Must Experience in the Lunar July! The Intangible Cultural Heritage Charm of Hong Kong's Yulan Festival

I was amazed last weekend while strolling through the "Yulan Cultural Festival" at Victoria Park! As a national intangible cultural heritage, the Yulan Festival showcased tradition in a youthful way—the most thrilling part was the "Gau Competition," where participants stood on the "Gau Stand" competing to grab "Blessing Items," and the audience cheered along. Who knew traditional rituals could be so intense💥 Nearby, the Chaoshan culture class was super informative. An elder explained the origin of the "Offering to the Lonely" in Cantonese, paired with the paper offerings displayed on-site, instantly revealing the warm core of this custom~ The organizers also prepared free publications and small paper offering souvenirs. Holding a "mini paper garment" for photos made for a meaningful keepsake📸 Actually, Hong Kong's Yulan Festival originates from the Chaoshan immigrants in the city, and the true traditional atmosphere can only be found in the communities~ Throughout the entire lunar July, visiting old districts like Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong, you can witness the grand scenes of tall opera stages and tables full of offerings. When the elders sincerely burn incense, the swirling smoke is filled with longing for the departed~ The most touching part was seeing young people earnestly learning to fold paper offerings, with grandmothers teaching the "paper clothes" patterns hand in hand. The connection between tradition and modernity is hidden in these details~ Next time, I definitely want to experience the real festival in the community and witness the century-old reverence and warmth~