🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 15 (from laksa053)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa015.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://macaulifestyle.com/culture/your-guide-to-the-hungry-ghost-festival/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://macaulifestyle.com/culture/your-guide-to-the-hungry-ghost-festival/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/your-guide-to-the-hungry-ghost-festival\/","crawl_time":1775309303,"first_indexed_time":1548317491,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,macaulifestyle!\/culture\/your-guide-to-the-hungry-ghost-festival\/ s443","src_root_hash":"8658744593948791415","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Your Guide to the Hungry Ghost Festival - Macau Lifestyle","meta_descriptions":["The gates of hell are open! Find out what the Hungry Ghost Festival, and all its rituals, superstition, and symbols, are about."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"The evening is hot and humid–you’re walking alone in a dark Macau back alley and out of nowhere, you hear a mysterious crackling sound. There is no one around, but suddenly you see a flame jump up from a box on the edge of the sidewalk which illuminates the dim concrete in a flash. Further down the street, you hear low mournful murmurings coming from Chinese families who stand, hands clasped together, kneeling amongst blood-red burning candles and incense. There is food scattered around the area and it looks like someone had a feast, but whom? Well, to answer this and put your worries at ease, this is not a ghost story, but is, in fact, all part of the Hungry Ghost Festival which is an ancient celebration steeped in superstition.\nWho You Gonna Call?\nNo, you definitely don’t want to call the Ghostbusters. This festival is all about appeasing, honoring and respecting the ghosts so you don’t want to do anything that might upset them this month. It takes place over the course of the seventh lunar month, which runs from 1 August to 29 August, with the key date being on 15 August. During this Ghost Month, they say the gates of hell stay open until the festival comes to a close after 30 days. During this time you will see people burning incense, ‘hell money’, and other offerings as gifts to appease the restless spirits freed from the underworld. They say spirits with children or grandchildren will return home while lone spirits with unfinished business will roam freely and feast instead.\nIt’s not all as sinister as it sounds–in fact, the celebration has a lot to do with folk culture, ancestral love and reverence. The Hungry Ghost or Yu Lan Festival has been in practice for over 100 years. For the whole month, and especially on August 15, a range of rituals and celebrations is held both for the living and the dead. You can expect to see Chinese opera performances, lanterns hung or floating in water to help guide the invisible ghosts to operas and banquets, and lots of small fires by the roadsides as people burn their offerings.\nFestival Origins\nOne of the most popular origin stories for the festival features a Buddhist monk, Mu Lian, who was haunted by his deceased mother in the form of a ‘Hungry Ghost’. When she had been alive she was driven by a heartless soul, led by relentless greed, so she was punished in hell where any food reaching her mouth would turn to ash. Deeply saddened, Mu Lian sought advice from Buddha. To help his mother in hell reach heaven sooner, Mu Lian had to organize a grand feast for all hungry ghosts, and soon the Hungry Ghost Festival was born.\nIn Taoism, the Hungry Ghost Festival is referred to as Zhongyuan. But whether it’s Taoism or Buddhism, the essence and aim of the festival lies in spreading love with an open heart and to help others in need. This is most evident amongst the people coming from Chaozhou–a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China. The widespread practice of the Hungry Ghost Festival was brought to Hong Kong and Macau by the Chiu Chow (people of Chaozhou) community. The first generation of Chiu Chow people immigrated to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. During their travels, many died without proper burials and it was believed that they would face purgatory. The Chiu Chow community highly values brotherhood and respect so, even if many are unrelated to one another, they will still show love and honor to anyone who has passed away through ancestral worship and the Hungry Ghost Festival. They arrange feasts and entertainment for the spirits with the aim of satiating the ghosts’ endless hunger in the underworld and also to bless and bring good luck to the living (what goes around comes around, right?).\nHow to Participate\nWhile its practices and importance have diminished somewhat, the Hungry Ghost Festival is still a way to preserve cultural traditions and practices, and pass these on to future generations. The Hungry Ghost Festival was listed as China’s intangible cultural heritage and it is still a fairly big celebration.\nRituals, Do’s and Don’ts\nPay your respect and avoid touching or moving anything that might be an offering on the roadside as these may or may not be by a shrine and might include food, ‘hell money’ and other gifts. To feed the Hungry Ghosts, people usually place a variety of food, including oranges, tea cakes, and meat items. You will also see large tin cans used for burning the offerings for the ancestors and roaming souls. Other paper offerings and replicas of items in the real world are also burnt to give their ancestors a comfy, and often luxurious, afterlife (these days you will find paper models of iPhones, massage chairs, Louis Vuitton shoes, mansions, and more–you name it they’ll have it in the form of an offering for the dead).\nThree-Day Carnival\nA typical Hungry Ghost Festival celebration usually takes place in the form of a carnival held in and around large bamboo theaters. These will be held in different neighborhoods around Macau and Hong Kong, and usually run for three days–some longer. These carnivals are about entertaining the dead, and the living, and they take in wide open places such as parks and sports pitches. Expect to find some running around 15 August.\nTypical Carnival Rundown\nDay 1\nA ritual is performed as a formal invitation to welcome the spirits to join the grand feast and there are games, Chinese opera performances, and more. Delicious food and wine are placed all around bamboo theaters as offerings. In one corner of the carnival, a portrait of a ‘guard’ is hung, who is actually the Goddess of Mercy in disguise, there to monitor the spirits, in case ‘they’ get out of hand during the party.\nDay 2\nA ritual is performed to ask for blessings involving five tables. These are placed in front of the bamboo theater, each according to a cardinal direction (north, east, south, west) with one in the center. 13 Buddhist householders then hold up small flags in the colors black, red, white, light green and yellow and jog in accordance to the music.\nDay 3\nA chanting ritual is conducted before small treats made out of flour are tossed out to the public. It is said whoever gets the most will be most blessed. Rice is also given out and there is be a grand feast in the evening.\nA few of these carnivals will be taking place around Macau, but over in Hong Kong they usually hold the biggest in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. This Yulan Cultural Festival will run from 10:00am–8:00pm from 16–18August. It will take place on Soccer Pitch 1 in Victoria Park. Key highlights include an exhibition showcasing customs and traditions, a VR Experience, a 3D Shooting Area, Exhibition of Historical Photos of Yu Lan, Yu Lan Culture in Asia and more.\nTake Note of These Taboos!