6 quirky Guinness World Records you didn't know were set in Hong Kong this year
From a super expensive diamond to the world’s largest martial arts lesson, here are six of Hong Kong's most weird and wonderful records
The Jockey Club organised the world's largest sculpting lesson with 1,082 students in April.Hong Kong holds the Guinness World Records for the Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show, A Symphony of Lights, Longest Outdoor Covered Escalator System (in Mid-Levels), and Oldest Panda Ever in Captivity (Jia Jia, who was at Ocean Park and died last year, aged 38).
This year, Hong Kong has hit new heights, breaking even more world records, and Young Post has rounded up six of the most weird and wonderful records that you may not have heard of.
Largest Sculpting Lesson
A total of 1,082 local primary and secondary school students took part in the largest sculpting lesson at Sha Tin Racecourse on April 14, 2017. The event was organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). The students created more than 1,000 Easter bunny sculptures from clay, under the instructions of Hong Kong sculptor Johnson Tsang. This was the opening event to a whole weekend of activities over Easter as part of the Riding High Together Festival, the Jockey Club’s biggest annual community event.
Longest Career as a Corporate Salesperson
Joe Sun Yung-tsu, 91, was awarded the Guinness World Record for the Longest Career as a Corporate Salesperson on July 11. He has worked for 62 years and 238 days at Manulife Hong Kong, a multinational insurance company and financial services provider. Sun is still a life insurance adviser at the company after joining in 1954. Sun was ranked as one of the top 10 Divisional Leaders 15 times during his career. “In work and in life, it's important to always look forward and be passionate,” said Sun, after receiving his certificate on August 2.
Most expensive diamond sold at auction
Hong Kong’s biggest jeweller Chow Tai Fook’s Pink Star, originally named the Steinmetz Pink, is a 59.6-carat, oval-shaped pink diamond. It was bought by the jeweller for a record HK$553 million at a Sotheby’s auction on April 4 to celebrate the jeweller’s 88th anniversary. Mounted on a ring, the gem measures 2.69cm by 2.06cm, and is the largest pink diamond that the Gemological Institute of America has ever graded.
Largest Martial Arts Lesson
A total of 2,803 girl guides from The Hong Kong Girl Guides Association set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Martial Arts Lesson at Mong Kok Stadium on November 19. The 30-minute wu shu lesson was especially designed for the girl guides as the opening event of their Annual Parade and Awards Presentation 2017 to celebrate their 101st anniversary.
Largest Display of 3D-Printed Sculptures
Local secondary school students and the Hong Kong Productivity Council set a record for the Largest Display of a 3D-Printed Sculpture with a giant model of the Victoria Harbour on July 16. The 35-square-metre model is made of 1,214 3D-printed pieces using computer-aided design software and advanced printing technology.
Largest Ukulele Ensemble
Sing Through The Land Music Centre, The Church of God in Hong Kong, and Light and Love Home (Hong Kong) formed the Largest Ukulele Ensemble consisting of 8,065 people at the AsiaWorld-Expo on August 13, 2017. Ukulele players aged five to 91 staged a five-and-a half-minute performance of the song Amazing Grace.
Edited by Nicole Moraleda