Hong Kong has been a favorite holiday destination of many tourists from all over the world. There are just simply many things to offer to everyone; kids and adults alike. There are too many places in Hong Kong that are worth visiting.

Their top holiday destinations include the Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park which are ideal destinations for the whole family, the Ladies’ Market and Temple Street Night Market where you will find lots of great souvenirs, clothing and accessories among many other great finds at very affordable prices. You will also enjoy other attractions such as the Avenue of Stars, The Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (and Golden Bauhinia Square) among many others.

Before you pack your things up for an ultimate getaway at Hong Kong, check for its public holidays and book a trip:

1. New Year’s Day – January 1, Thursday

Anywhere in the world, most countries are celebrating the New Year’s Day which marks the start of the Gregorian calendar. This holiday is normally celebrated with colorful lights, fireworks display, family reunions, gift giving and New Year’s resolutions.

2. Chinese New Year – February 19, Thursday

This is a celebration for a huge number of Chinese communities in Hong Kong and around the world. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the Chinese calendar. This occasion is basically highlighted with dragon dances, colorful dresses, Chinese foods and colorful decorations. This is also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival.

3. 2nd Day of Chinese New Year – February 20, Friday

Chinese New Year on the 2nd day is another holiday in the country which provides extended day of rest for its people.

4. 3rd Day of Chinese New Year – February 21, Saturday

This also considered as one of the traditional holidays for Chinese being an occasion for more days of rest and recreation.

5. Good Friday – April 3, Friday

For Christians everywhere across the globe, Good Friday is an important tradition which resembles Christ passion and crucifixion. For Christians, he offered has life to redeem the sins of the world as son of God. Christians commemorate this occasion through offering prayers, visiting churches and refraining for earthly activities through abstinence.

6. Holy Saturday – April 4, Saturday

The Christian community and the bible considers this day as the Eve of Easter Feast and the day where the body of Christ laid on the tomb. Abstinence from activities such as liquor, eating meat and even sexual intercourses are being refrained. This is also one of the sacred dates for Christians to reflect and repent.

7. Ching Ming Festival – April 5, Sunday

Most people in Hong Kong gave this day a time where they can visit graveyards to clean, light candles and incense. During the festival, people burn paper offerings because ancestors believed that these can be used by their dear departed families in afterlife. This celebration is also known as the Sweeping Tomb Festival.

8. Labor Day – May 1, Friday

For workers around the globe, this day is very important for them because they are given a day to rest and relax. This also marks the start of spring.

9. Buddha’s Birthday – May 25, Monday

This is one of the highest celebrations for Buddhist followers. This is the birth of the Prince Gautama Buddha which is basically celebrated at a full moon of Vaisakha month based on Buddhist calendar. Prayers, praises and good work is being observed by the followers as resemblance to the holiness of Buddha.

10. Dragon Boat Festival – June 20, Saturday

Also known as Tuen ng Festival, this is one of the most entertaining festivities in the country. This is also one of Chinese ancient’s traditions that draw thousands of people at Victoria Harbour. Nowadays, this has become an international sports event where professional dragon boat athletes around the globe compete.

11. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day – July 1, Wednesday

Since 1997, this event is celebrated every year to commemorate the sovereignty of the region from the colony of United Kingdom. This is also the establishment of Hong Kong as administrative region. The event is being enthralled with lively fireworks display and several political rallies.

12. Day After Mid-Autumn Festival – September 28, Monday

Since the Shang Dynasty, Chinese has embarked this day as one of the most celebrated festivities in Hong Kong. This festivity falls on mid-autumn which is renowned for family gatherings, prayers and thanksgiving for good harvest.

13. National Day of the People’s Republic of China – October 1, Thursday

This day is declared as the National Holiday where the People’s Republic of China was founded. This was declaration was made official through a resolution passed by the Central People’s Government last December 2, 1949. Since then, October 1 of every year is celebrated with fireworks display and several government organized activities.

14. Chung Yeung Festival – October 21, Wednesday

The traditional way of Hong Kong ancestors is reflected through this celebration. People are usually engaged in cemeteries for old worship practices. This day is also believed to bring good luck where people are headed to the highest point of the city. Also a cake called as ‘ko’ is eaten by people with the resemblance of ‘top’ or ‘high’ and which is believed to offer them good faith like high level or top promotions.