\nDon’t hang wind chimes over your bed, especially above your head because wind chimes attract restless souls\nDon’t put the front of your slippers facing toward the bed because spirits follow that direction to where the living are located\nDon’t stay out too late, or have your name printed on anything you wear–you don’t want the ghosts calling out your name\nDon’t lean against walls as restless spirits hold on to walls\nDon’t stand your chopsticks vertically in the middle of a bowl of rice. This is similar to incense, and will attract ghosts\nDon’t pat people on the shoulders. A person is said to have three points of energy in the form of fire (one on the forehead, one on each shoulder) and if you put out someone’s ‘fire’ it will lure spirits to them\nIt’s bad luck to get married or open a new shop or restaurant at this time–postpone it, if possible\nPhotos credited to the\nFederation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations\nTags\ncelebrations\nevents\nfestivals\nHong Kong\nhungry ghosts\nmacau","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=1717731864967734&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n[![Macau Lifestyle](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/logo.png)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/)\n\nMenu\n\nMenu\n\n- [What's On](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/whats-on\/)\n  ### Categories\n  - [Giveaways](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/whats-on\/giveaways\/)\n  - [Entertainment](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/whats-on\/entertainment\/)\n  \n  ### Recent Stories\n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Grand-Hyatt-Macau-P742-Christmas-Tree-Green-170x120.jpg) A Season of Sparkle: This Christmas at Grand Hyatt Macau Events & Promotions](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/hotels\/a-season-of-sparkle-this-christmas-at-grand-hyatt-macau\/)\n  \n  [![Horoverse X MAEN watch](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Horoverse-X-MAEN-watch-2-170x120.jpg) Horoverse x MAEN: Limited Edition Neon Cities Timepiece Celebrates Hong Kong and Macau’s Iconic Glow Jewelry & Watches](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/whats-on\/horoverse-x-maen-limited-edition-watch\/)\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/DDK_5541-170x120.jpg) Step into History: The Macallan 200 Years Young Exhibition Events & Promotions](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/whats-on\/events-promotions\/the-macallan-200-years-young-exhibition\/)\n- [Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/)\n  ### Categories\n  - [Restaurants](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/restaurants\/)\n  - [Local Eats](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/local-eats\/)\n  - [Cafes](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/cafes\/)\n  - [Bars](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/bars\/)\n  - [Chef Spotlight](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/chef-spotlight\/)\n  \n  ### Recent Stories\n  [![our bucket list of things to do if you’re visiting Macau on a Budget. 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There is no one around, but suddenly you see a flame jump up from a box on the edge of the sidewalk which illuminates the dim concrete in a flash. Further down the street, you hear low mournful murmurings coming from Chinese families who stand, hands clasped together, kneeling amongst blood-red burning candles and incense. There is food scattered around the area and it looks like someone had a feast, but whom? Well, to answer this and put your worries at ease, this is not a ghost story, but is, in fact, all part of the Hungry Ghost Festival which is an ancient celebration steeped in superstition.\n\n#### **Who You Gonna Call?**\nNo, you definitely don’t want to call the Ghostbusters. This festival is all about appeasing, honoring and respecting the ghosts so you don’t want to do anything that might upset them this month. It takes place over the course of the seventh lunar month, which runs from 1 August to 29 August, with the key date being on 15 August. During this Ghost Month, they say the gates of hell stay open until the festival comes to a close after 30 days. During this time you will see people burning incense, ‘hell money’, and other offerings as gifts to appease the restless spirits freed from the underworld. They say spirits with children or grandchildren will return home while lone spirits with unfinished business will roam freely and feast instead.\n\nIt’s not all as sinister as it sounds–in fact, the celebration has a lot to do with folk culture, ancestral love and reverence. The Hungry Ghost or Yu Lan Festival has been in practice for over 100 years. For the whole month, and especially on August 15, a range of rituals and celebrations is held both for the living and the dead. You can expect to see Chinese opera performances, lanterns hung or floating in water to help guide the invisible ghosts to operas and banquets, and lots of small fires by the roadsides as people burn their offerings.\n\n#### **Festival Origins**\nOne of the most popular origin stories for the festival features a Buddhist monk, Mu Lian, who was haunted by his deceased mother in the form of a ‘Hungry Ghost’. When she had been alive she was driven by a heartless soul, led by relentless greed, so she was punished in hell where any food reaching her mouth would turn to ash. Deeply saddened, Mu Lian sought advice from Buddha. To help his mother in hell reach heaven sooner, Mu Lian had to organize a grand feast for all hungry ghosts, and soon the Hungry Ghost Festival was born.\n\nIn Taoism, the Hungry Ghost Festival is referred to as Zhongyuan. But whether it’s Taoism or Buddhism, the essence and aim of the festival lies in spreading love with an open heart and to help others in need. This is most evident amongst the people coming from Chaozhou–a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China. The widespread practice of the Hungry Ghost Festival was brought to Hong Kong and Macau by the Chiu Chow (people of Chaozhou) community. The first generation of Chiu Chow people immigrated to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. During their travels, many died without proper burials and it was believed that they would face purgatory. The Chiu Chow community highly values brotherhood and respect so, even if many are unrelated to one another, they will still show love and honor to anyone who has passed away through ancestral worship and the Hungry Ghost Festival. They arrange feasts and entertainment for the spirits with the aim of satiating the ghosts’ endless hunger in the underworld and also to bless and bring good luck to the living (what goes around comes around, right?).\n\n![Feast of the hungry ghost Macau Lifestyle photo two](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Feast-of-the-hungry-ghost-Macau-Lifestyle-photo-two-1024x632.jpg)\n\n#### **How to Participate**\nWhile its practices and importance have diminished somewhat, the Hungry Ghost Festival is still a way to preserve cultural traditions and practices, and pass these on to future generations. The Hungry Ghost Festival was listed as China’s intangible cultural heritage and it is still a fairly big celebration.\n\n#### **Rituals, Do’s and Don’ts**\nPay your respect and avoid touching or moving anything that might be an offering on the roadside as these may or may not be by a shrine and might include food, ‘hell money’ and other gifts. To feed the Hungry Ghosts, people usually place a variety of food, including oranges, tea cakes, and meat items. You will also see large tin cans used for burning the offerings for the ancestors and roaming souls. Other paper offerings and replicas of items in the real world are also burnt to give their ancestors a comfy, and often luxurious, afterlife (these days you will find paper models of iPhones, massage chairs, Louis Vuitton shoes, mansions, and more–you name it they’ll have it in the form of an offering for the dead).\n\n#### **Three-Day Carnival**\nA typical Hungry Ghost Festival celebration usually takes place in the form of a carnival held in and around large bamboo theaters. These will be held in different neighborhoods around Macau and Hong Kong, and usually run for three days–some longer. These carnivals are about entertaining the dead, and the living, and they take in wide open places such as parks and sports pitches. Expect to find some running around 15 August.\n\n#### **Typical Carnival Rundown**\n**Day 1**\n\n- A ritual is performed as a formal invitation to welcome the spirits to join the grand feast and there are games, Chinese opera performances, and more. Delicious food and wine are placed all around bamboo theaters as offerings. In one corner of the carnival, a portrait of a ‘guard’ is hung, who is actually the Goddess of Mercy in disguise, there to monitor the spirits, in case ‘they’ get out of hand during the party.\n\n**Day 2**\n\n- A ritual is performed to ask for blessings involving five tables. These are placed in front of the bamboo theater, each according to a cardinal direction (north, east, south, west) with one in the center. 13 Buddhist householders then hold up small flags in the colors black, red, white, light green and yellow and jog in accordance to the music.\n\n**Day 3**\n\n- A chanting ritual is conducted before small treats made out of flour are tossed out to the public. It is said whoever gets the most will be most blessed. Rice is also given out and there is be a grand feast in the evening.\n\nA few of these carnivals will be taking place around Macau, but over in Hong Kong they usually hold the biggest in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. This Yulan Cultural Festival will run from 10:00am–8:00pm from 16–18August. It will take place on Soccer Pitch 1 in Victoria Park. Key highlights include an exhibition showcasing customs and traditions, a VR Experience, a 3D Shooting Area, Exhibition of Historical Photos of Yu Lan, Yu Lan Culture in Asia and more.\n\n#### **Take Note of These Taboos\\!