Famous Festivals in Hong Kong – A Peek into Hong Kong’s Colourful Culture

Cheung Chau Bun Festival is native to the island of Cheung Chau and is a part of the Taoist ritual festivals in Hong Kong. It is the region's own celebration of commemorating the birth of Lord Buddha, which is celebrated by the natives of Hong Kong in a fervent manner. The eclectic nature of this festival attracts thousands of tourists every year. Kwon Kam Kee buns are used to decorate a towering centrepiece, most of which would be consumed during the event. It is said that over 60,000 buns were consumed during the 2017 edition of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

A highlight of the Hong Kong cultural scene, Hong Kong Arts Festival is an annual gathering of artists from Hong Kong, mainland China, and across the globe. Several events from various genres such as dance, world music, drama, and Chinese Opera are conducted as part of this festival. The festival was initially established in 1973 and is held during February and March every year. The performance art can be seen in all major theatres, exhibition centres, and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, which is located adjacent to properties such as Cosmo Hotel Wan Chai Hong Kong.

With its roots lying in Buddhism and Taoism, the Ghost Festival, or the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated to commemorate and worship the dead, including family ancestors. It is held on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month each year. This festival is one of the best cultural attractions in Hong Kong where they perform special rituals to keep the wrath of the ghosts at bay. Some of these rituals include laying the family's ancestral tablets, paintings, and photographs on a table and burning incense near them and preparing food three times per day.

A famous Cantonese festival that is celebrated just before the Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year Fair is also known as the flower market. In Hong Kong, these fairs are held in different locations, notably in Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park. One can look forward to seeing hundreds of stalls that sell different auspicious flower plants such as peony, narcissus, chrysanthemum, and fruit plants such as mandarin. Stalls that sell dry rations for Chinese New Year are a common sight as well. Visiting this fair is a part of the New Year traditions, which attracts massive crowds of Chinese natives on to these market stalls on the eve of the New Year.

In Hong Kong, you will be exposed to a variety of festivals that are celebrated by people across the world. Le French May is an annual event organised by the French Embassy in Hong Kong to popularize French culture. This festival includes operas, visual arts, music and theatre, classical and contemporary dance, cinema, and even circus performances.