What's On in Hong Kong

There is always something going on in Hong Kong, and expats who move to the Fragrant Harbour can join in on a host of festivities throughout the year.

From traditional Chinese festivals to Western holidays such as Halloween, East and West live side by side in Hong Kong. It is worth noting that most traditional cultural events happen according to the Chinese lunar calendar, but equivalent dates on the Gregorian calendar can be easily found online.

Hong Kong prides itself on blending cultures and bringing traditions into the future, and there's no better way to see this in action than watching a magnificent display of fireworks explode and shower down on Hong Kong's glistening skyscrapers.

Annual events in Hong Kong

Cheung Chau Bun Festival (April/May)

The Cheung Chau Bun festival celebrates Pak Tai, a sea god who keeps natural disasters and pirates at bay. Locals celebrate by parading and burning papier-mâché effigies. At the centre of the festivities is the traditional bun-snatching competition, where competitors scramble up bamboo-scaffolded towers to retrieve steamed buns.

Dragon Boat Festival (May/June)

One of the most vibrant occasions in the cultural calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a national hero who drowned himself in protest against the region's corrupt rulers. To keep fish and evil spirits away from his body, villagers beat drums, used their paddles to splash the water and threw sticky rice into the river. Today, his memory is celebrated by the famous dragon boat race, which symbolises the search for his body, and eating zongzi – sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.

Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October)

A harvest festival celebrated across China and Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important celebrations of Chinese cultural heritage. Over a week, people give delicious mooncakes as gifts to friends, watch the moon amid hundreds of glowing lanterns, and take part in extravagant dragon and lion dances.

Chung Yeung Festival (October)

During this festival, families in Hong Kong go to clean their ancestral graves and give food offerings to the spirits of their ancestors. This is often followed by family picnics in the outdoors, while many people hike to the highest points around the city or fly kites for good luck.