**\n- Don’t hang wind chimes over your bed, especially above your head because wind chimes attract restless souls\n- Don’t put the front of your slippers facing toward the bed because spirits follow that direction to where the living are located\n- Don’t stay out too late, or have your name printed on anything you wear–you don’t want the ghosts calling out your name\n- Don’t lean against walls as restless spirits hold on to walls\n- Don’t stand your chopsticks vertically in the middle of a bowl of rice. This is similar to incense, and will attract ghosts\n- Don’t pat people on the shoulders. A person is said to have three points of energy in the form of fire (one on the forehead, one on each shoulder) and if you put out someone’s ‘fire’ it will lure spirits to them\n- It’s bad luck to get married or open a new shop or restaurant at this time–postpone it, if possible\n\nPhotos credited to the [Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations](https:\/\/www.fhkccc.org.hk\/)\n\n#### Tags\n- [celebrations](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/celebrations\/)\n- [events](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/events\/)\n- [festivals](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/festivals\/)\n- [Hong Kong](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/hong-kong\/)\n- [hungry ghosts](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/hungry-ghosts\/)\n- [macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/macau\/)\n\n## Trending Posts\n[![Hon Kee cafe in Coloane](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-popular-posts\/32095-featured-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/best-breakfast-spots-in-macau-to-eat-like-a-local\/)\n\n[Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/), [Local Eats](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/local-eats\/)\n### [Best Breakfast Spots in Macau to Eat Like a Local](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/best-breakfast-spots-in-macau-to-eat-like-a-local\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-popular-posts\/77863-featured-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/best-portuguese-egg-tarts-macau\/)\n\n[Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/), [Local Eats](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/local-eats\/)\n### [Where to Find the Best Portuguese Egg Tarts in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/best-portuguese-egg-tarts-macau\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-popular-posts\/63386-featured-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau-transport\/)\n\n[Local Knowledge](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/local-knowledge\/), [Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/travel\/macau\/), [Sightseeing](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/sightseeing\/), [Travel](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/travel\/)\n### [Getting Around in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau-transport\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/wordpress-popular-posts\/80340-featured-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau\/the-ultimate-macau-casino-guide-for-non-gamblers\/)\n\n[Entertainment](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/whats-on\/entertainment\/), [Hotels](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/travel\/macau\/hotels-macau\/), [Hotels](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/hotels\/), [Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/travel\/macau\/), [Macau Weekend](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/whats-on\/macau-weekend\/)\n### [The Ultimate Macau Casino Guide For Non-Gamblers](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau\/the-ultimate-macau-casino-guide-for-non-gamblers\/)\n\n- ### Editor's Picks\n  [![woman holding phone and coffee](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/5-apps-macau-phone-coffee-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/top-apps-need-macau\/)  [Local Knowledge](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/local-knowledge\/)\n  \n  ### [Macau Apps: The Best Apps You’ll Need in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/top-apps-need-macau\/)\n  When in Macau, consider these 5 must-have applications that will make your life or stay easier.\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dynamic-wang-vIcJqXYSp4w-unsplash-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau-transport\/)  [Local Knowledge](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/local-knowledge\/)\n  \n  ### [Getting Around in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau-transport\/)\n  Macau is a small but immensely interesting place with plenty of things to see and do. With many modes of transport, getting around has never been simpler.\n  \n  [![ladies night macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/ladies-night-macau-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/bars\/ladies-night-macau\/)  [Bars](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/bars\/)\n  \n  ### [Where My Ladies At: The Best Ladies’ Night Offers in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/bars\/ladies-night-macau\/)\n  From free-flow champagne to free Prosecco bottles, check our list of the best ladies’ night offers in Macau.\n  \n  [![Salvador Dali Alice in Wonderland Macau Lifestyle hidden artwork Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Salvador-Dali-Alice-in-Wonderland-Macau-Lifestyle2-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/arts\/hidden-artwork-macau\/)  [Arts](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/arts\/)\n  \n  ### [Art Masterpieces in Macau You Did Not Know Existed](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/arts\/hidden-artwork-macau\/)\n  Some pieces of art are in the most prominent spots, but there are some artwork that remain hidden in Macau. 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Here’s a list of the best playgrounds in Macau for the tykes\\!\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Maria-do-Leste-Bloody-Mary-from-St-Regis-Macao-Updated-Photo-2020-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/bars\/shaken-or-stirred-macaus-best-cocktails\/)  [Bars](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/bars\/)\n  \n  ### [Shaken or Stirred: Macau’s Best Cocktails](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/bars\/shaken-or-stirred-macaus-best-cocktails\/)\n  The world of mixology often proves to be as diverse and surprising as the one of gastronomy. Exercising talent and immense creativity, Macau’s bartenders keep creating signature cocktails that impress us with both flavors and presentation. If you are tired and bored with mojitos and negronis and need tips on what else to try, check out our guide to Macau’s best cocktails.\n  \n  [![sound-of-century-vintage-sound-machines-museum](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sound-of-century-vintage-sound-machines-museum--340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/macaus-quirkiest-museums\/)  [Arts](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/arts\/)\n  \n  ### [Macau’s Quirkiest Museums](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/macaus-quirkiest-museums\/)\n  When art and history collections are inspected, it’s time to learn things that even locals might not know. Read on to plan a visit to Macau’s quirkiest museums.\n  \n  [![Pataca currency](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/28147772270_6d85a5126f_b1-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/macau-currency\/)  [Local Knowledge](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/local-knowledge\/)\n  \n  ### [The Pataca Story: The Peculiar History of Macau’s Currency](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/macau-currency\/)\n  The Pataca is special as not many countries the size of Macau would have their currency. Read on to find out about the origins of the Pataca.\n  \n  [![Vintage Around Exterior Front View Macau Lifestyle](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Vintage-Around-Exterior-Front-View-Macau-Lifestyle-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/where-to-shop-vintage-in-macau\/)  [Culture](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/)\n  \n  ### [Where to Shop Vintage in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/where-to-shop-vintage-in-macau\/)\n  If you’re a fashionista obssessed with all things vintage, this selection of the best vintage shops in Macau is for you. Happy shopping\\!\n  \n  [![Negroni bar patua mgm cotai macau lifestyle](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Negroni-bar-patua-mgm-cotai-macau-lifestyle-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/negroni-macau\/)  [Bars](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/bars\/)\n  \n  ### [Where to Have an Unforgettable Negroni in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/negroni-macau\/)\n  Check our list of the best bars in Macau that serve the Italian bitter-sweet cocktail, Negroni, from classic recipes to original twists\\!