Hong Kong Families Honor Ancestors Despite Rising Costs

On the final day of the Chung Yeung Festival long weekend, Hong Kong families headed to cemeteries to pay respects to their ancestors. The rituals ranged from full traditional ceremonies to simple gestures like offering a bunch of flowers. This year, many families felt the pinch of rising costs for traditional offerings such as roast pork and paper ingots, but they still found ways to keep the traditions alive.

At Chai Wan MTR station on Monday morning, more than a dozen people lined up for the special tomb-sweeping bus to Cape Collinson Chinese Permanent Cemetery. Citybus staff noted that the service had been busier the previous day, with each bus—running every 20 minutes—full and carrying over 80 seated passengers. The queue was shorter on Monday, perhaps because some families had already made their visits earlier in the weekend.

Despite the higher prices, families were determined to honor their ancestors. Some opted for simpler offerings, like a single bouquet of flowers, while others went all out with elaborate setups. The festival, which emphasizes filial piety, remains a vital part of Hong Kong culture, and families are adapting to economic pressures without losing the essence of the tradition.

The scene at the cemetery was a mix of solemnity and practicality. Families cleaned graves, left offerings, and burned incense, all while keeping an eye on their budgets. The Chung Yeung Festival, observed on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, is a time for families to come together and remember their roots. Even with rising costs, the spirit of the festival endures.