The Buddha's Birthday

📣 Traveler notes

Hong Kong is a multicultural destination, blending Chinese heritage with British influences, and incorporating various cultural inputs.

• Major festivals (e.g., Dragon Boat Festival, Chinese New Year) feature visible public events like lion dancing.
• Halloween is popular, with decorations and special programs in shopping centers and entertainment areas.
• Christmas celebrations use traditional Western decorations and often involve crowds and required restaurant bookings.
• Most shops and restaurants remain open during major holidays.
• Dress codes are generally relaxed across most dining establishments.
• Many places offer hot tea when rinsing utensils before meals.
• Use chopsticks when eating Chinese food, but Western cutlery is available in Western restaurants. Avoid sticking chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. Note local customs such as tapping the table to thank someone for tea or leaving a lid open to request a refill.