8 Special CELEBRATIONS

Here’s the lowdown on key festivals and events celebrated each year in Hong Kong.

1 CHINESE NEW YEAR

Though the date changes annually, CNY is usually in January or February (next date: 1 February 2022) and is easily the most significant of the annual festivals. People greet each other with “Kung hei fat choi!” – Cantonese for “Happy New Year” – and exchange red envelopes of money ( lai see). On New Year’s Day, a huge night parade passes through Tsim Sha Tsui, while on the second day of the Lunar New Year, dazzling fireworks light up Victoria Harbour.

2 SPRING LANTERN FESTIVAL

Falling on the first full moon of the Lunar New Year (15 February 2022), the Spring Lantern Festival is held to bid farewell to the previous year. Huge, brightly-lit lanterns of all shapes and sizes can be found as part of a parade in TST. The lanterns stay on display for about a month.

3 TIN HAU FESTIVAL

More than 70 temples dedicated to Tin Hau, goddess of the sea, are scattered across Hong Kong and stand as a testament to the territory’s rich maritime heritage. People old and young visit the temples for Tin Hau’s birthday in April or May (early April 2022). The biggest celebration is out in Yuen Long.

4 CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL

Sleepy fishing village Cheung Chau comes to life during its annual bun festival, held on Buddha’s Birthday – the fifth to the ninth days of the fourth lunar month (27 April – 1 May 2022). Marked to honour the Taoist god Pak Tai, the centuries-old celebration is famous for sweet buns, culminating in a Bun Scrambling Competition, involving the climbing of 60-foot bamboo towers. Another highlight is the Piu Sik (Floating Colours) Parade, featuring local school children on floats.

5 DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, or Tuen Ng Festival, takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (3 June 2022) and is a public holiday. On this day, colourful dragon-boat races, where teams paddle accompanied by drum beats, are held around the city. Also, a massive three-day party takes place down at the Central Harbourfront space as dragon boaters race across Victoria Harbour.

6 HUNGRY GHOST

Incense fills the air and small fires erupt on roadsides across the city in late August/early September when the Hungry Ghost Festival falls, and especially on the specific festival day (21 August 2021). During this “ghost month”, the gates of hell are said to open, leaving the un-dead free to wander. Food is given as offerings to them, and paper versions of valuable goods including mobile phones, bags and money.

7 MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL

This major festival (21 September 2021) has been celebrated since the Tang Dynasty and honours the full moon, a symbol of unity for the Chinese. Traditional round pastries known as mooncakes are still given, alongside modern versions. A mustsee event is the enormous fire dragon dance in Tai Hang, where a Chinese dragon made with 70,000 glowing incense sticks winds through the streets down to Tin Hau. And don’t miss the lantern display in Victoria Park.

8 CHINESE NATIONAL DAY

Hong Kong celebrates Chinese National Day on the same day (1 October) every year, marking the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Celebrations vary, but the main event is a fireworks display over Victoria Harbour. A word of warning: this week (also known as Golden Week) is a popular travel time for Chinese tourists, so make sure you book activities a long way in advance!