How do People Celebrate Tuen Ng Festival In Hong Kong?

The Tuen Ng Festival is also referred to as the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. In Mainland China, the name Duanwu Festival is also used. The festival is one of the busiest in Hong Kong and one of the most significant Chinese festivities on the lunar calendar. Every year, it is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It’s marked by the famous Dragon Boat Races, after which the celebration is named, and other activities like eating rice dumplings.

Keep reading to find out more about what this festival celebrates (its origin) and how one can participate in the festival in Hong Kong.

Origin of the Dragon Boat Festival

There are differing theories about the origin of the festival, but the most widely accepted one is about Chu Yuan, also written as Qu Yuan. The traditional Chinese legend has it that this Chinese poet and minister drowned himself in 278 BC to protest against the emperor. When people heard that he had drowned, they jumped into boats to search for him. Failing to find him, the people hit drums and made loud noises hoping to scare away the fish so that they won’t touch Chu Yuan. The people lived along the river and put cooked rice in the river as a sacrifice. However, realizing that the fish ate the rice, the rice was now wrapped in bamboo leaves. This is what evolved into the present-day rice dumplings.

How Hong Kongers celebrate Tuen Ng Festival 

The People in Hong Kong celebrate this public holiday in different following ways. Here are the most popular traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival:

1. Paying homage to Qu Yuan
2. Sampling rice dumplings on the morning of the festival for a late breakfast. They may sometimes be wrapped in rice paper or bamboo. The texture and flavor also vary, depending on the region.
3. Other culinary delights that grace the occasion include Mianshanzi, fried round cake, eggs steamed with tea, and pancakes that contain meat and mushrooms. Mianshanzi is a flour-based dish with a fan-like shape. It is vibrant and colorful in the manner of the Dragon boat festival.
4. Boat races take place across waterways as part of the festival. Many of these races come with prizes and medals. The dragon-headed canoes take the form of a traditional Chinese dragon and often get special paint and designs for the occasion; the fierce and vibrant colors used are reminiscent of the old war canoes. Drumbeats go with the movements of the ornately carved boats and fierce painted dragon heads and tails. The heavy drumming gets intense as the racers near the finish line.
5. After the races, it is considered good luck to “swim in the dragon boat water,” although generally, this may mean swimming in the sea. Some of the races are held near beaches, notably at Stanley Beach and the races on Lamma and Cheung Chau, which are adjacent to public beaches. This is a fun activity on what is usually a sweltering hot day.

Perfect Tuen Ng Festival Gift Hampers

We have the best hampers perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, housewarmings, corporate events, pre-dinner treats, or any other occasion or festival. These comprise a wide range of fresh fruits to be shared. Chose any of the three hampers listed below or browse through our website for more options;

• Gold Blossom Fruit Hamper with Shangri-La Rice Dumpling

This luxury gift basket is filled with fruits and goodies. It’s the perfect present to gift to your friends, family, or colleagues for whatever occasion. The presentation guarantees that it’ll bring joy to everyone.

The gift basket includes:

• Shangri-La Rice Dumpling
• Seasonal fruits may include apples, kiwis, oranges, pears, citrus leiocarpa, green pears, grapes, dragon fruit, avocado, grapefruit, pomelo, pineapple, and melon.
• Gift Hampers Hong Kong Fabric Gift Box [35cm(L) x 25cm(W) x 15.5cm(H); with 1 large fruit & 10 – 13 x seasonal fruits

Moonlight Fruit Hamper with Shangri-La Rice Dumpling

This lovely gift hamper is ideal for sending a message of love and appreciation to those you care about. Please send it to someone to show them how thankful you are to have them in your life.

The fruit hamper includes:

• Shangri-La Rice Dumpling
• 2 x Gianna Tea Tin, 20g
• Travel Tea Set
• Seasonal fruits may include: apples, kiwis, oranges, pears, citrus leiocarpa, green pears, grapes, dragon fruit, avocado, grapefruit, pomelo, pineapple, melon
• Gift Hampers Hong Kong Handle Rectangular Basket [45cm(L) x 32cm(W) x 10.5cm(H); with 1 large fruit & 16 – 18 x seasonal fruits

Exclusive Fruit Gift Box with Wine & Shangri-La Rice Dumpling

Are you looking for a healthy gift to bring to your boss or colleagues? This fruit hamper is fit for the occasion. There’s a collection of fruits and some red wine to enjoy.

The gift basket includes:

• French Grande Garrigue
• Shangri-La Rice Dumpling
• Seasonal fruits may include: apples, kiwis, oranges, pears, citrus leiocarpa, green pears, grapes, dragon fruit, avocado, grapefruit, pomelo, pineapple, melon
• Gift Hampers Hong Kong Exclusive Round Gift Box [38cm(W) x 11cm(H); with 1 x large fruit & 10 – 12 x other seasonal fruits]

Note: Our hampers come with a complimentary Gift Hampers Hong Kong Message Card, and we offer free delivery to Hong Kong Metropolitan Areas.

Fun Facts About the Celebration of the Tuen Ng Festival

The Tuen Ng Festival is a time for friends, families, and business partners to come together to have some fun. Here are some fun facts we thought you should know about the festival:

1. Since the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, it’s also called the double fifth festival.
2. This festival is not about dragons. It’s about an exiled poet who killed himself over 2,000 years ago.
3. People wash down the dumplings with realgar wine or beer. So if you’re looking to have some fun with your friends, the live entertainment and music will make the atmosphere fun and exciting for you. Realgar wine is believed to drive away evil spirits and promote a healthy life.