Chung Yeung Festival

The Chung Yeung Festival, also known as the Double Ninth Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday observed on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. In Hong Kong, it falls on October 18, 2026. The festival dates back over 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty, rooted in the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, where the number nine is considered a powerful yang number. The double nine (九月初九) is believed to be a day of potential danger, as too much yang energy can bring misfortune. To counter this, people historically climbed mountains to avoid calamities, a practice inspired by a legend from the Eastern Han period: a man named Huan Jing was warned by a Taoist master to take his family to high ground on the ninth day of the ninth month to escape a plague. He did so, and upon returning, found all livestock had perished. This tale cemented mountain-climbing as a protective ritual. In Hong Kong, the festival retains its significance as a day to honor ancestors and ward off evil, blending folk beliefs with Confucian filial piety. The holiday is also associated with autumn, a time of harvest and reflection, making it a key part of Hong Kong's cultural calendar alongside Ching Ming Festival.

On Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong, families typically visit cemeteries to pay respects to their ancestors by cleaning graves, making offerings of food (such as chicken, roast pork, and fruits), burning incense and joss paper (ghost money), and pouring tea or wine. This practice of ‘grave sweeping’ (掃墓) is similar to that of Ching Ming but occurs during autumn. Many also embark on mountain hikes (登高), reenacting the protective ascent against misfortune. Popular hiking spots include Victoria Peak, Dragon’s Back, and Tai Mo Shan. Traditional foods include chrysanthemum wine (菊花酒) and chongyang cake (重陽糕), a steamed layer cake often decorated with dates and chestnuts. Families may also fly kites, symbolizing the release of bad luck. A common greeting is ‘Chung Yeung Fai Lok’ (重陽快樂) or ‘Double Ninth Festival blessings.’ Public festivities include lion dances and cultural performances in parks. The Hong Kong government often organizes free hiking and conservation activities to promote the festival’s heritage.