Ching Ming Festival Newsletter

March 2011

Ching Ming Festival 2011

Ching Ming Festival Ching Ming (Qing Ming in Mandarin) is a day of remembrance, and also marks the beginning of spring. This year, Ching Ming Festival falls on Tuesday, 5th April.

Also known as the Clear and Bright Festival, Spring Remembrance, Ancestors Day, & Tomb Sweeping Day, this is a traditional Chinese Holiday celebrated on the 15th day from the Spring Equinox. It also celebrates the start of the spring season.

Ching Ming is a day of remembrance when local families journey to their ancestors’ graves to perform cleansing rites, pay their respects, and share offerings. Paper offerings — such as paper money, clothes or other accessories — may be burned at grave sites for use in the afterlife.

Many plan family outings for the day to enjoy the greenery of spring. Kite flying and hiking are especially popular.

Country Parks in Hong Kong | Activities in Shanghai

Country Parks in Hong Kong

Springtime’s Ching Ming Festival may be a perfect time to breathe some fresh air and explore one of Hong Kong’s 24 country parks. Five country parks are located on Hong Kong Island, and most of the others are located in the New Territories.

Source of information on country parks: Website of Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Tai Tam Country Park

Eastern Hong Kong Island Ching Ming Festival

BBQ facilities located along Mount Parker Road & Tai Tam Reservoir Road
View the gem of the park, Tai Tam Valley, by Hong Kong Trail Stage 6, walking uphill on Mount Parker Rd about an hour to Quarry Gap, and descending down the southern slopes to an arcadia of woods, streams & lakes. The path orbits around Tai Tam reservoir and ends at Tai Tam Rd.
Wilson Trail’s first two stages & HK Trail’s Stage 5 also go through this park

Plover Cove Country Park

Northeastern New Territories Plover Cove Country Park

The Tai Mei Tuk BBQ area is an all-time favourite, offering a spectacular view of the dam.
Bride’s Pool is one of the most famous idyllic spots in the park. A magnificent waterfall sets the scene. The Bride’s Pool Nature Trail is 2.1 km long and takes about 1 hour to complete. It offers a delectable nature experience.
Ping Chau Country Trail takes you to extraordinary rock formations like Cham Keng Chau & Kang Lau Shek, a great place to watch the sun set.

Lantau South Country Park

Lantau Island Lantau South Country Park

BBQ facilities are located in the Southern Lantau catchment area
The Ngong Ping Fun Walk is a scenic path suitable for beginners. The end of the trail gives a breathtaking view of Lantau Peak. 45 min/2.5 km
The Lantau Trail is a route divided into 12 stages, with the first five being quite physically demanding , and not recommended to be completed in one day. Lantau Peak is Hong Kong’s second highest summit.

Activities in Shanghai

Besides having the traditional dimsum - cornmeal dumpling made up of bromegrass (青团, "Qingtun" in Mandarin), local Shanghai people also enjoy family gathering during the festival. Below are some recommendations.

Picnic / Hiking Places

Shanghai Botanical Garden
Shanghai Botanical Garden
Address: No.1111 Long Wu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
Tel: 5436 3369

Shanghai Zoo
Address: No.2381 Hongqiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai
Tel: 6268 7775

Oriental Greenboat
Address: No.6888 Hu Qing Ping Road, Qingpu District, Shanghai
Tel: 5923 3000

Kite-flying Venues

Century Park
Address: No.1001 Jing Xiu Road, Pudong, Shanghai
Tel: 8376 0588

Da Ning Lingshi Park
Address: No.288 West Guangzhong Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Jingan Park
Address: No.189 Huashan Road, Jingan District, Shanghai

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