The late 70s and early 80s of the last century was an enlightenment period when mainland audiences began to open their horizons and understand Hong Kong culture.
Many people may still remember that in that era of underdeveloped information, it was impossible for most people to introduce a film from Hong Kong to the mainland and then release it through a limited number of cinemas.
However, occasionally in the dark screening room of the cinema, when the faces of Hong Kong stars such as Zhu Hong and Bao Fang appeared on the white screen for the first time, the audience couldn't help but exclaim, as if they had discovered a new world.
The fashionable dresses and exaggerated and vivid performances of Hong Kong artists are full of shock and novelty for mainland audiences. They enthusiastically discuss the actions of these unfamiliar faces on the screen, and they can recite their lines backwards.
Even parodying the hairstyles and dresses of Hong Kong artists has become a new popular pastime. It can be said that Hong Kong stars have become an open window for mainland audiences to understand Hong Kong culture, which was still relatively unfamiliar at that time.
Although the exchange is still relatively limited, it has gradually opened the eyes of mainland audiences, allowing them to get a glimpse of what this new world is like.
The introduction of Hong Kong films during this period undoubtedly helped mainland audiences to know and understand a new culture. The attraction of new things is always irresistible, and the emergence of Hong Kong star pop elements has set off a whirlwind in the mainland, making the audience want to explore further.
In the mid-80s, with the gradual popularization of mainland television, more and more Hong Kong TV dramas crossed the border and entered thousands of households. Among them, the one that can attract the most attention of the whole people is "Hero Huo Yuanjia" broadcast in 1983.
As soon as this 20-episode martial arts drama was broadcast, it immediately set off a wave of "Huo Fever" in various places, and people rushed to imitate the spirit and martial arts of the protagonist, and the theme song in the play was highly sung and everyone knew it.
Compared with Hong Kong films, which could only be accessed occasionally in cinemas in the past, the continuous launch of TV dramas has enabled mainland audiences to have a deeper understanding of Hong Kong culture and become more familiar with Hong Kong stars on TV screens.
Actors such as Huang Yuanshen and Mi Xue are household names, and their vivid acting skills and wonderful plots completely attract the attention of the audience. Hong Kong dramas have almost become a part of people's daily life in that era, and the distance between them and Hong Kong stars has never been closer.
With the increase in the duration and intensity of exchanges, mainland audiences can no longer understand Hong Kong culture on the surface, but can gradually appreciate its uniqueness. The continued popularity of Hong Kong dramas has undoubtedly accelerated the recognition of Hong Kong stars by mainland audiences, made the cultural exchanges between the two places closer, and laid the foundation for a deeper understanding in the future.
After Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong have become closer and more frequent. Culturally, the number of Hong Kong films and television productions accessible to mainland audiences has surged, and the names of Hong Kong stars are almost household names.
Not only have a large number of Hong Kong variety shows and TV dramas been introduced to TV, but mainland fans can also get in touch with the latest albums of Hong Kong singers through various channels for the first time.
Many of the group's songs have even been able to top the mainland charts, which is a testament to their influence.
With the increase in exchanges, paying attention to and being enthusiastic about Hong Kong culture also became a fashion trend among mainland young people in that era. Many people will emulate the Hong Kong star's attire and use Hong Kong slang in the language range to gag their friends.
KTV must-sing playlists will also feature some popular Cantonese songs. It can be said that Hong Kong-style elements have been integrated into almost every aspect of the lives of young people in the mainland, and the distance between them and Hong Kong culture is unprecedentedly close.
Under this trend of exchange and interaction, mainland people will not only be able to get in touch with more outward manifestations of Hong Kong culture, but also gradually understand the meaning behind it and deepen their understanding of Hong Kong's social development.
The frequent interaction and collision of the two cultures promotes the understanding of different perspectives and shortens the distance.
Time flies, and we have gone from young men who know nothing about Hong Kong culture to middle-aged people with gray hair. In June 2022, a "Rising Moon in the Bay Area" Greater Bay Area Film and Music Gala allowed middle-aged audiences in the mainland to achieve a long-lost reunion with the older generation of Hong Kong stars.
