Chung Yeung Festival, also known as the Double Ninth Festival, is a day for ancestor remembrance and family gatherings, when people visit ancestral graves to pay respects, make offerings, and hike to high places for good fortune and protection against misfortune.

When is Chung Yeung Festival?

Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month every year.

The following is the list of Chung Yeung Festival from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Chung Yeung Festival?

The Chung Yeung Festival has a history of over 2,000 years, dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) in China. It is observed on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, a date considered auspicious yet potentially unstable according to ancient Chinese numerology.

In traditional cosmology, the number nine (九) is a yang (陽) number, symbolizing positive energy. Since the date has double yangs (九月九日), it was believed that this day carried an overabundance of yang energy, requiring rituals to balance and ward off misfortune, hence the name "Double Ninth".

The most famous legend associated with the festival is the Story of Huan Jing. According to folklore, Huan Jing studied under a Taoist master who warned him that a calamity would strike his village on the ninth day of the ninth month.

Following his teacher's advice, Huan Jing took his family to high ground, carrying chrysanthemum wine and dogwood leaves (both thought to repel evil). When they returned home, they discovered that a plague had indeed struck and many had died — but his family was spared. From then on, people began the custom of climbing hills and drinking chrysanthemum wine on that day to avoid disasters and bring longevity.

Over time, the festival evolved from a Taoist protective ritual into a day of ancestor veneration, family unity and outdoor activity. During the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties, the practice of ascending mountains, enjoying chrysanthemums and paying respects to ancestors became deeply ingrained in Chinese society.

As Chinese communities migrated southward, the Chung Yeung Festival was brought to Hong Kong and has remained an important traditional holiday since the city's early days. The customs of grave-sweeping and hill-climbing fit naturally with Hong Kong's mountainous landscape and strong family traditions.

The Hong Kong SAR Government recognizes Chung Yeung Festival as a public holiday, typically falling in October. It is a time for both spiritual reflection and leisure, families gather for outings, hiking, or picnics after visiting graves.

The Chung Yeung Festival in Hong Kong, rooted in ancient Chinese legend and Taoist beliefs, has evolved into a day for honoring ancestors, appreciating nature and promoting family unity.