HONG KONG – The inaugural Macao International Children’s Art Festival has created an artistic and vibrant environment, enabling children and families to explore the arts.

The month-long event, which began on Thursday, features 45 programs with over 1,000 performances, as well as a variety of activities including Broadway musicals, exhibitions, large-scale outdoor installations, art camps, workshops, and an arts carnival.

Notable performances include “The Moon in a Pot” by Spanish troupe La Petita Malumaluga which blends music, dance, and on-stage performance with innovative special effects.

GBA business confidence

Standard Chartered and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will announce the Standard Chartered GBA Business Confidence Index for the second quarter of the year on July 8.

Business confidence across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area hit an 11-quarter high in the first quarter of 2024, as the index jumped to 54.3.

The GBAI is the first forward-looking quarterly survey in the market that looks at the business sentiment and synergistic effects in cities and industries across the 11-city cluster.

Doraemon and friends

One of the world's largest Doraemon exhibitions – 100% Doraemon & Friends Tour (Hong Kong) – is coming to Hong Kong on July 13.

Closely following the exhibition’s theme “A true friend is always there when you need them”, a secret gadget will appear for the first time at the event, which is ‘100% Friends-Calling Bell’. Shaking the gadget can summon friends to come, according to the organizer.

Doraemon, a cat-shaped robot who came from the future, is the main character of a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F Fujio. This exhibition aims to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of Doraemon’s creator and to feature the comprehensive Doraemon world of manga art and movies.

Lotus extravaganza

A mega lotus culture week combining the best of cuisine, heritage, entertainment, and shopping set to be held from July 6-14 at Zhongshan’s Torch Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone is expected to attract numerous visitors to the city via the newly-opened Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link.

Aside from viewing an enchanting world of lotus flowers and participating in a classic poetry appreciation session, tourists can also savor unique culinary delights and explore a vibrant night market featuring traditional Chinese medicine.

The event also features children's chorus, captivating dance shows, a musical night, and talent competitions.