Hong Kong Culture

Most of the Hong Kong Chinese are either Buddhists or Taoists. There are more than 600 temples outside Hong Kong, built in residential areas. With a nominal fee, you can have your fortune told at some of these temples. Worshippers during festivities who light joss sticks to ward off evil spirits crowd these temples. Opera is an important part of Chinese culture for hundreds of years. Certain shows in rural areas can last anywhere from 3 - 4 hours to five days. The music played in Chinese opera is too, somewhat interesting to people outside the societal boundary. The Chinese use a lot of glittering costumes and heavy makeup is applied on the faces of the actors/actresses. The ancient Hong Kong can be revisited through the country's museums. Many of the exhibits highlight local history, Chinese arts, and crafts. A 2,000-year-old tomb, traditional hardwood furniture, ancient Chinese ceramics, and classic lithographs are all available for you to witness. The museums are clean, most are air-conditioned with free admission. Truly a great way to rediscover ancient Hong Kong. There are also abundance of Chinese festivals throughout the year all over Hong Kong. These events have attracted a lot of visitors to come and see the Birthday of Tin Hau (goddess of the sea), Tuen Ng - Dragon Boat Festival - (in June), the Bun Festival on Cheung Chau Island, the Mid-Autumn Festival filled with sparkling lantern displays, and Chinese (Lunar) New Year for that spectacular display of fireworks in Victoria Harbour.