\n  \n  [![Coloane hiking trail](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Coloane-hiking-trail-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/guide-to-coloanes-hiking-trails\/)  [Culture](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/)\n  \n  ### [Guide to Coloane’s Hiking Trails](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/guide-to-coloanes-hiking-trails\/)\n  Coloane is home to most of the hiking trails in town. We walked them all and came up with the most comprehensive Coloane hiking trails guide.\n  \n  [![sponge-cake-macau-lifestyle-chinese-pastries](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sponge-cake-macau-lifestyle-chinese-pastries-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/our-guide-to-traditional-chinese-pastries-in-macau\/)  [Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/)\n  \n  ### [A Tour of Traditional Chinese Pastries in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/our-guide-to-traditional-chinese-pastries-in-macau\/)\n  Every tourist coming to Macau can make a fast conclusion that cookies and pastries here are held in high regard. Where do you start, and what do you eat? To get acquainted with a curious word of local sweets, check our guide to the Chinese pastries in Macau.\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/63c4f00b-ca84-4eda-8f54-1fc5b633bee6_l-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/architecture\/macaus-tap-seac-square-by-carlos-marreiros\/)  [Architecture](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/architecture\/)\n  \n  ### [Macau’s Tap Seac Square by Carlos Marreiros](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/architecture\/macaus-tap-seac-square-by-carlos-marreiros\/)\n  Have you ever wondered about Tap Seac Square, its history, and what used to be there? Find out more about its history and right here\\!\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Camo%CC%83es-Bust-in-Grotto-340x240.jpeg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/heritage\/the-camoes-phenomena-all-the-way-from-portugal-to-macau\/)  [Culture](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/)\n  \n  ### [The Camões Phenomena: All the Way From Portugal to Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/heritage\/the-camoes-phenomena-all-the-way-from-portugal-to-macau\/)\n  Portuguese poet Camões is well-known in Macau. But do you know why? We tell you some interesting facts about the author’s life\\!\n  \n  [![beijing memory li xiao feng mandarin oriental macau art](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/beijing-memory-li-xiao-feng-mandarin-oriental-macau-art-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/arts\/art-mandarin-oriental-macau\/)  [Arts](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/arts\/)\n  \n  ### [Art at Mandarin Oriental, Macau: Porcelain Dresses & Contemporary Glass Installations](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/arts\/art-mandarin-oriental-macau\/)\n  Read on to see how Mandarin Oriental, Macau, highlights its style and identity with art and design masterpieces by different artists.\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Nam-Ping-Exterior-Frontdoor-Macau-Lifestyle-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/nam-ping-a-local-foodie-haven-nestled-in-old-macau\/)  [Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/)\n  \n  ### [Nam Ping: A Local Foodie Haven Nestled in Old Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/nam-ping-a-local-foodie-haven-nestled-in-old-macau\/)\n  Set in Rua de Cinco de Outubro, Nam Ping is nestled in the city center, opened for more than 30 years, serving simple, mouthwatering dishes.\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Rooftop-Macau-Upstairs-Terrace-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/best-rooftops-in-macau-to-relax\/)  [Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/)\n  \n  ### [Best Rooftops in Macau to Relax At](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/best-rooftops-in-macau-to-relax\/)\n  Chilling on a rooftop with a cold drink is the best way to spend a day. Here’s a list of some of the hippest trending rooftops in Macau\\!\n  \n  [![Chou Kei](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Chou-Kei-noodle-soup-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/where-to-have-instant-noodles-with-egg-luncheon-in-macau\/)  [Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/)\n  \n  ### [Local Eats: Where to Have Instant Noodles With Egg & Luncheon Meat in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/local-eats\/where-to-have-instant-noodles-with-egg-luncheon-in-macau\/)\n  Instant noodles taste much better topped with a fried egg and luncheon meat! Here are the best places in Macau to have this delicacy.\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ferry-hong-kong-macau-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/10-useful-macau-ferry-tips\/)  [Culture](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/)\n  \n  ### [10 Useful Macau Ferry Tips](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/culture\/local-knowledge\/10-useful-macau-ferry-tips\/)\n  Although you can take the bridge now, the one-hour ferry ride is a unique and easy way to get from Macau to Hong Kong. Here are 10 essential tips to make your Macau to Hong Kong ferry trip trouble-free.\n  \n  [![hac-sa-reservoir-park](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/hac-sa-reservoir-park7-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/sightseeing\/best-things-to-do-around-hac-sa-beach\/)  [Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/travel\/macau\/)\n  \n  ### [Best Things to Do around Hac Sa Beach](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/sightseeing\/best-things-to-do-around-hac-sa-beach\/)\n  Hac Sa Beach on Coloane Island is a popular destination for both locals and visitors. It’s the perfect place for a day outside the city\\!\n  \n  [![Lord-Stows-Garden-Cafe-Coloane](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Lord-Stows-Garden-Cafe-Coloane-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/best-places-to-eat-in-coloane\/)  [Cafes](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/cafes\/)\n  \n  ### [Best Places to Eat in Coloane](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/best-places-to-eat-in-coloane\/)\n  Coloane is where locals and tourists come to enjoy chill vibes and home-style dining. Here are the best places to eat in Coloane for your next foodie trip\\!\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Tap-Seac-Swimming-Pool-Wide-View-from-Below-Sunny-Day-Macau-Lifestyle-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/lifestyle\/best-public-pools-macau\/)  [Family](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/lifestyle\/family\/)\n  \n  ### [Best Public Pools in Macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/lifestyle\/best-public-pools-macau\/)\n  Cool off or get your cardio in at the best public pools in Macau\\!\n  \n  [![](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Cheong-Kei-Noodles-Owner-with-Blurred-Noodles-in-Hand-Macau-Lifestyle-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/cheong-kei-noodle-factory\/)  [Dining](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/dining\/)\n  \n  ### [Cheong Kei Noodle Factory: A Local Family Business with Healthy Ambitions](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/dining\/cheong-kei-noodle-factory\/)\n  We learned the history of Cheong Kei Noodle Factory, the inspiration behind their products, and their vision for Cheong Kei’s future.\n  \n  [![AJ Hackett Macau Skywalk giveaway Macau Lifestyle](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/AJ-Hackett-Macau-Skywalk-Macau-Lifestyle-340x240.jpg)](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau\/everything-you-need-to-do-in-macau-at-least-once\/)  [Local Knowledge](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/category\/culture\/local-knowledge\/)\n  \n  ### [Everything You Need to Do in Macau at Least Once](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/travel\/macau\/everything-you-need-to-do-in-macau-at-least-once\/)\n  Take a dive into this article and find out what to do to spend your precious time in Macau and maximize it to enjoy the city at its fullest\\!\n\n- [About](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/about\/)\n- [The Team](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/team\/)\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/be-our-partner\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Terms and Conditions](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/terms-and-conditions\/)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/contact-us\/)\n***\n#### COPYRIGHT © 2026 • MACAU LIFESTYLE\n\nWe use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.