It is surprising to find that these old Hong Kong artists have not only not been destroyed by the years, but are all energetic, generous and still full of charm.
One classic golden song after another sounded at the scene, setting off waves of memories. The artists on and off the stage talked about the stories of the past, and the bits and pieces of the deep memories emerged at this moment.
The atmosphere was high and enthusiastic, as if returning to the green years overnight. With their mental state and artistic standards, these old artists proved that true artistic beauty will deepen and sublimate with time, rather than decay.
This scene makes people feel that artists have grown up in time, but their artistic skills have not been attenuated in the slightest. The sense of cultural identity created by Lite has brought the two places closer, and this kind of spiritual exchange that transcends time and space is the unique charm of art.
In this art event that transcends time and space, we have seen the changes of 20 Hong Kong stars from that year to today, and also reflected on their own growth process.
Zhao Yazhi is a delicate and lovely girl in "Shanghai Tang", and she became popular in the hearts of countless people in that era. Time flies, 70-year-old she slowly walked onto the stage with a smile on her face, the white cheongsam set off her calm and restrained temperament, like a white magnolia that has been carved more and more with the vicissitudes of time, exuding elegant and bright brilliance.
The audience was fascinated and admired her for defining age with elegance.
Speaking of Andy Lau, Yang Guo in "The Condor Heroes" seems to be still in front of him, at that time he was still a little student responsible for interpreting the bits and pieces of the play, and his immature face revealed a hint of bloat.
Time flies, at the age of 62, he has successfully transformed into a heartthrob on the big screen, and the thick eyebrows and big eyes are no longer childish, but the vicissitudes of life that shake people's hearts.
But his dedication and enthusiasm for acting are still moving.
The 73-year-old Alan Tam sang "The Romance of a Rainy Night" again, and every note reveals the precipitation of his unique voice, and the texture of this vicissitudes has not diminished the passion of the year, and it still hits people's hearts.
The 67-year-old Zhong Zhentao also sang "As long as you live better than me", and the audience was so excited that they burst into tears, as if they had returned to the green years when they were first moved by this song.
Li Keqin and Chen Huixian showed their singing skills that have been precipitated and improved over the years, and the emotional rendering of their singing voices is moving. They prove that artists only get better over time.
From the screen to the stage, the old students Ren Dahua and Wen Bixia use the subtle changes of their rich expressions to interpret the ups and downs of life, showing the high improvement of acting skills and the sublimation of the vitality of acting.
The popular actress Zhou Haimei has grown from a pure and cheerful girl to a mature woman who is calm and calm now, and her charm is still there, and her fading youth and childishness have replaced her wisdom and self-confidence.
The grasshopper trio also sang "Lovelorn Front Alliance" on the same stage again, although the years have left traces on their faces, the tacit understanding and passion of the three are still exciting, and the scene set off a wave of climax.
Countless audiences swayed to the melody again, as if they had returned to that green era.
74-year-old Xu Xiaofeng is known as the real "treasure knife is not old", her strong and heroic voice does not age at all, and she also shows love and dedication to the stage. The 69-year-old Jackie Chan is also full of aura and radiant, and when he sings "The Great Wall Will Never Fall" loudly, he still exudes the enthusiasm and power of the year, bringing everyone back to that passionate era.
Watching these Hong Kong stars grow old from young people, middle-aged audiences in the mainland all sigh with the passage of time. Those classic Hong Kong old songs and movies that carry our memories have witnessed our growth process all the way, from ignorant teenagers to uncles and aunts.
Every time a familiar melody sounds, we can't help but go back to that youthful era and recall the scene that touched our heartstrings for the first time. Although his hair is gray, his memories are still faintly vivid.
This sense of identity across time and space is the unique magic of art.
People will grow old, and the scenery will change. However, Hong Kong's classic music and movies will always live in our memories and carry our common memories of youth. It is hoped that the two places can continue such cultural exchanges, use music, film and other art forms to bridge the distance between each other, enhance understanding, and jointly write a new chapter in the colorful story of Haojiang.