Home / Lifestyle / Hong Kong's Bamboo Scaffolding Tradition Faces Uncertain Future
Hong Kong's Bamboo Scaffolding Tradition Faces Uncertain Future
10 Sep
Summary
- Hundreds of Hong Kong construction workers honor Lo Pan, patron saint of builders
- Bamboo scaffolding, a 2,000-year-old technique, is under threat from government regulations
- Industry faces aging workforce and lack of new talent to carry on the tradition
In mid-July 2025, hundreds of Hong Kong construction workers and engineers gathered at the Lo Pan Temple in Kennedy Town to pay their respects to the legendary Chinese carpenter and patron saint of builders. Even in the sweltering heat, the workers crammed into the tiny temple, chanting slogans and praying for a stable year of work.
This annual ritual holds particular significance in today's precarious economy. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong has seen a decline in large-scale construction projects, leaving many laborers, including the city's "spidermen" trained in the ancient technique of bamboo scaffolding, without steady employment.
However, the future of this centuries-old building method is now under threat. The Hong Kong government recently announced that 50% of new public building projects from March 2025 onwards would require metal scaffolding to "better protect workers" and align with modern construction standards. This has sparked concerns among some residents who fear it could mark the beginning of the end for bamboo scaffolding in the city.
Bamboo scaffolding has been a part of Hong Kong's visual language for over a century, used to construct some of the city's tallest skyscrapers and temporary Cantonese opera theaters. But the industry faces an aging workforce, with many senior workers nearing retirement, and a lack of new talent willing to take on the physically demanding work. Preserving this unique cultural heritage has become a growing challenge.
