Public & Statutory Holiday Chung Yeung Festival

The Chung Yeung Festival occurs on the 9th day of the 9th month and is sometimes referred to as the double 9 festival. It is said that in 200 B.C. a man of the Han Dynasty avoided a catastrophe in his village by taking his family to a high place for the day. The man took with him food and a jug of chrysanthemum wine. This story has developed into a tradition whereby Chinese go picnicking in the mountains on this day. Chung Yeung is also a family remembrance day. Families visit graves to pay their respects to founding ancestors. They share the food they bring along, especially Chinese cakes called ko, which is a homonym of the word for "top". It is also an auspicious time for the young and for lovers.