Hong Kong Tourism Board Recreates Cha Chaan Teng Café in Paris in First Event of Three-Year Art Basel Global Partnership to Showcase City’s Cultural Charm

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has successfully held the first event of a three-year global partnership with Art Basel at Art Basel Paris, held from 16 to 20 October. Visitors from around the world were invited to visit a replica of an authentic Hong Kong-style Cha Chaan Teng café at the Grand Palais where they were able to experience Hong Kong’s vibrant culture through the café’s iconic dishes and décor, embodying the city's distinctive East-meets-West synergy.

Guests at the Cha Chaan Teng enjoyed a selection of Hong Kong’s best-loved delicacies, including roast pork char siu with rice, pineapple buns, egg tarts, mango pudding, and classic Hong Kong-style milk tea. The cultural experience was lit up by a special chandelier-like illuminated installation by Hong Kongbased artist Trevor Yeung, from his Chaotic Suns series which earlier this year featured at the 24th Biennale of Sydney. By combining Hong Kong art with traditional cuisine, the HKTB sought to deepen international audiences’ understanding and appreciation of the city’s lifestyle and cultural heritage.

Left: Mr Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director (second from right), Mr Noah Horowitz, CEO, Art Basel (second from left), Ms Angelle Siyang-Le, Director of Art Basel Hong Kong (right), and Mr Clément Delépine, Director of Art Basel Paris (left) at the Cha Chaan Teng. Right: Mr Dane Cheng and Mr Noah Horowitz enjoy delicacies at the Cha Chaan Teng

Mr Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director, said, “We are honoured to be the first tourism promotion organization to establish a global strategic partnership with Art Basel. We are delighted to officially launch our three-year global partnership with Art Basel by presenting an authentic Cha Chaan Teng experience at Art Basel Paris. It is exciting to see many visitors coming to the Cha Chaan Teng and enjoy a variety of authentic Hong Kong delicacies. We look forward to continuing to showcase Hong Kong's unique experiences in different ways at Art Basel exhibitions around the world, highlighting Hong Kong's status as an international cultural exchange centre. We hope more art enthusiasts participating in the exhibitions will have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong in the near future and experience its culture firsthand.” 

Ms Angelle Siyang-Le, Director of Art Basel Hong Kong remarked, “It is an honour to bring a taste of Hong Kong to Art Basel Paris, made possible by our strategic global partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Through the quintessential Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng setting, we are able to introduce international visitors to Hong Kong’s rich culinary heritage, as well as this city’s history and cultural diversity. Renowned artist Trevor Yeung represented Hong Kong at the Venice Biennale, and his creation of a special illuminated installation for this exhibition highlights the deep connection between art and Hong Kong culture. We hope art lovers from around the world will pay a visit to Art Basel Hong Kong next March, where they can explore the city’s vibrant and ever-expanding cultural landscape, and its endearing blend of art and lifestyle.” 

The Cha Chaan Teng at Art Basel delighted visitors with its vibrant atmosphere and genuine Hong Kong cuisine. The manager of the café said, “Our guests have been full of praise for the food and drinks from Hong Kong. Everyone is truly enjoying their experience here.” One of the visitors reflected that it had been a while since they visited Hong Kong, so they were very pleased to savour the city’s signature dishes in Paris. Another visitor complimented the café’s comfortable design and high level of authenticity and said it brought back memories of their time in Asia.

Left to right: The illuminated installation, titled Chaotic Suns, created by artist Trevor Yeung for the Cha Chaan Teng, Hong Kong delicacies offered at the Cha Chaan Teng, and a unique handwritten menu at the Cha Chaan Teng.

Media from Asia and Europe Invited to Experience Hong Kong Culture and Ambience at the Cha Chaan Teng

The HKTB extended special invitations to a variety of media outlets from Asia and Europe to visit the Cha Chaan Teng at Art Basel Paris, providing them with an in-depth introduction to the concept behind it and the three-year global partnership between HKTB and Art Basel. In addition to the Art Basel Paris event, media from Asia were invited by the HKTB to experience arts and culture tours of Hong Kong, visiting key cultural landmarks such as Tai Kwun, PMQ, M+, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Through these visits, media representatives explored a variety of exhibitions and interactive workshops and enjoyed Hong Kong’s fusion of East and West culture, promoting the city as a leading destination for arts and cultural tourism.

HKTB and Art Basel: Uncovering the Synergies between Arts and Tourism Development

As well as showcasing Hong Kong culture through the Cha Chaan Teng, the HKTB joined hands with Art Basel to host a networking cocktail reception at the event, inviting curators, collectors, and gallerists from the arts and tourism sectors.

The HKTB also facilitated cultural exchanges by supporting art representative Mr Doryun Chong, Artistic Director and Chief Curator of M+, in discussions with counterparts from Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. These exchanges encouraged major cultural hubs to engage in enhancing cultural connectivity through cross-regional collaboration.

Upcoming Events: Art Basel Miami Beach and Hong Kong

Following the success of Hong Kong’s exhibition at Art Basel Paris, the HKTB is excited to continue its partnership with Art Basel at the upcoming Art Basel Miami Beach (6 – 8 December, with VIP previews from 4 – 5 December). The exhibition will present another distinctive Hong Kong experience, solidifying the city’s position as an international cultural exchange centre and the art hub of Asia. The HKTB is also preparing a compelling array of activities for the upcoming Art Basel Hong Kong (28 – 30 March 2025), with more details to be announced soon.