Feng Shui & Traditional Festivals

Feng Shui, the ancient practice of aligning buildings and objects to attract good luck and ward off misfortune, still plays a big part in Hong Kong’s daily life. It is seen not only in the city's major buildings, like the HSBC building in Central with its high, hollow atrium to invite good energy, but also in daily activities. Many visit the Taoist Wong Tai Sin temple to pick up lucky amulets or the Che Kung Temple to spin the wheel of fortune three times for good luck.

Locals pay their respects to dragons – symbols of strength and good luck in Chinese culture – at traditional festivals. One notable example is the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, held during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Visitors can learn about the fire dragon's legend at a heritage centre in Tai Hang. Dragon and lion dances are also held all over Hong Kong during Chinese New Year to bring good luck, with performances accompanied by drums and firecrackers to scare away evil spirits.

Another unique Hong Kong celebration is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, which takes place on the island of the same name in early May. Bun gatherers clamber up three 60-metre-tall bamboo towers to gather as many white Chinese buns as they can. Just before midnight, a paper effigy of the King of Ghosts is set ablaze, and the buns are later distributed to villagers. The Festival also features a parade with a children’s float, allowing visitors to join in the festivities alongside the locals.