Hungry Ghost Festival

Held during the seventh month of the lunar calendar (typically falling in August or September), the Hungry Ghost Festival is a Taoist and Buddhist-influenced observance during which the spirits of the dead are believed to roam more freely, and are honoured with offerings.

What you might see

Small piles of burning joss paper and incense on street corners and pavements, particularly in older neighbourhoods, along with food offerings left out briefly before being cleared — a visible, if easily missed, part of the city's religious calendar during this period.

Community events

Some neighbourhoods, particularly those with strong traditional community associations, hold organised events including Chinese opera performances (see our Cantopop & opera guide) staged specifically for the spirits, with the front row of seating traditionally left empty.

Common customs during the month

Some residents avoid activities considered inauspicious during this period, such as moving house, getting married, or swimming after dark — observed by some more strictly than others, similar in spirit to the everyday superstitions covered in our superstitions guide.

As a visitor

There's nothing specific a visitor needs to do differently — simply being aware of the small street offerings if you notice them, and not disturbing them, is the main point of etiquette.