Buddha’s Birthday

Until recently this wasn't a public holiday in Hong Kong, it was only an event observed by people who was particularly a devout Buddhist, which is not the case for most people in Hong Kong.

Exactly when The Lord Buddha was born -- and born with the name Sidharta Gautama -- can hardly be exactly known so I'm not sure how the day of May 26th (8th April in lunar calendar) was decided, but there you go now it is a public holiday in Hong Kong.  It is not the same day each year so check back here if you want to know the date in a year other than 2004.

There are plenty of Buddhist temples in Hong Kong and of course there will be special ceremonies at such places on this day.

Probably the best place to visit is the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau , which is known for the giant statue, the world's largest seated, outdoor bronze Buddha (there are larger reclining Buddha statues).  Anyway around here it is just called The Big Buddha.

To get there you'll need to take a ferry to Lantau from the Central Ferry Piers -- then there will be a bus ride to the monastery.

Other places to catch special ceremonies would be the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Sha Tin, and yes they really do have ten thousand Buddha statues though most are very small.  And also at the Miu Fat Monastery in Tuen Mun in the New Territories.

The most important event on this day which is not a Buddhist festival but actually a Taoist festival is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. 

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