\n\nOk","attrs_readable_markdown":"The evening is hot and humid–you’re walking alone in a dark Macau back alley and out of nowhere, you hear a mysterious crackling sound. There is no one around, but suddenly you see a flame jump up from a box on the edge of the sidewalk which illuminates the dim concrete in a flash. Further down the street, you hear low mournful murmurings coming from Chinese families who stand, hands clasped together, kneeling amongst blood-red burning candles and incense. There is food scattered around the area and it looks like someone had a feast, but whom? Well, to answer this and put your worries at ease, this is not a ghost story, but is, in fact, all part of the Hungry Ghost Festival which is an ancient celebration steeped in superstition.\n\n#### **Who You Gonna Call?**\nNo, you definitely don’t want to call the Ghostbusters. This festival is all about appeasing, honoring and respecting the ghosts so you don’t want to do anything that might upset them this month. It takes place over the course of the seventh lunar month, which runs from 1 August to 29 August, with the key date being on 15 August. During this Ghost Month, they say the gates of hell stay open until the festival comes to a close after 30 days. During this time you will see people burning incense, ‘hell money’, and other offerings as gifts to appease the restless spirits freed from the underworld. They say spirits with children or grandchildren will return home while lone spirits with unfinished business will roam freely and feast instead.\n\nIt’s not all as sinister as it sounds–in fact, the celebration has a lot to do with folk culture, ancestral love and reverence. The Hungry Ghost or Yu Lan Festival has been in practice for over 100 years. For the whole month, and especially on August 15, a range of rituals and celebrations is held both for the living and the dead. You can expect to see Chinese opera performances, lanterns hung or floating in water to help guide the invisible ghosts to operas and banquets, and lots of small fires by the roadsides as people burn their offerings.\n\n#### **Festival Origins**\nOne of the most popular origin stories for the festival features a Buddhist monk, Mu Lian, who was haunted by his deceased mother in the form of a ‘Hungry Ghost’. When she had been alive she was driven by a heartless soul, led by relentless greed, so she was punished in hell where any food reaching her mouth would turn to ash. Deeply saddened, Mu Lian sought advice from Buddha. To help his mother in hell reach heaven sooner, Mu Lian had to organize a grand feast for all hungry ghosts, and soon the Hungry Ghost Festival was born.\n\nIn Taoism, the Hungry Ghost Festival is referred to as Zhongyuan. But whether it’s Taoism or Buddhism, the essence and aim of the festival lies in spreading love with an open heart and to help others in need. This is most evident amongst the people coming from Chaozhou–a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China. The widespread practice of the Hungry Ghost Festival was brought to Hong Kong and Macau by the Chiu Chow (people of Chaozhou) community. The first generation of Chiu Chow people immigrated to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. During their travels, many died without proper burials and it was believed that they would face purgatory. The Chiu Chow community highly values brotherhood and respect so, even if many are unrelated to one another, they will still show love and honor to anyone who has passed away through ancestral worship and the Hungry Ghost Festival. They arrange feasts and entertainment for the spirits with the aim of satiating the ghosts’ endless hunger in the underworld and also to bless and bring good luck to the living (what goes around comes around, right?).\n\n![Feast of the hungry ghost Macau Lifestyle photo two](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Feast-of-the-hungry-ghost-Macau-Lifestyle-photo-two-1024x632.jpg)\n\n#### **How to Participate**\nWhile its practices and importance have diminished somewhat, the Hungry Ghost Festival is still a way to preserve cultural traditions and practices, and pass these on to future generations. The Hungry Ghost Festival was listed as China’s intangible cultural heritage and it is still a fairly big celebration.\n\n#### **Rituals, Do’s and Don’ts**\nPay your respect and avoid touching or moving anything that might be an offering on the roadside as these may or may not be by a shrine and might include food, ‘hell money’ and other gifts. To feed the Hungry Ghosts, people usually place a variety of food, including oranges, tea cakes, and meat items. You will also see large tin cans used for burning the offerings for the ancestors and roaming souls. Other paper offerings and replicas of items in the real world are also burnt to give their ancestors a comfy, and often luxurious, afterlife (these days you will find paper models of iPhones, massage chairs, Louis Vuitton shoes, mansions, and more–you name it they’ll have it in the form of an offering for the dead).\n\n#### **Three-Day Carnival**\nA typical Hungry Ghost Festival celebration usually takes place in the form of a carnival held in and around large bamboo theaters. These will be held in different neighborhoods around Macau and Hong Kong, and usually run for three days–some longer. These carnivals are about entertaining the dead, and the living, and they take in wide open places such as parks and sports pitches. Expect to find some running around 15 August.\n\n#### **Typical Carnival Rundown**\n**Day 1**\n\n- A ritual is performed as a formal invitation to welcome the spirits to join the grand feast and there are games, Chinese opera performances, and more. Delicious food and wine are placed all around bamboo theaters as offerings. In one corner of the carnival, a portrait of a ‘guard’ is hung, who is actually the Goddess of Mercy in disguise, there to monitor the spirits, in case ‘they’ get out of hand during the party.\n\n**Day 2**\n\n- A ritual is performed to ask for blessings involving five tables. These are placed in front of the bamboo theater, each according to a cardinal direction (north, east, south, west) with one in the center. 13 Buddhist householders then hold up small flags in the colors black, red, white, light green and yellow and jog in accordance to the music.\n\n**Day 3**\n\n- A chanting ritual is conducted before small treats made out of flour are tossed out to the public. It is said whoever gets the most will be most blessed. Rice is also given out and there is be a grand feast in the evening.\n\nA few of these carnivals will be taking place around Macau, but over in Hong Kong they usually hold the biggest in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. This Yulan Cultural Festival will run from 10:00am–8:00pm from 16–18August. It will take place on Soccer Pitch 1 in Victoria Park. Key highlights include an exhibition showcasing customs and traditions, a VR Experience, a 3D Shooting Area, Exhibition of Historical Photos of Yu Lan, Yu Lan Culture in Asia and more.\n\n#### **Take Note of These Taboos\\!**\n- Don’t hang wind chimes over your bed, especially above your head because wind chimes attract restless souls\n- Don’t put the front of your slippers facing toward the bed because spirits follow that direction to where the living are located\n- Don’t stay out too late, or have your name printed on anything you wear–you don’t want the ghosts calling out your name\n- Don’t lean against walls as restless spirits hold on to walls\n- Don’t stand your chopsticks vertically in the middle of a bowl of rice. This is similar to incense, and will attract ghosts\n- Don’t pat people on the shoulders. A person is said to have three points of energy in the form of fire (one on the forehead, one on each shoulder) and if you put out someone’s ‘fire’ it will lure spirits to them\n- It’s bad luck to get married or open a new shop or restaurant at this time–postpone it, if possible\n\nPhotos credited to the [Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations](https:\/\/www.fhkccc.org.hk\/)\n\n#### Tags\n- [celebrations](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/celebrations\/)\n- [events](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/events\/)\n- [festivals](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/festivals\/)\n- [Hong Kong](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/hong-kong\/)\n- [hungry ghosts](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/hungry-ghosts\/)\n- [macau](https:\/\/macaulifestyle.com\/tag\/macau\/)","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Description	The gates of hell are open! Find out what the Hungry Ghost Festival, and all its rituals, superstition, and symbols, are about.
