Sponsored by Swire Properties, the eight-week flagship learning and exchange, themed “Culture in the Making—”, enables emerging cultural leaders to explore how culture shapes vibrant cities and communities
The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM or the Museum) has officially launched the fifth edition of its flagship youth learning and exchange initiative, the “Bi-city Youth Cultural Leadership Programme” (the Programme). Twenty-two university students from Beijing and Hong Kong – an increase from 16 participants in previous editions – will embark on an immersive eight-week journey of learning, internships, and cultural immersion, examining how heritage, innovation and urban development intersect to shape vibrant and sustainable communities.
With Swire Properties as Lead Sponsor and support from the Palace Museum and the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing, the Programme creates a unique platform for dialogue, collaboration and experiential learning, connecting young people through shared cultural experiences and cross-city exchange across Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Under the theme “Culture in the Making—”, the current edition invites participants to explore and reimagine the dynamic interplay between cultural spaces and urban life across three distinctive cities. It aligns with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, which advocates for deepening international cultural exchanges and nurturing talents with a global outlook and cross-cultural competence. Since its launch in 2022, the Programme has engaged nearly 170 university and tertiary students from Beijing and Hong Kong.
The Programme commenced in Beijing with an opening ceremony held at the Palace Museum, where the participants engaged in an exchange with Wang Yuegong, Deputy Director of the Palace Museum; Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM; Enoch Yuen, Deputy Director of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing; David Poraj-Wilczynski, Chief Executive Officer, Chinese Mainland, Swire Properties; and alumni from previous cohorts.
At the opening ceremony, the participants shared reflections on their experiences in Beijing, and their aspirations for the journey ahead. This year’s cohort includes overseas students from Japan and Korea, enriching the programme with broader perspectives and intercultural dialogue. Students spoke about the importance of preserving cultural heritage and innovation, while expressing their excitement for the seven-week journey ahead. Alumni from previous editions also shared how the Programme had influenced their academic and professional journeys, while Wang Jun, Research Fellow at the Palace Museum and chief expert of the Academy of Gugong Studies, delivered a keynote address on the planning and design philosophies of the Forbidden City.
Wang Yuegong, Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, said, “We are delighted to witness the ‘Bi-city Youth Cultural Leadership Programme’ entering its fifth year, bringing together a group of young people who are passionate about Chinese culture. The Palace Museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum will continue to work in close partnership, committed to promoting Chinese art and culture through preservation and innovation, with young talents at the core. By immersing themselves in real-world cultural scenes, students will explore the modern transformation of Chinese traditions from diverse viewpoints, fueling innovative ideas to meet contemporary needs. By supporting this programme, the Palace Museum aims to nurture a new generation of cultural professionals with global minds, advance the worldwide dissemination and exchange of Chinese culture, and contribute to the long-term development of the cultural sector.”
Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM, said, “As our flagship youth talent development initiative, the ‘Bi-city Youth Cultural Leadership Programme’ underscores the Museum’s vision of connecting Beijing and Hong Kong while fostering cultural exchange and cultivating future global cultural leaders. We are encouraged to witness our alumni thriving across the museum and cultural industries, with several choosing to contribute their expertise to the HKPM team, bringing the educational journey full circle. Through this initiative, we aspire to cultivate a new generation of cultural talents with global minds and deep local roots, championing the contemporary interpretation and international dissemination of Chinese culture. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Swire Properties, whose long-term support has allowed this programme to grow from strength to strength.”
David Poraj-Wilczynski, Chief Executive Officer, Chinese Mainland, Swire Properties, said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with the HKPM, and mark the commencement of another edition of this meaningful programme. These young participants represent the future of our communities, and the Programme will help build a strong talent pipeline for the long-term development of the arts and cultural sectors in Beijing and Hong Kong. By sharing our placemaking experience and expertise, we aim to inspire them to explore arts, culture and community development from multiple perspectives. This year, we are delighted that the students will visit Guangzhou, where they can explore the relationship between art, culture and waterfront communities within the Greater Bay Area.”
Spanning Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, the 2026 fifth edition will introduce an ‘Ideas Market’ in late August, serving as the finale to the Programme
This July and August, the 22 selected students will undertake in-depth exchanges and practical learning across Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. The journey will cover a series of key cultural landmarks, such as Beijing’s 798 Art District, Guangzhou’s Bai’etan Greater Bay Area Art Centre, and Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), alongside Swire Properties’ landmark developments across the three cities, including Taikoo Li Sanlitun, INDIGO, Beijing, Taikoo Li Julong Wan, Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou and Taikoo Place, Hong Kong.
A major highlight of the Hong Kong leg will be the visit and exchange session at the Swire Archives in Taikoo Place on 23 July. This will be followed by a four-week internship at leading cultural institutions, including facilities within WestK, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the HKSAR Government, Swire Properties, DX Design Hub, One Bite Design Studio and Quarryside. Students will gain hands-on experience in areas such as arts administration, programme curation, and cultural space operations.
This edition also introduces the new ‘Innovation Studio’, focused on three key design tracks: Content and IP Creation, Cultural Product Development, and Visitor Experience Enhancement. The studio is designed to guide students to translate their observations into tangible creative proposals. Through a structured process of concept pitching, design refinement, and prototyping, the studio fosters cross-disciplinary thinking while strengthening participants’ creative and practical capabilities.
The Programme will culminate in the ‘Ideas Market’ in Hong Kong in late August. Students will curate their own dedicated display spaces, combining display panels, physical elements, and digital prototypes to present their cultural innovation concepts. Centring on the outcomes of the eight-week programme, the Ideas Market will offer a comprehensive showcase of the students’ journey from initial observation to final creation.
Co-designed by the programme partner Ednovators, a Hong Kong-based charity, the Programme adopts an innovative and inspiring approach to ignite a passion among young people to build careers in Hong Kong’s arts and cultural sector.