Dating back to Hong Kong’s maritime days, these festivals pay homage to Tin Hau, the goddess of the sea and patron saint of fishermen. This year the celebrations take place on the first day of May. There are dozens of Tin Hau temples across Hong Kong, most of them staging lively celebrations and festivities with bands and lion dances.
The venue for the largest festival is Yuen Long, in the village of Shap Pat Heung. A three-hour parade progresses along Fung Cheung Road to Yuen Long Stadium carrying 30 massive colourful floral floats, called fa pau, which are raffled at the stadium, with the winners taking home the auspicious wreaths for good luck.
There’s another major Tin Hau festival in the seaside town of Sai Kung, attracting thousands of celebrants. This is the only day of the year that First Ferry heads there from North Point Pier, so guests can not only see the festival but also enjoy the bonus of a truly scenic ride.
For people who prefer a slightly less busy and more local experience, there are also charming smaller events at Cheung Chau, Peng Chau, Lamma Island and Tsing Yi.
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