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Boilerpipe Text	The evening is hot and humid–you’re walking alone in a dark Macau back alley and out of nowhere, you hear a mysterious crackling sound. There is no one around, but suddenly you see a flame jump up from a box on the edge of the sidewalk which illuminates the dim concrete in a flash. Further down the street, you hear low mournful murmurings coming from Chinese families who stand, hands clasped together, kneeling amongst blood-red burning candles and incense. There is food scattered around the area and it looks like someone had a feast, but whom? Well, to answer this and put your worries at ease, this is not a ghost story, but is, in fact, all part of the Hungry Ghost Festival which is an ancient celebration steeped in superstition. Who You Gonna Call? No, you definitely don’t want to call the Ghostbusters. This festival is all about appeasing, honoring and respecting the ghosts so you don’t want to do anything that might upset them this month. It takes place over the course of the seventh lunar month, which runs from 1 August to 29 August, with the key date being on 15 August. During this Ghost Month, they say the gates of hell stay open until the festival comes to a close after 30 days. During this time you will see people burning incense, ‘hell money’, and other offerings as gifts to appease the restless spirits freed from the underworld. They say spirits with children or grandchildren will return home while lone spirits with unfinished business will roam freely and feast instead. It’s not all as sinister as it sounds–in fact, the celebration has a lot to do with folk culture, ancestral love and reverence. The Hungry Ghost or Yu Lan Festival has been in practice for over 100 years. For the whole month, and especially on August 15, a range of rituals and celebrations is held both for the living and the dead. You can expect to see Chinese opera performances, lanterns hung or floating in water to help guide the invisible ghosts to operas and banquets, and lots of small fires by the roadsides as people burn their offerings. Festival Origins One of the most popular origin stories for the festival features a Buddhist monk, Mu Lian, who was haunted by his deceased mother in the form of a ‘Hungry Ghost’. When she had been alive she was driven by a heartless soul, led by relentless greed, so she was punished in hell where any food reaching her mouth would turn to ash. Deeply saddened, Mu Lian sought advice from Buddha. To help his mother in hell reach heaven sooner, Mu Lian had to organize a grand feast for all hungry ghosts, and soon the Hungry Ghost Festival was born. In Taoism, the Hungry Ghost Festival is referred to as Zhongyuan. But whether it’s Taoism or Buddhism, the essence and aim of the festival lies in spreading love with an open heart and to help others in need. This is most evident amongst the people coming from Chaozhou–a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China. The widespread practice of the Hungry Ghost Festival was brought to Hong Kong and Macau by the Chiu Chow (people of Chaozhou) community. The first generation of Chiu Chow people immigrated to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. During their travels, many died without proper burials and it was believed that they would face purgatory. The Chiu Chow community highly values brotherhood and respect so, even if many are unrelated to one another, they will still show love and honor to anyone who has passed away through ancestral worship and the Hungry Ghost Festival. They arrange feasts and entertainment for the spirits with the aim of satiating the ghosts’ endless hunger in the underworld and also to bless and bring good luck to the living (what goes around comes around, right?). How to Participate While its practices and importance have diminished somewhat, the Hungry Ghost Festival is still a way to preserve cultural traditions and practices, and pass these on to future generations. The Hungry Ghost Festival was listed as China’s intangible cultural heritage and it is still a fairly big celebration. Rituals, Do’s and Don’ts Pay your respect and avoid touching or moving anything that might be an offering on the roadside as these may or may not be by a shrine and might include food, ‘hell money’ and other gifts. To feed the Hungry Ghosts, people usually place a variety of food, including oranges, tea cakes, and meat items. You will also see large tin cans used for burning the offerings for the ancestors and roaming souls. Other paper offerings and replicas of items in the real world are also burnt to give their ancestors a comfy, and often luxurious, afterlife (these days you will find paper models of iPhones, massage chairs, Louis Vuitton shoes, mansions, and more–you name it they’ll have it in the form of an offering for the dead). Three-Day Carnival A typical Hungry Ghost Festival celebration usually takes place in the form of a carnival held in and around large bamboo theaters. These will be held in different neighborhoods around Macau and Hong Kong, and usually run for three days–some longer. These carnivals are about entertaining the dead, and the living, and they take in wide open places such as parks and sports pitches. Expect to find some running around 15 August. Typical Carnival Rundown Day 1 A ritual is performed as a formal invitation to welcome the spirits to join the grand feast and there are games, Chinese opera performances, and more. Delicious food and wine are placed all around bamboo theaters as offerings. In one corner of the carnival, a portrait of a ‘guard’ is hung, who is actually the Goddess of Mercy in disguise, there to monitor the spirits, in case ‘they’ get out of hand during the party. Day 2 A ritual is performed to ask for blessings involving five tables. These are placed in front of the bamboo theater, each according to a cardinal direction (north, east, south, west) with one in the center. 13 Buddhist householders then hold up small flags in the colors black, red, white, light green and yellow and jog in accordance to the music. Day 3 A chanting ritual is conducted before small treats made out of flour are tossed out to the public. It is said whoever gets the most will be most blessed. Rice is also given out and there is be a grand feast in the evening. A few of these carnivals will be taking place around Macau, but over in Hong Kong they usually hold the biggest in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. This Yulan Cultural Festival will run from 10:00am–8:00pm from 16–18August. It will take place on Soccer Pitch 1 in Victoria Park. Key highlights include an exhibition showcasing customs and traditions, a VR Experience, a 3D Shooting Area, Exhibition of Historical Photos of Yu Lan, Yu Lan Culture in Asia and more. Take Note of These Taboos! Don’t hang wind chimes over your bed, especially above your head because wind chimes attract restless souls Don’t put the front of your slippers facing toward the bed because spirits follow that direction to where the living are located Don’t stay out too late, or have your name printed on anything you wear–you don’t want the ghosts calling out your name Don’t lean against walls as restless spirits hold on to walls Don’t stand your chopsticks vertically in the middle of a bowl of rice. This is similar to incense, and will attract ghosts Don’t pat people on the shoulders. A person is said to have three points of energy in the form of fire (one on the forehead, one on each shoulder) and if you put out someone’s ‘fire’ it will lure spirits to them It’s bad luck to get married or open a new shop or restaurant at this time–postpone it, if possible Photos credited to the Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations Tags celebrations events festivals Hong Kong hungry ghosts macau
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There is no one around, but suddenly you see a flame jump up from a box on the edge of the sidewalk which illuminates the dim concrete in a flash. Further down the street, you hear low mournful murmurings coming from Chinese families who stand, hands clasped together, kneeling amongst blood-red burning candles and incense. There is food scattered around the area and it looks like someone had a feast, but whom? Well, to answer this and put your worries at ease, this is not a ghost story, but is, in fact, all part of the Hungry Ghost Festival which is an ancient celebration steeped in superstition. #### Who You Gonna Call? No, you definitely don’t want to call the Ghostbusters. This festival is all about appeasing, honoring and respecting the ghosts so you don’t want to do anything that might upset them this month. It takes place over the course of the seventh lunar month, which runs from 1 August to 29 August, with the key date being on 15 August. During this Ghost Month, they say the gates of hell stay open until the festival comes to a close after 30 days. During this time you will see people burning incense, ‘hell money’, and other offerings as gifts to appease the restless spirits freed from the underworld. They say spirits with children or grandchildren will return home while lone spirits with unfinished business will roam freely and feast instead. It’s not all as sinister as it sounds–in fact, the celebration has a lot to do with folk culture, ancestral love and reverence. The Hungry Ghost or Yu Lan Festival has been in practice for over 100 years. For the whole month, and especially on August 15, a range of rituals and celebrations is held both for the living and the dead. You can expect to see Chinese