• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • SCMP Posties summer camps - journalismInteractive camps for budding journalists – and more!
        • Win a dinner for 2 at Basin (worth $2,000)
        • SCMP Posties summer camps - journalismInteractive camps for budding journalists – and more!
        • Exciting summer programmes for kids – in HK and abroad!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • Great podcasts we are listening to!
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
        • Designing Circularity ExhibitionTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • Horoscopes for June 2023!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • SCMP Posties summer camps - journalismInteractive camps for budding journalists – and more!
        • SCMP Posties summer camps - journalismInteractive camps for budding journalists – and more!
        • Exciting summer programmes for kids – in HK and abroad!
        • International schools in Hong Kong - HKABest International Schools In Hong Kong, Primary to Secondary
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • BoConcept Danish furniture and interior design services in Hong Kong - roomsetBoConcept celebrates a decade in Hong Kong!
        • Home design and décor tips - ginger jarsHow to bring your living room to life!
        • Rebecca, Brian and daughter Billie in their newly renovated Fortress Hill homeTransforming a Hidden Gem in Fortress Hill
        • Horizon Plaza stores - Indigo Living Boston Brownstone CollectionOur guide to furniture shopping at Horizon Plaza
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
        • Boat sailing around the PhilippinesSailing the Philippine archipelago
        • Pets and Planes: 5 Things to Consider
        • Sri Lanka - Where to go for a girls tripWhere to go for a girls’ trip
        • Best Surf Breaks in Southeast Asia - padang padangBest Surf Breaks in Southeast Asia
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Ruby Tuesday Hong Kong - burger mealTaste Test Burger Edition #2: Ruby Tuesday
        • Win a dinner for 2 at Basin (worth $2,000)
        • Beef & Liberty burgers in Hong Kong - Falafel burgerTaste Test Burger Edition #1 Beef & Liberty
        • Seafood restaurant in Hong Kong - Lobster Shack4 restaurants to satisfy your cravings
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • hair treatment at Glow Salon in Hong Kong4 hairdressers and their styling solutions
        • Considering getting hair extensions?
        • Paraben-free skincare for men
        • Skincare anti-ageing products, overnight creams, face and eye serumsTried and Tested: Anti-ageing Products 
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • 11 great gyms & studios to keep in shape
        • recurrent miscarriages – causes, risk factors, ivf treatmentHealth help: A focus on recurrent miscarriage
        • lung cancer - symptoms and treatmentLung Cancer: 8 Common Myths
        • Osteopathy in Hong KongOsteopathy for Body Aches & Pains
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • Magazine
    • Advertise With Us
    • Close

Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong

31 August, 2022 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/mid-autumn-festival-in-hong-kong-where-to-celebrate/

Mid-Autumn Festival will soon be upon us, which means it’s time to break out the lanterns to honour the long-time tradition of families giving thanks for the harvest. Held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month in the Chinese calendar, the 2022 Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festival is on Saturday, 10 September and Monday, 12 September is a public holiday.

What’s the festival all about?

The festival historically marks and celebrates the end of the autumn period of harvesting crops. During this thanksgiving celebration, families would traditionally gather to eat mooncakes and admire the full moon. Moon worship also played a part; food was offered to the moon, and lanterns were carried to symbolise its light.

There are lots of legends surrounding this cultural festival, including the tale of famous archer Hou Yi and his beautiful wife Chang’E. In ancient times, 10 suns are said to have existed, making the heat unbearable. Hou Yi became a hero after shooting down nine of the ten suns. He was given a magical elixir of immortality for his bravery by a goddess. In order to protect the elixir from being stolen, Chang’E swallowed it, causing her to fly to the moon, where she has remained forever. In her honour, people eat mooncakes and look at the moon in hopes of seeing her.

There’s also another popular story behind the origins of mooncakes. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Han Chinese used the sweet treats to hide secret messages as part of their plan to overthrow the Mongols who were ruling at the time. From that time on, the Chinese have baked and eaten mooncakes to commemorate the event during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

 lanterns

Modern Celebrations

So, how do people recognise Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong these days? Well, we still come together to celebrate with family – and, for many expats, that can mean being with our close friends because we’re away from family back in our home countries.

A must-see event over the course of the festival period is the enormous fire dragon dance in Tai Hang. At this event, a Chinese dragon constructed with 70,000 glowing incense sticks winds through the streets down to Tin Hau, behind Causeway Bay. It’s quite a sight! (For details, visit taihangfiredragon.hk.)

If you can’t make it to Tai Hang, the good news is that there are local gatherings held all over the city. Here’s our guide to some of the best places for enjoying the festivities.*

*Keep in mind that some activities in HK may be affected by current restrictions. Please check the latest government updates before you head out.

#1 Fire Dragon Dance at Pok Fu Lam Village

This may be a smaller scale version of the Tai Hang fire dragon dance, but for those in the Pok Fu Lam neighbourhood, it’s a great option. This event is all about community, so make sure you don’t miss it if you live nearby.

Pok Fu Lam

#2 Causeway Bay Urban MidAutumn Lantern Carnival

Lantern Carnivals are held in a few places across the city. This one in Causeway Bay’s Victoria Park is a must-see for those living on the Island. The event is happening on 10-12 September and it features beautiful lanterns, cultural performances and stalls with games. There’s also a similar carnival at Tsing Yi Park.

Moon festival

#3 Lantern Display at TST

Not to be confused with the Spring Lantern Festival (which happens at the very beginning of the year), the Mid-Autumn Lantern Display along the promenade at TST is lovely. If you live on the Island, take the Star Ferry over after sunset and check it out. It starts right near the clock tower, so you can’t miss it.

Lantern festival

#4 Local Beaches

If you live near Shek O beach, Discovery Bay’s Tai Pak beach, Repulse Bay beach or many other beaches, you can head there and you’ll likely find your community gathered with lights. It’s a fun evening for the kids and many families bring a picnic.

Mid autumn festival

Say no to glow sticks!

Glow sticks are popular at these events but please keep in mind they’re very damaging to the environment. This is single-use plastic at it’s worst. So, keep the glow sticks at home and try a lantern with a torch.


See more in our
Living in Hong Kong section

Subscribe to Expat Living magazine now so you never miss an issue.

Categories: Arts & Culture Family Fun Living In Hong Kong Things To Do Tags: Culture and tradition Festivals Hong Kong culture Living In Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

You May Also Like

SCMP Posties summer camps - journalism

Interactive camps for budding journalists – and more!

10 things about the Dragon Boat Festival 

Hong Kong based author M.L. Wright at book signing of White Glove Life

Meet the Author: M. L. Wright

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.