department – Tin Shui Wai Integrated Family Service Centre
Social Welfare Department Lam Tin Integrated Family Service Centre
The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf Parents Resource Centre
TWGHS Jockey Club Tin Shui Wai Intergrated Service Centre
WFB Avalokitesvara Nursery School
Xianggang Putonghua Yanxishe Primary School of Science & Creativity