opera performances, lanterns hung or floating in water to help guide the invisible ghosts to operas and banquets, and lots of small fires by the roadsides as people burn their offerings. #### Festival Origins One of the most popular origin stories for the festival features a Buddhist monk, Mu Lian, who was haunted by his deceased mother in the form of a ‘Hungry Ghost’. When she had been alive she was driven by a heartless soul, led by relentless greed, so she was punished in hell where any food reaching her mouth would turn to ash. Deeply saddened, Mu Lian sought advice from Buddha. To help his mother in hell reach heaven sooner, Mu Lian had to organize a grand feast for all hungry ghosts, and soon the Hungry Ghost Festival was born. In Taoism, the Hungry Ghost Festival is referred to as Zhongyuan. But whether it’s Taoism or Buddhism, the essence and aim of the festival lies in spreading love with an open heart and to help others in need. This is most evident amongst the people coming from Chaozhou–a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China. The widespread practice of the Hungry Ghost Festival was brought to Hong Kong and Macau by the Chiu Chow (people of Chaozhou) community. The first generation of Chiu Chow people immigrated to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. During their travels, many died without proper burials and it was believed that they would face purgatory. The Chiu Chow community highly values brotherhood and respect so, even if many are unrelated to one another, they will still show love and honor to anyone who has passed away through ancestral worship and the Hungry Ghost Festival. They arrange feasts and entertainment for the spirits with the aim of satiating the ghosts’ endless hunger in the underworld and also to bless and bring good luck to the living (what goes around comes around, right?). ![Feast of the hungry ghost Macau Lifestyle photo two](https://macaulifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Feast-of-the-hungry-ghost-Macau-Lifestyle-photo-two-1024x632.jpg) #### How to Participate While its practices and importance have diminished somewhat, the Hungry Ghost Festival is still a way to preserve cultural traditions and practices, and pass these on to future generations. The Hungry Ghost Festival was listed as China’s intangible cultural heritage and it is still a fairly big celebration. #### Rituals, Do’s and Don’ts Pay your respect and avoid touching or moving anything that might be an offering on the roadside as these may or may not be by a shrine and might include food, ‘hell money’ and other gifts. To feed the Hungry Ghosts, people usually place a variety of food, including oranges, tea cakes, and meat items. You will also see large tin cans used for burning the offerings for the ancestors and roaming souls. Other paper offerings and replicas of items in the real world are also burnt to give their ancestors a comfy, and often luxurious, afterlife (these days you will find paper models of iPhones, massage chairs, Louis Vuitton shoes, mansions, and more–you name it they’ll have it in the form of an offering for the dead). #### Three-Day Carnival A typical Hungry Ghost Festival celebration usually takes place in the form of a carnival held in and around large bamboo theaters. These will be held in different neighborhoods around Macau and Hong Kong, and usually run for three days–some longer. These carnivals are about entertaining the dead, and the living, and they take in wide open places such as parks and sports pitches. Expect to find some running around 15 August. #### Typical Carnival Rundown Day 1 - A ritual is performed as a formal invitation to welcome the spirits to join the grand feast and there are games, Chinese opera performances, and more. Delicious food and wine are placed all around bamboo theaters as offerings. In one corner of the carnival, a portrait of a ‘guard’ is hung, who is actually the Goddess of Mercy in disguise, there to monitor the spirits, in case ‘they’ get out of hand during the party. Day 2 - A ritual is performed to ask for blessings involving five tables. These are placed in front of the bamboo theater, each according to a cardinal direction (north, east, south, west) with one in the center. 13 Buddhist householders then hold up small flags in the colors black, red, white, light green and yellow and jog in accordance to the music. Day 3 - A chanting ritual is conducted before small treats made out of flour are tossed out to the public. It is said whoever gets the most will be most blessed. Rice is also given out and there is be a grand feast in the evening. A few of these carnivals will be taking place around Macau, but over in Hong Kong they usually hold the biggest in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. This Yulan Cultural Festival will run from 10:00am–8:00pm from 16–18August. It will take place on Soccer Pitch 1 in Victoria Park. Key highlights include an exhibition showcasing customs and traditions, a VR Experience, a 3D Shooting Area, Exhibition of Historical Photos of Yu Lan, Yu Lan Culture in Asia and more. #### Take Note of These Taboos\! - Don’t hang wind chimes over your bed, especially above your head because wind chimes attract restless souls - Don’t put the front of your slippers facing toward the bed because spirits follow that direction to where the living are located - Don’t stay out too late, or have your name printed on anything you wear–you don’t want the ghosts calling out your name - Don’t lean against walls as restless spirits hold on to walls - Don’t stand your chopsticks vertically in the middle of a bowl of rice. This is similar to incense, and will attract ghosts - Don’t pat people on the shoulders. A person is said to have three points of energy in the form of fire (one on the forehead, one on each shoulder) and if you put out someone’s ‘fire’ it will lure spirits to them - It’s bad luck to get married or open a new shop or restaurant at this time–postpone it, if possible Photos credited to the [Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations](https://www.fhkccc.org.hk/) #### Tags - [celebrations](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/celebrations/) - [events](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/events/) - [festivals](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/festivals/) - [Hong Kong](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/hong-kong/) - [hungry ghosts](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/hungry-ghosts/) - [macau](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/macau/) ## Trending Posts [![Hon Kee cafe in Coloane](https://macaulifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/wordpress-popular-posts/32095-featured-340x240.jpg)](https://macaulifestyle.com/dining/local-eats/best-breakfast-spots-in-macau-to-eat-like-a-local/) [Dining](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/dining/), [Local Eats](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/dining/local-eats/) ### [Best Breakfast Spots in Macau to Eat Like a Local](https://macaulifestyle.com/dining/local-eats/best-breakfast-spots-in-macau-to-eat-like-a-local/) [![](https://macaulifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/wordpress-popular-posts/77863-featured-340x240.jpg)](https://macaulifestyle.com/dining/local-eats/best-portuguese-egg-tarts-macau/) [Dining](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/dining/), [Local Eats](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/dining/local-eats/) ### [Where to Find the Best Portuguese Egg Tarts in Macau](https://macaulifestyle.com/dining/local-eats/best-portuguese-egg-tarts-macau/) [![](https://macaulifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/wordpress-popular-posts/63386-featured-340x240.jpg)](https://macaulifestyle.com/travel/macau-transport/) [Local Knowledge](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/culture/local-knowledge/), [Macau](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/travel/macau/), [Sightseeing](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/sightseeing/), [Travel](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/travel/) ### [Getting Around in Macau](https://macaulifestyle.com/travel/macau-transport/) [![](https://macaulifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/wordpress-popular-posts/80340-featured-340x240.jpg)](https://macaulifestyle.com/travel/macau/the-ultimate-macau-casino-guide-for-non-gamblers/) [Entertainment](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/whats-on/entertainment/), [Hotels](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/travel/macau/hotels-macau/), [Hotels](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/hotels/), [Macau](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/travel/macau/), [Macau Weekend](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/whats-on/macau-weekend/) ### [The Ultimate Macau Casino Guide For Non-Gamblers](https://macaulifestyle.com/travel/macau/the-ultimate-macau-casino-guide-for-non-gamblers/) - ### Editor's Picks [![woman holding phone and coffee](https://macaulifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/5-apps-macau-phone-coffee-340x240.jpg)](https://macaulifestyle.com/culture/local-knowledge/top-apps-need-macau/) [Local Knowledge](https://macaulifestyle.com/category/culture/local-knowledge/) ### [Macau Apps: The Best Apps You’ll Need in Macau](https://macaulifestyle.com/culture/local-knowledge/top-apps-need-macau/) When in Macau, consider these 5 must-have applications that will make your life or stay easier. 