How long does Ghost Month last?

Ghost Month lasts for the entire seventh lunar month. In Hong Kong, it runs 23 Aug–21 Sep 2025 (festival day 6 Sep 2025) and 13 Aug–10 Sep 2026 (festival day 27 Aug 2026).

What’s the biggest Ghost Festival event in Hong Kong?

The Yu Lan Cultural Festival in Causeway Bay is the headline public event. In 2025 it is scheduled at Moreton Terrace Temporary Playground from 12–14 Sep (with a guided visitor tour on 7 Sep). Check the Hong Kong Tourism Board event page each year for final details.

Do Chinese celebrate Ghost Month? How do Hong Kong people mark it?

Yes. In Hong Kong, districts host Yu Lan gatherings (盂蘭勝會) throughout the month with chanting, offerings, charity rice distribution, and Cantonese/Chiu Chow opera in temporary bamboo theatres. You will also see street-side offerings and managed joss-paper burning.

Can I travel, move house, or cut my hair during Ghost Month?

Yes. Daily life continues as normal in Hong Kong—transport, offices and shops all operate. Some families observe taboos by personal choice; focus on courtesy around altars and burning bins.

What should I wear to a Yu Lan event?

Normal clothing is fine. For ceremonies, choose modest, non-flashy outfits and closed-toe shoes; avoid stepping over offerings or blocking burning bins and stages.

Is it okay to take photos at night events?

Casual photos in public areas are common, but ask a steward before close-ups during rituals, keep a respectful distance from altars, and avoid flash. Some families prefer no night photography for belief reasons.

What are common do’s and don’ts in Hong Kong during Ghost Month?

Do: walk around offerings and burn bins, keep pets and prams clear, and say “唔該借過 (m̀hgōi je gwo)” when passing. Don’t: step on or move offerings, pick up coins/red packets from the street, whistle at night or wear jangly bells/chains, tap someone’s shoulders or cover the forehead (a folk belief about ‘three guardian flames’), take random night photos in quiet places, or block a stage/burning area. Treat these as courtesy and safety tips, not rules.

Ghost Month (鬼月) in Hong Kong: a simple guide for expats 2025

aileen688
Aug 31
3 min read

Updated: Sep 1

Nighttime Yu Lan (Hungry Ghost Festival) offerings and joss-paper bins on a Hong Kong street in Causeway Bay. — Nighttime Yu Lan (Hungry Ghost Festival) offerings in Hong Kong

What is “Ghost Month”?

Ghost Month is the entire 7th lunar month. The peak night—called Ghost Festival / Yu Lan / Zhongyuan (盂蘭／中元)—falls on the 15th lunar day (some families observe the 14th).

People make offerings to ancestors and to wandering souls so no one is forgotten. In Hong Kong you’ll notice street offerings, managed joss-paper burning, and District Yu Lan (盂蘭勝會) with Buddhist/Taoist rites and sometimes opera. The custom blends Buddhist Ullambana (filial piety/relieving suffering), Taoist rites, and local folk practice.

How long is the Ghost Month in 2025?

Ghost Month (農曆七月): 23 Aug–21 Sep 2025
Hungry Ghost Festival (15th day): Saturday, 6 Sep 2025

Tip: lunar sources can differ by a day; most Hong Kong events anchor to the 15th day.

Do Chinese celebrate Ghost Month?

Yes. In Hong Kong, district Yu Lan (盂蘭) gatherings run through the 7th lunar month. You’ll see:

Street offerings & joss-paper burning managed by estates/buildings
Yu Lan community rites (盂蘭勝會) with chanting, charity rice distribution, and Cantonese/Chiu Chow opera in temporary bamboo theaters (神功戲)
The Hong Kong Chiu Chow Yu Lan observance is recognised as intangible cultural heritage, so you’ll find well-organised public events each year

Where & what to see (specific 2025 event)

Yu Lan Cultural Festival 2025—Causeway Bay
- Where: Moreton Terrace Temporary Playground (near Hong Kong Central Library).
- When: 12–14 Sept 2025, 10:00–20:00.
- What: “抢孤” climbing contest, “盆供堆疊” contest, history exhibition, guided tours & workshops, plus a visitor-only guided bus tour on 7 Sept (English/Mandarin).
- Free entry. Contact the organizer on the page. Discover Hong Kong

Note: Some event aggregators list older/incorrect locations (e.g., “Victoria Park” placeholders). Use the Hong Kong Tourism Board listing above as the authoritative page for 2025 dates/venue. Discover Hong Kong

“Front rows for ”ghosts”—what do local sources say?

You’ll often see empty front rows at community opera. Explanations vary:

Some local explainers say the first row is reserved for patrons/organizers (總理、善長), hence it appears empty.
Others stress the opera is to honor deities/spirits but is not literally a seating plan “for ghosts,” and the stage faces the ritual altar for 酬神.

So: treat empty seats as reserved/ritual etiquette, not a spectacle. Be respectful either way.

What you’ll see (and how to behave)

Common sights

Tables with fruit, roast meats, rice, incense/candles on pavements
Metal bins for joss-paper burning
Ritual tents and temporary bamboo stages; some front seats may look empty (often reserved/ritual etiquette)

Do (courtesy)

Walk around offerings and burn bins; keep pets/prams clear
If invited to place incense, a small bow is enough
Bin everyday rubbish away from altars or burn areas
If you want close-ups at night, ask a steward/neighbor first

Don’t (courtesy)

Don’t step on food, incense, or joss paper (even if it looks like “just paper”)
Don’t block a burn bin or stage with bikes/buggies
Don’t move someone’s offerings to “make space.”
Don’t treat ceremonies as street theatre—keep photos low-key

Traditional taboos

Say 唔該借過 (m̀hgōi je gwo) or 唔該借借 (m̀hgōi je je) as you pass—polite and practical
Don’t pick up coins/red packets on the street—they are believed to be offerings (sometimes linked to 冥婚)
Avoid late-night hiking or swimming—old taboo mentions 水鬼 seeking a 替死鬼; modern view: safety first (visibility/currents)
Don’t whistle at night; avoid jangly bells/chains—sounds are said to attract spirits
Don’t tap shoulders or cover the forehead—folklore says it “dims” the three guardian flames (三把火) on the forehead/shoulders.
Be cautious with random night photos in quiet places—some families avoid them during Yu Lan
Mind your words near altars—many say 「好兄弟」 instead of 「鬼 (gwái)」

Bottom line

Ghost Month in Hong Kong is about respect, remembrance, and community—not fear. Mark 6 Sep 2025 for the peak night, watch for offerings from late Aug to mid-Sep, and follow simple courtesy around altars and burn bins.

If you’d like to practise festival phrases with feedback, or learn more about Hong Kong culture, try our Cantonese Classes

This article is written by Aileen Ting, founder of Mandarin & Cantonese Tutor HK.