HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL

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In year 2011 The Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, the Tai O dragon boat water parade, the Tai Hang fire dragon dance and the Yu Lan Hungry Ghost Festival have been added to the third national intangible cultural heritage list. The cultural significance of these four items is recognised by having them inscribed onto the third national list of intangible cultural heritage.

There are about 1.2 millions people originating from Chiu Chow in Hong Kong who actively carry on their traditions. They are especially concentrated in most of the old housing estates in urban area, but not NT. During the ghost festival, which lasts for a month every year, the Chiu Chow people in Hong Kong organise the Yu Lan Festival that starts from the first day of the seventh lunar month and continues until the end of that month.

Having been held for more than 100 years, the festival is to offer sacrifices to ancestors and the wandering ghosts in the netherworld. The main activities include burning incense and joss papers, performing live Chinese operas and dramas for ghosts, distributing auspicious rice and auctioning auspicious objects. These performances usually take place in parks or public playgrounds. Chinese opera performance stages and a sacrificial altar are set up at each venue and the dramas are mainly in Chiu Chow style. Other performing arts and handicraft making are also held.

Hungry Ghost festival is by far the largest scale festival due to its number of opera shows (60) and number of people, who are participating. Despite being the number 1 regarding heritage and diversity in Hong Kong, its history is shorter as most of participants belong to immigrant groups, who came to Hong Kong after the war (Thanks Paul).

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Activities related to Yu Lan Festival are held at 80 different places in Hong Kong SAR. Part of those places are:

Hong Kong island (25)

1. Tin Wan Estate in Aberdeen
   01^st and 02^nd days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
2. Ap Lei Chau in Aberdeen
   01^st to 03^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
3. Chai Wan
   Chinese opera is featured.
   01^st to 03^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition)
4. Stanley
   An exorcising Procession is happening at daytime.
   02^nd to 05^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
5. Shau Kei Wan
   02^nd to 05^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
6. Playground Kennedy Town (Sai Wan) - Fly there
   Chinese opera is featured.
   07^th to 09^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
7. Aldrich Bay playground in Shau Kei Wan - Fly there
   Chinese opera is featured.
   10^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
8. Tin Wan Estate in Aberdeen
   13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
9. Wah Fu Estate in Aberdeen
   Hungry Ghosts rituals are important for residents. Many suicide cases happened before in Wah Fu estate. It is believed that the rituals helped to purify and clean the estate to prevent any new suicide cases. A procession of Taoist priests and residents is performing the rituals through the estate.
   13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Tin Wan Estate, Wah Kwai Estate) (Chiu Chow tradition).
10. Ap Lei Chau in Aberdeen
    14^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
11. Wah Fu Estate in Aberdeen
    Hungry Ghosts rituals are important for residents. Many suicide cases happened before in Wah Fu estate. It is believed that the rituals helped to purify and clean the estate to prevent any new suicide cases. A procession of Taoist priests and residents is performing the rituals through the estate. Four Yulan festivals at the same time are organized in Wah Fu estate.
    14^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Wah Sang House, Wah Cheong House, Wah Tai House, Wah King House) (Punti tradition).
12. Sai Wan Ho
    One of the special ritual is the breaking of Hell gate.
    16^th to 18^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
13. Siu Sai Wan
    18^th to 20^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
14. Chai Wan
    Chinese opera is featured.
    21^st to 23^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
15. Playground Moreton Terrace in Causeway Bay - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured. The Yu Lan Ghost Festival is the oldest and is over 100 years. It is behind the central Library and reflects one of the old neighborhood of Chiu Chow people.
    21^st to 23^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
16. Wah Fu Estate in Aberdeen
    Hungry Ghosts rituals are important for residents. Many suicide cases happened before in Wah Fu estate. It is believed that the rituals helped to purify and clean the estate to prevent any new suicide cases. A procession of Taoist priests and residents is performing the rituals through the estate. Four Yulan festivals at the same time are organized in Wah Fu estate.
    22^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Wah Chui House) (Punti tradition).
17. Thomson Road in Wan Chai
    23^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition)
18. Eastern Street in Sai Ying Pun - Fly there
    It had disappeared in year 2010. Not because of money but some people said it was conflicts between old and young generations within the group. In 2011 it was back. In 2014 there was no more Yu Lan festival as well due to lack of money.
    24^th to 26^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
19. Staunton Street in Central
    It is a small setup in an area previously called Central 30 Houses. It is now called Soho. There were many coolies houses in this area.
    24^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
20. Aberdeen Street in Central - Fly there
    25^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year.
21. Hing Man Estate in Chai Wan
    26^th to 29^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
22. Hill Road in Shek Tong Tsui - Fly there
    This festival is directly under a flyover and possibly the only one in Hong Kong not to take place in a spacious area or playground. Chinese opera is featured.
    27^th to 29^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition)
23. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
24. Pok Fu Lam

