Written by Holly Booth
Although the weather typically isn’t great, April and May are good months in Hong Kong. This is partly due to the numerous celebrations of culture and religion in the city, and partly (mostly) due to the resulting six public holidays.
Falling on April 4th or 5th, Ching Ming festival, or Tomb Sweeping day is one of the few traditional Chinese festivals that follows a solar calendar and therefore occurs at the same time each year. Ching Ming translates into ‘clean’ and ‘bright’ and marks the arrival of spring whilst also serving as a time to honour ancestors, reflect on family heritage, and reconnect with nature.
To see what else is happening in Hong Kong in April, check out our guide to April events.
Origins
Ancestral worship has always played a central role in Chinese spirituality. The origins of the Ching Ming festival, or Qing Ming as it’s also known, stretch back over 2,500 years to the Zhou Dynasty where emperors would offer their ancestors sacrifices in order to bless the country with peace, prosperity and bountiful harvests for the coming year.
Ching Ming also shares its roots with another ancient festival, Hanshi or cold food festival. Originating in 6th century BC, the tale goes that a Duke named Wen of Jin faced exile after losing his throne. Among all his followers, only Jie Zitui remained loyal, staying by his side through 19 difficult years.
When Duke Wen eventually reclaimed his position, he wanted Jie to revel in his glory with him. Uninterested in wealth or recognition, Jie retreated to the mountains with his mother to live a life of seclusion. Duke Wen wanted to restore his friendship with Jie so desperately that in an attempt to flush him out of the mountains, the Duke ordered fires to be set in the woods and unintentionally caused Jie and his mothers tragic death.
Overcome with grief, the Duke decreed that no one should use fire during those three days each year, essentially forcing people to eat only cold food (hence cold food festival). This took place just before Ching Ming and over time, the two festival customs merged. Today, while the tradition of eating cold food during Ching Ming has waned, some still enjoy cold green rice dumplings known as qing tuan as a nod to tradition.
How do people celebrate today?
Ching Ming has evolved and is celebrated differently by different people these days but the essence of it remains the same; a day for the living to connect to the dead.
Some families may gather and visit their ancestral tombs or graves where they will sweep and clean the grave site. Once cleared, offerings such as tea, wine, and rice are often presented and incense and ghost money are burned to send to the afterlife. After completing their various rituals and traditions, many families will gather to share a meal made up of special dishes prepared for the occasion.
In Hong Kong, where space is a premium, the urns of people’s deceased can be found in columbariums so families may visit these or a temple instead, or choose to make offerings at altars within their own homes.
Beyond the rituals and customs of ancestral worship, Ching Ming in modern times is mostly an opportunity for families to spend time together, usually over a communal lunch or dinner. As the festival coincides with the arrival of spring, people also engage in outdoor activities such as picnicking or kite flying, a tradition that has been part of the celebration for many years.
Whether celebrated with traditional rituals or with more simplified customs, Ching Ming remains a timeless occasion that brings people together and is a perfect example of how Hong Kong respects its past whilst finding joy in its present.
Things to do on Ching Ming
Many of the cemeteries (and the routes to get there) will be very busy but if you’re willing to brave it, you could check out some of the larger cemerteries such as Wo Hop Shek public cemetery or Sai Wan War cemetery in Chai Wan. Take a wander through Chai Wan afterwards for cheap eats and shopping. Chai Wan is located on the island line of the MTR but Wo Hop Shek is in Fan Ling, near the China border and you’ll need to get a combination of trains and buses to reach it.
If you’re not so keen on cemeteries but still want to experience some culture, you could check out a temple such as Wong Tai Sin Temple or Man Mo temple, both easily accesible by bus or MTR.
As Ching Ming is also about celebrating spring, you could pick up some snacks and go chill out in one of Hong Kong’s many parks or go watch the regular kite flyers out in Sai Kung. Check out how to get to Sai Kung and enjoy seeing a more rural side of the city.
Important things to know
If you’re visiting during Ching Ming, Hong Kong operates mostly as normal and you might not even notice there’s anything going on.
- Operating hours of various restaurants and businesses may be different to the usual with it being a public holiday but Google is mostly accurate when it comes to reflecting these updates. Some restaurants will also become very busy with families choosing to eat out rather than at home so if you’ve got your heart set on eating at a certain restaurant whilst you’re here, try to make a reservation in advance. Check out the newest restaurants in Hong Kong if you’re looking for some inspiration.
- Certain bus routes to various grave locations typically become very busy on Ching Ming. Many of these routes are based out in the New Territories but you can find an updated list of special transport arrangements here if you need more information.
- If you do want to visit a cemetery or temple at this time, be mindful not to disturb families paying their respects. Taking photos of graves or tombs is a big no no and try not to wear bright colours or skimpy clothing.