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Readable Markdown	The evening is hot and humid–you’re walking alone in a dark Macau back alley and out of nowhere, you hear a mysterious crackling sound. There is no one around, but suddenly you see a flame jump up from a box on the edge of the sidewalk which illuminates the dim concrete in a flash. Further down the street, you hear low mournful murmurings coming from Chinese families who stand, hands clasped together, kneeling amongst blood-red burning candles and incense. There is food scattered around the area and it looks like someone had a feast, but whom? Well, to answer this and put your worries at ease, this is not a ghost story, but is, in fact, all part of the Hungry Ghost Festival which is an ancient celebration steeped in superstition. #### Who You Gonna Call? No, you definitely don’t want to call the Ghostbusters. This festival is all about appeasing, honoring and respecting the ghosts so you don’t want to do anything that might upset them this month. It takes place over the course of the seventh lunar month, which runs from 1 August to 29 August, with the key date being on 15 August. During this Ghost Month, they say the gates of hell stay open until the festival comes to a close after 30 days. During this time you will see people burning incense, ‘hell money’, and other offerings as gifts to appease the restless spirits freed from the underworld. They say spirits with children or grandchildren will return home while lone spirits with unfinished business will roam freely and feast instead. It’s not all as sinister as it sounds–in fact, the celebration has a lot to do with folk culture, ancestral love and reverence. The Hungry Ghost or Yu Lan Festival has been in practice for over 100 years. For the whole month, and especially on August 15, a range of rituals and celebrations is held both for the living and the dead. You can expect to see Chinese opera performances, lanterns hung or floating in water to help guide the invisible ghosts to operas and banquets, and lots of small fires by the roadsides as people burn their offerings. #### Festival Origins One of the most popular origin stories for the festival features a Buddhist monk, Mu Lian, who was haunted by his deceased mother in the form of a ‘Hungry Ghost’. When she had been alive she was driven by a heartless soul, led by relentless greed, so she was punished in hell where any food reaching her mouth would turn to ash. Deeply saddened, Mu Lian sought advice from Buddha. To help his mother in hell reach heaven sooner, Mu Lian had to organize a grand feast for all hungry ghosts, and soon the Hungry Ghost Festival was born. In Taoism, the Hungry Ghost Festival is referred to as Zhongyuan. But whether it’s Taoism or Buddhism, the essence and aim of the festival lies in spreading love with an open heart and to help others in need. This is most evident amongst the people coming from Chaozhou–a city in the eastern Guangdong province of China. The widespread practice of the Hungry Ghost Festival was brought to Hong Kong and Macau by the Chiu Chow (people of Chaozhou) community. The first generation of Chiu Chow people immigrated to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. During their travels, many died without proper burials and it was believed that they would face purgatory. The Chiu Chow community highly values brotherhood and respect so, even if many are unrelated to one another, they will still show love and honor to anyone who has passed away through ancestral worship and the Hungry Ghost Festival. They arrange feasts and entertainment for the spirits with the aim of satiating the ghosts’ endless hunger in the underworld and also to bless and bring good luck to the living (what goes around comes around, right?). ![Feast of the hungry ghost Macau Lifestyle photo two](https://macaulifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Feast-of-the-hungry-ghost-Macau-Lifestyle-photo-two-1024x632.jpg) #### How to Participate While its practices and importance have diminished somewhat, the Hungry Ghost Festival is still a way to preserve cultural traditions and practices, and pass these on to future generations. The Hungry Ghost Festival was listed as China’s intangible cultural heritage and it is still a fairly big celebration. #### Rituals, Do’s and Don’ts Pay your respect and avoid touching or moving anything that might be an offering on the roadside as these may or may not be by a shrine and might include food, ‘hell money’ and other gifts. To feed the Hungry Ghosts, people usually place a variety of food, including oranges, tea cakes, and meat items. You will also see large tin cans used for burning the offerings for the ancestors and roaming souls. Other paper offerings and replicas of items in the real world are also burnt to give their ancestors a comfy, and often luxurious, afterlife (these days you will find paper models of iPhones, massage chairs, Louis Vuitton shoes, mansions, and more–you name it they’ll have it in the form of an offering for the dead). #### Three-Day Carnival A typical Hungry Ghost Festival celebration usually takes place in the form of a carnival held in and around large bamboo theaters. These will be held in different neighborhoods around Macau and Hong Kong, and usually run for three days–some longer. These carnivals are about entertaining the dead, and the living, and they take in wide open places such as parks and sports pitches. Expect to find some running around 15 August. #### Typical Carnival Rundown Day 1 - A ritual is performed as a formal invitation to welcome the spirits to join the grand feast and there are games, Chinese opera performances, and more. Delicious food and wine are placed all around bamboo theaters as offerings. In one corner of the carnival, a portrait of a ‘guard’ is hung, who is actually the Goddess of Mercy in disguise, there to monitor the spirits, in case ‘they’ get out of hand during the party. Day 2 - A ritual is performed to ask for blessings involving five tables. These are placed in front of the bamboo theater, each according to a cardinal direction (north, east, south, west) with one in the center. 13 Buddhist householders then hold up small flags in the colors black, red, white, light green and yellow and jog in accordance to the music. Day 3 - A chanting ritual is conducted before small treats made out of flour are tossed out to the public. It is said whoever gets the most will be most blessed. Rice is also given out and there is be a grand feast in the evening. A few of these carnivals will be taking place around Macau, but over in Hong Kong they usually hold the biggest in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. This Yulan Cultural Festival will run from 10:00am–8:00pm from 16–18August. It will take place on Soccer Pitch 1 in Victoria Park. Key highlights include an exhibition showcasing customs and traditions, a VR Experience, a 3D Shooting Area, Exhibition of Historical Photos of Yu Lan, Yu Lan Culture in Asia and more. #### Take Note of These Taboos\! - Don’t hang wind chimes over your bed, especially above your head because wind chimes attract restless souls - Don’t put the front of your slippers facing toward the bed because spirits follow that direction to where the living are located - Don’t stay out too late, or have your name printed on anything you wear–you don’t want the ghosts calling out your name - Don’t lean against walls as restless spirits hold on to walls - Don’t stand your chopsticks vertically in the middle of a bowl of rice. This is similar to incense, and will attract ghosts - Don’t pat people on the shoulders. A person is said to have three points of energy in the form of fire (one on the forehead, one on each shoulder) and if you put out someone’s ‘fire’ it will lure spirits to them - It’s bad luck to get married or open a new shop or restaurant at this time–postpone it, if possible Photos credited to the [Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations](https://www.fhkccc.org.hk/) #### Tags - [celebrations](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/celebrations/) - [events](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/events/) - [festivals](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/festivals/) - [Hong Kong](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/hong-kong/) - [hungry ghosts](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/hungry-ghosts/) - [macau](https://macaulifestyle.com/tag/macau/)
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