Hong Kong Festivals and Events
May 2015

The top Hong Kong Festivals and events for May 2015 feature an array of colorful festivals that open up the season of cultural celebrations in the city including

• Buddha bathing ceremonies...
• ...Lively parades for the birthday of Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea...
• ...The one-of-a-kind bun-scrambling contest at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival...

This is a great month to be in Hong Kong! Take advantage of the fantastic festivals and the last balmy days before the scorching heat and humidity of summer start trickling in...

Here's this month's line-up:

• Birthday of Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea - May 11, 2015

• Cheung Chau Bun Festival - May 22 - 26, 2015

• Birthday of Buddha Celebrations - May 25, 2015

• Birthday of Tam Kung, the Seafarer's God - May 25, 2015

• Stanley Dragon Boat Warm-Up Races - May 23, 2015

Also check-out these popular ongoing events during May 2015:

• Free cultural exhibitions: Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Feng Shui

• The Symphony of Lights, Hong Kong's light and sound show

• Victoria Harbour Cruises

• It's race time! The Horse Races at Happy Valley are on!

Birthday of Tin Hau - May 11, 2015

Tin Hau is the Goddess of the Sea, given that in the past Hong Kong was a fishing town and most everybody's lives were tied to the sea, Tin Hau is sort of the "patron saint" of the city and you can imagine that the Tin Hau Festival is a really big deal.

There will be colorful and lively celebrations including the unique fa pau floats unique to the celebration, dragon parades, lion dances and feasts... anywhere there is a Tin Hau temple nearby, and there are over 60 in Hong Kong!

Some of the most vibrant and notorious celebrations are in Yuen Long in the New Territories and Joss House Bay in Saikung, which boasts the oldest Tin Hau Temple in Hong Kong. Also the coastal towns will be celebrating: Stanley, Lamma Island, Peng Chau and Cheng Chau as well.

The Yuen Long Tin Hau Festival Procession

Without a doubt, the Procession and Fa Pau Parade in Yuen Long with a whole array of lion and dragon dances, marching bands and cultural performances is one of the most colorful ones in the territory.

When?: May 11, 2015

Where?: Yuen Long in the New Territories

How Much?: Free!

Here's more on Hong Kong's Tin Hau Festival.

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The Cheung Chau Bun Festival - May 22-26, 2015

A very colorful and unique festival in the island of Cheung Chau, just a short ferry ride away.

The Cheung Chau Bun Festival has been celebrated for hundreds of years and is dedicated to the god Pak Tai, in thanks for protecting the island and to drive away the evil spirits.

One trademark of the festival is the huge bamboo mountains covered with handmade buns which are set up near the Pak Tai Temple where the majority of the celebrations take place.

There are the parades, lion dances, the many rituals and of course lots of drumming!

This is a very lively event, not to be missed if you are in Hong Kong during this period.

When? This is a week-long celebration starting on May 22 and culminating on May 26, 2015:

• Parade: Monday May 25, 2015 - 2:00 - 4:00 pm
• Bun Scrambling Contest: Monday May 25, 2015 - 11:30 p.m.

Getting to Cheung Chau: 40 or 60 minutes with ferries from Central Pier #5 approx. every 30 minutes. The fast ferry is an enclosed cabin, the standard or slow one is a much more scenic way to get there on the outside decks.

More on the Cheung Chau Bun Festival and getting there.

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The Birthday of Lord Buddha - May 25, 2015

A celebration that will be observed at most monasteries, shrines and buddhist temples in Hong Kong to commemorate the birth of Buddha as worshippers and followers flock to the temples to pay their respects. The "Bathing of the Buddha" Ceremony is performed as part of the festivities.

One of the biggest celebrations is at the Hong Kong Big Buddha in Lantau and the nearby Po Lin Monastery.

Here's more on the Buddha Birthday and this year's celebrations.

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The Birthday of Tam Kung - May 25, 2015

Tam Kung, together with Tin Hau, is considered the protector of the fishermen and the seas, and so there is also a festival in his honor, on the eight day of the fourth moon, this year on the Western calendar it will be celebrated on May 25, 2015.

The festivities take place by the Tam Kung Temple in Hong Kong island and involve a large parade with the colorful dragon and lion dances, lots of drumming, acrobats and performers accompanying the floats and the procession.

When?: May 25, 2015 - Parade from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm

How to get there?: The Tam Kung Temple in Shau Kei Wan can be easily reached with the MTR: MTR Shau Kei Wan Station Exit D1, about a 5 minute walk to Tam Kung Temple Road, just follow the crowds.

Here's more on the Birthday of Tam Kung Celebrations.

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Stanley Dragon Boat Warm-Up Races - May 23, 2015

The Dragon Boat Festival is fast approaching and the Stanley Dragon Boat Warm Up Races are the perfect prelude to the most anticipated Dragon Boat International Championships coming up on June 20, 2015.

This is a great chance to take a peek at what is to come. The Warm Up races differ a bit from the regular races, the course is shorter and the number of paddlers is limited to 18, but although on a smaller scale, it is still a very exciting fun-filled day of dragon boat racing with the same action-packed festival atmosphere and enthusiasm as the main event.

When?: May 23, 2015, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where?: Stanley Main Beach. Click here for more on Stanley Market, Stanley Beach and how to get there

How Much? Free!

Check out this short clip of the Stanley Dragon Boat Warm-Up Races held in the previous years:

Here's more on the Dragon Boat Festival and the Stanley Warm-Up Races

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Ongoing Hong Kong Events for May, 2015

These are some popular ongoing events that are worth checking out, specially since they are FREE or offered for a very low fee!

These events feature some of the great and ancient traditions of the territory and are offered by experts in their corresponding fields:

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The Symphony of Lights

The Symphony of Lights is Hong Kong's light and sound show, a tribute to the city and its people, their diversity, energy and vitality.

The stage is the entire city, which is what makes it so unique, you can watch the lights from just about anywhere in the waterfront.

This free show offered by the city, takes place every night at 8:00 pm and lasts aboout 15 minutes.

When?: Every Night

Where?: Can be seen from both sides of Victoria Harbour

How Much? Free

Click here for more on Hong Kong's Symphony of Lights and best spots to watch.

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The Happy Valley Horse Races

Happy Valley Hong Kong whether or not you are a horse racing enthusiast is an experience not to be missed!

The beautiful horses, the skillful jockeys, the crowds going wild, they all add up to an exciting, fun-filled, thrilling atmosphere in a world-class venue.

The Happy Valley race course itself is a sight in itself, the city has built around it through the years and it is now practically surrounded by skyscrapers, an awesome experience specially at night when the city is illuminated.

When?: Wednesday Nights. First race starts at 7:15 p.m. and the gates open at 5:15 p.m. The races are done by 11:00 p.m.

Where?: Happy Valley Race Course

How Much? Depends, there are many ways to experience the races, from General Stand to Private Boxes and special packages including dinner and drinks. General Stand entrance starts at HK10.

Click here for more on Happy Valley Horse Racing, how to get there and options for viewing the races.

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Hong Kong Events