Kowloon (34)

1. Shek Lei Estate in Kwai Chung
   01^st to 03^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
2. Tung Tau Estate in Kowloon City - Fly there
   01^st to 03^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
3. Po On Road Playground in Cheung Sha Wan - Lei Cheng Uk estate - Fly there
   Cheung Sha Wan is a very traditional area with four Yu Lan Festivals during the ghost month. Two Chiu Chow festivals (Buddhist ritual), one Cantonese festival (Daoist ritual) and one festival conducted in a special folk religion ritual. They all share the costs of structures of bamboo scaffolding. Yu Lan Ghost Festival in western districts are generally with a longer history and are about 70 or 80 years.
   04^th to 06^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
4. Ngau Tau Kok - Fly there
   Chinese opera is featured. It is organized at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate (directly across exit-A of Kowloon Bay MTR).
   04^th to 06^st day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
5. Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Tsz Wan Shan
   04^th to 06^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
6. Shun Tin Estate in Kwun Tong
   04^th to 06^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
7. Kai Tak East Playground in San Po Kong / Wong Tai Sin - Fly there
   Chinese opera is featured. Two Chiu Chow communities organize the festivals. So there are two events of three days sharing the same infrastructures but different Chinese opera troupes.
   07^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
8. Yau Tong / Lei Yue Mun
   07^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
9. Po On Road Playground in Cheung Sha Wan - Lei Cheng Uk estate - Fly there
   Cheung Sha Wan is a very traditional area with four Yu Lan Festivals during the ghost month. Two Chiu Chow festivals (Buddhist ritual), one Cantonese festival (Daoist ritual) and one festival conducted in a special folk religion ritual. They all share the costs of structures of bamboo scaffolding.
   08^th to 10^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
10. Choi Wan Estate in Wong Tai Sin
    Choi Wan Estate is a 35 years public housing estate. This celebration is facing the threat from urbanisation.
    09^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
11. Shun Lee Estate, Choi Wan Estate, Kai Yip Estate in Wong Tai Sin
    09^th and 10^th days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
12. Sycamore Street Playground in Mongkok / Tai Kok Tsui - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured. It is located near the Kowloon Funeral Parlour.
    10^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
13. Lam Tin Service reservoir Playground in Lam Tin - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    10^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
14. Shun On Estate in Kwun Tong
    10^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
15. Lok Fu estate, Wang Tau Hom Estate, Tin Ma Court in Wong Tai Sin
    10^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
16. Wuhu Street Temporary Playground in Hung Hom - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
17. Hong Ning Road Playground in Kwun Tong - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
18. Fu Yan Street / Yan Oi Court in Kwun Tong - Fly there
    Yan Oi Court was a 1960's private residential buildings with less than 9 storeys. As Kwun Tong Town Centre Project is ongoing, this celebration is facing the threat from urbanisation.
    13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
19. Sau Mau Ping road Soccer Pitch in Sau Mau Ping - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
20. King George V Memorial Park in Yau Ma Tei - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
21. Yau Tong
    13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
22. Ngau Tau Kok - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured. It is organized at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate (directly across exit-A of Kowloon Bay MTR).
    15^th to 21^st day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
23. Argyle Street Park Playground in Kowloon City - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    16^th to 20^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
24. Wai Chi Street Playground in Shek Kip Mei - Fly there
    16^th to 20^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
25. To Kwa Wan Recreation Ground in To Kwa Wan - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    21^st to 23^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
26. Sycamore Street Playground in Mongkok / Tai Kok Tsui - Fly there
    21^st and 22^nd days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
27. Mongkok Market - Fly there
    This local Hungry Ghost festival may be over as neighbours complained on disturbance caused.
    22^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year.
28. Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Tsz Wan Shan
    22^nd to 25^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
29. Po On Road Playground in Cheung Sha Wan - Lei Cheng Uk estate - Fly there
    Cheung Sha Wan is a very traditional area with four Yu Lan Festivals during the ghost month. Two Chiu Chow festivals (Buddhist ritual), one Cantonese festival (Daoist ritual) and one festival conducted in a special folk religion ritual. They all share the costs of structures of bamboo scaffolding.
    23^rd to 25^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
30. Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    27^th to 29^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
31. Po On Road Playground in Cheung Sha Wan - Lei Cheng Uk estate - Fly there
    Cheung Sha Wan is a very traditional area with four Yu Lan Festivals during the ghost month. Two Chiu Chow festivals (Buddhist ritual), one Cantonese festival (Daoist ritual) and one festival conducted in a special folk religion ritual. They all share the costs of structures of bamboo scaffolding.
    27^th to 29^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
32. Tai Wo Hau playground in Tsuen Wan - Fly there
33. Oi Man Estate in Ho Man Tin
34. Chuk Yuen South Estate in Wong Tai Sin
    First Saturday of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).

