What is it like to eat, drink, and live on the water? Come to Sha Tin and listen to the "old stories" told by the Tanka girls.

Summary : At the end of the last century, a group of people drifted on the waters of Shatian, Dongguan. By day, they hummed saltwater songs while fishing for shrimp; by night, they fell asleep to the sound of waves. They had no tribes, no farmland; their only possession was their boat, and their lives and deaths were tied to the sea. The boats they depended on for survival, resembling eggshells floating on the water, earned them the names "Danjia people" and "Dan people."

2022-08-20

At the end of the last century, a group of people drifted on the waters of Shatin, Dongguan. During the day, they hummed salty water songs while fishing for shrimp, and at night, they fell asleep to the sound of waves. They had no tribes, no fields; their only possession was their boats, and their lives and deaths were tied to the sea. Their boats, on which they depended for survival, resembled eggshells in shape and floated on the water, so they were called "Tanka people" or "Tanka folk."

The Tanka people fought against wind and waves all year round, and their lives were as fragile as eggshells, with no guarantee of safety. As times changed, the Tanka people have moved ashore to live. There are still some villages where hundreds of fishing boats are docked, but most Tanka families no longer rely solely on fishing for a living.

As time passes, the past becomes a memory. The cultural imprint of the Tanka people is gradually fading from people's view, and those memorable and intoxicating Tanka cultural customs can only remain in cultural and art museums.

On December 6, 2020, the Shatin Cultural and Art Center officially made its debut. Coming from the beautiful water town, Shatin Town uses the Cultural and Art Center as a stage to vigorously promote the three local characteristic cultural brands of Shatin: "Dragon Boat Culture," "Tanka Culture," and "Guancao Culture." Together with Guanzhong Technology, it spreads Tanka culture through intelligent wireless audio and video technology.

       The Guanbiao Technology 720° Panoramic Art Museum creates a three-dimensional picture scroll of the Danjia "boat-dwelling people" for visitors. "

       A Danjia girl collects pickled vegetables at the stern, her mother mends clothes by the window, her father tidies fishing tools at the bow, and the sound of cooking from the neighboring boat drifts away with the aroma of food.

       Looking out, the Danjia people, returning with full loads, sail back under the sunset, leaving trails of golden waves on the water...

       Visitors are enchanted by the 720° panoramic view, immersed in the leisurely and carefree scenes of Danjia life.

       Visitors can follow the guided tour to visit the art center, or rent a self-guided audio system to explore each functional exhibition hall.

In the Shatin Culture and Arts Centre, you can see squatter huts covered with pine bark and thatch, Tanka boats drifting on the sea, farming and fishing tools, etc., and listen to the stories behind each item, reproducing the production and living conditions of the Tanka people in Shatin. This allows local residents to regain memories and feel a sense of familiarity, and also gives tourists from other places a deeper understanding and awareness of the history, culture, development, and changes of the Tanka people.

The Shatin Culture and Arts Centre is designed in a circular layout, with 11 pointed-roof buildings forming a central courtyard. The main facilities include the Lingnan Tanka Livelihood Exhibition Hall, Folk Culture Exhibition Hall, Waterside Platform, Parent-Child Activity Space, Reading Space, Small Theatre, Atrium Rest Area, and Multi-functional Exhibition Hall. Each space is equipped with a Guanzhong Technology QR code guide. Visitors can use any QR code scanning software on their mobile phones to open and enter the guide. Through this simple and convenient method, they can experience the unique charm of Tanka culture and marvel at the earth-shaking changes in Shatin's economic and social development.

Shatin is a land of fish and rice, with a long history of Tanka culture, Guancao culture, and dragon boat culture. The Shatin Culture and Art Center is a cultural brand that the town of Shatin has focused on building, combining culture with technology. Crown Label Technology is honored to be part of this, connecting online and offline tour scenarios, effectively integrating cultural resources, allowing more people to understand the Tanka people's attitude towards life, their joy of living, and their longing for a better life, so that the local culture that is about to exit the stage of history can continue.