During the 1960s and 70s, Hong Kong's woodworking industry thrived, drawing countless young apprentices into its sawmills and furniture workshops. From the preparation of timber to final assembly, each stage was intimately connected, and every piece was realised through skilled hands. This craft formed part of the city's economic ascent and remains a significant element of its intangible cultural heritage. Yet with industrial transformation, the relocation of factories and the rise of mechanisation, this golden age of traditional woodworking receded. Even its material has shifted, from the imported solid timber of former decades to today's issue of the sustainable use of local wood. The question of sustainability, however, extends beyond timber alone; it speaks equally to the transmission of skill and craft across generations.

As part of this year's Growth Ring programme, we are honoured to welcome woodcraft artisan and founder of the creative social enterprise Coutou Wood Working, Yan Yung, who shares her practice and research within this tradition. Co-authored by Yan, architect Sarah Mui and design researcher Sonia Tsui and published in 2025, Woodily Made in Hong Kong draws on rigorous research and interviews with three generations of local carpenters to chronicle the industry's history and the stories of its craftspeople, gathering their reflections on materials, craft and the interplay between heritage and innovation.

Held at Coutou Wood Working, this talk invites all interested to register early. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Speaker

Yan Yung

Woodcraft artisan and co-founder of Coutou Wood Working and MADE, Yan Yung studied Visual Communication in France before training in fine woodworking in Taiwan. On returning to Hong Kong, she practised the craft under a number of master carpenters, and in 2017 founded Coutou Wood Working, moving fluidly between community engagement and woodcraft practice. In 2023, the brand was renewed as MADE, reflecting her ongoing enquiry into the relationship between craft and society, inviting people to value timber as a resource and to recognise the beauty of craft and of the local. Her creative process moves through imagination, composition and prototyping to bring each work into being. Her pieces invite audiences to experience the uniqueness of craftsmanship, seeking to transform sustainable timber into a sustainable way of living, and to draw wisdom anew from the past, from nature, and from local communities. Through sustainably sourced materials, she brings joy to craft-making in Hong Kong.

Date
29 Aug 2026 (Saturday)

Time
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Location 
Coutou Wood Working, To Kwa Wan

Language
Cantonese

Target Audience
Aged 16 years and above

Capacity
20 people

Fee
Free of charge

Note

• Participants will gather and be dismissed at the venue.
• ​The programme does not provide any form of allowance, stipend or insurance.
• Please be reminded that applicants with G6PD Deficiency need to state this clearly on the application form.

Application
Please CLICK HERE to submit your online application before 21 Aug 2026.

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants who do not secure one of the first 20 places will be automatically added to the waiting list.

Enquiry
Contact Ms Michelle Tam at 2483 7228 during office hours or email michelle.tam@kfbg.org.

About Growth Ring
As part of our routine tree management at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, we sometimes need to prune or even remove certain trees. The timber, sourced from our own forests, possesses unique grain patterns that serve as an imprint of our local landscape. Unwilling to see this valuable material go to waste, we process the large volume of wood generated from our tree work through a dedicated Wood Recycling Programme, converting much of it into agricultural resources. Larger logs and timber are repurposed as materials for on-site facilities and Nature Art Programmes, and formed the foundation for Growth Ring: Empowering Wood Upcycling through Training and Innovation.

In this programme, participants first learn about tree species and wood processing from our experts. Veteran local artisans then teach traditional woodworking, furniture making and carving – skills recognised as Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage. Upon completion, participants become apprentices, gaining further experience as teaching and studio assistants, thus fulfilling the complete cycle of our Holistic Education philosophy.

Funded by

Related Links

• Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.
• Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.
• Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different sense to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.
• Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
• Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.