New Territories (15)

1. Lok Tsuen playground in Fanling
   01^st to 03^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition)
2. Kwan Tei in Fanling
   05^th and 06^th days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition)
3. Po Fook Hill in Taiwai
   08^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition)
4. Tai Kong Po, Pat Heung in Kam Tin
   10^th to 12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
5. Nam Chung
   10^th to 14^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
6. Sam Shing Estate in Tuen Mun
   11^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year.
7. Castle Peak Bay land in Tuen Mun
   11^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Fishermen tradition).
8. Yim Tso Ha in Sha Tau Kok
   13^rd to 15^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year. It features Cantonese Opera.
9. Lau Fau Shan
   14^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition)
10. Fu Tei Au in Sheung Sheui
    17^th and 18^th days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition)
11. Park in Yuen Long - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    18^th to 20^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
12. Sham Tseng
    Sham Tseng is the only place with puppet opera for Hungry Ghost festival.
    18^th to 20^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year.
13. Yuen Wo Playground in Shatin - Fly there
    Chinese opera is featured.
    21^st to 23^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
14. Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre in Sai Kung
    27^th to 29^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Chiu Chow tradition).
15. Sandy Ridge

Islands (10)

1. Yung Shue on Lamma island
   04^th to 06^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
2. Ma Wan
   11^st to 13^rd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
3. Tai O on Lantau island
   12^nd day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Fishermen tradition).
4. Peng Chau island
   An extraordinay Ghost Banquet organized by the Hoklo Community is happening at nighttime. Rituals are performed by the Hoklo Taoist priests. They are generally quite different from most of the Chiu Chow's Hungry Ghost Festivals conducted in Buddhist rituals emphasizing in scripture chanting. They do carry the statue around the island. Many flags, animal dances and worshipers are present.
   12^th to 16^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Hoklo tradition).
5. Tsing Yi
   15^th to 17^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
6. Tap Mun
   16^th to 17^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
7. Lung Mo / Yuet Lung Sing Yuen temple on Peng Chau island
   18^th to 20^th day of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
8. Luk Tei Tung village in Mui Wo, Lantau island
   21^st to 24^th days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).
9. Cheng Chau island
   25^th and 26^th days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Fishermen tradition).
10. Mui Wo on Lantau island
    25^th and 26^th days of the seventh lunar month of every year (Punti tradition).

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• SHEUNG WAN

The Yu Lan Ghost Festival of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow community is now part of China's national intangible cultural heritage. It is always impressive to see how the Yu Lan festivals are customized from one area to another. That is very interesting to study.

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• SAI YING PUN

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• SHAU KEI WAN

Hungry Ghost festival celebrations face a lot of diversity all over Hong Kong SAR territory. Shau Kei Wan celebrations include two celebrations, i.e. a Daoist one and a Buddhist one (Chiu Chow group). They happen the same month but during different days. They also share the temporary structure for the Chinese opera. The Daoist celebration features a specific hell door and a poster instead of ghost King paper effigy.

In Shau Kei Wan, male Chinese opera performers sleep under the theater.

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• HILL ROAD

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• CAUSEWAY BAY

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