Thousands of Hong Kong grave sweepers have headed to cemeteries to mark the Ching Ming Festival, while more than 150,000 residents have left the city for the long weekend.
Hundreds of residents, both old and young and most with family members, formed snaking queues outside Chai Wan MTR station on Friday morning, waiting for buses to the Cape Collinson Chinese Permanent Cemetery and the Hong Kong Buddhist Cemetery.
About a dozen police officers were present. A Post reporter observed a 20-minute wait in the line at 10am.
Residents wiped the tombstones, placed flowers and fruits at the graves, and burned incense and paper offerings, as they paid tribute to their ancestors to mark the occasion, a public holiday in Hong Kong.
Retired police officer Alan Wong travelled from his home in Sha Tau Kok in the New Territories to Chai Wan to visit the graves of his grandparents on Friday.
He said he came every Ching Ming Festival to clean the tombstone and burn joss paper to commemorate his loved ones. He also visited the graves of his parents in a cemetery in Tseung Kwan O on Sunday.
“It is our tradition to pay tribute to our ancestors and loved ones on the Ching Ming Festival,” the 68-year-old said. “I hope Hongkongers will keep up this tradition.”