15. Christmas Day – December 25, Friday

Christmas day for Christians around the world is one of the most important celebrations. This is the birth of Christ, the son of God who came into being to save humanity from their sins. Colorful lights, gift giving, luxurious decorations and delightful food are being observed during this day.

16. Boxing Day – December 26, Saturday

A day following Christmas, this celebration is normally observed not only in Hong Kong but in Australia, Sweden, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and the United Kingdom as well, among others. This is the day when servants receive gift of box from their employers or bosses.

With all these holidays, visit Hong Kong can be amazed with their wonderful tourist attractions, savor their delicious great foods and enjoy shopping to the maximum level and a whole lot more.

Photo by Jonathan Leung

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The holidays in Hong Kong are a magical time for both locals and visitors. Visitors who are planning to travel to Hong Kong should make it a point to try and come during a holiday to add more precious memories and unique experiences to their vacation. To ensure your vacation is exactly what you want, try 2014 China tours package by thechinatravelcompany.com for vacation packages that fit any traveler.

Hong Kong observes compensatory holidays. For example, if the actual holiday is on a weekend, then the next working day is a holiday. (The Chinese New Year is only until February 2 but since that day is a Sunday, Monday is a compensatory holiday.)

Below is the Hong Kong public holiday schedule 2014 as confirmed by the Hong Kong Government through the General Holidays Ordinance.

New Year’s Day – Wednesday, 1 January 2014
As with the rest of the international community, Hong Kong marks the first day of the first month of the Gregorian calendar.

Lunar New Year – Friday to Monday, 31 January – 3 February 2014
The Chinese New Year marks the arrival of spring according to the lunar calendar. Hong Kong celebrates this major event by incorporating ancient rituals and modern twists on the tradition. The festivities last for 14 days, with the final three days as public holidays. Spring means blossoms, and Hong Kong blooms on these days with its lush and colorful flower markets. The city is also filled with the sweet smell of incense as thousands of joss sticks are lit in temples around the city. Hong Kong lights up with world-renowned night parades and extravagant fireworks, and pulses with the beat of the Dragon Dance, among the many other events that fill up the New Year calendar.

Ching Ming Festival – Saturday, 5 April 2014
This is the tomb sweeping day in spring (the fall version is Chung Yeung festival). Families go to the cemeteries to clean their ancestors’ burial grounds and offer foods and prayers. In keeping with the ancient tradition, contemporary celebrations are centered around burning of paper goods that represent worldly conveniences (television, cellphones and the like) so the ancestors may have a better life in the other world.

Good Friday – Friday, 18 April 2014
Hong Kong has a sizable Christian and Catholic population (particularly because of the thousands of Filipinos who have found work here), so Good Friday processions bearing the image of the dead Christ can be seen around Kowloon where the Stations of the Cross are set up.

The Day After Good Friday – Saturday, 19 April 2014
Christians in Hong Kong, especially the Catholic, contemplate on the death of Jesus Christ and observe fasting on this day, called Black Saturday in Catholic circles.

Easter Monday – Monday, 21 April 2014
Hong Kong Christians commemorate the day after Jesus Christ rose from the dead with events pertaining to the Easter egg. Egg painting and races are held on this day (instead of Sunday which is the prevailing practice in the West).

Labour Day – Thursday, 1 May 2014
Hong Kong honors the achievements and accomplishments of workers and laborers on this day, in keeping with Labor Day practices of the international community.

The Birthday of Buddha – Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Hong Kong Buddhists celebrate the birth of their deity by sprinkling water on the statues and images of Buddha.

Tuen Ng Festival – Monday, 2 June 2014
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is celebrated as the Duanwu Festival to commemorate the people’s attempt to rescue Chu Yuan, the Father of Chinese Poetry, from drowning. They raced in boats to get him to safety and threw cooked rice wrapped in bamboo leaves to entice the fish to eat those instead of the drowning poet. To this day, dragon boat racing is the highlight of the festivities, and in keeping with the tradition, people eat ‘zongzi’ or rice dumplings and drink nutritious concoctions on this day.

Hong Kong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day – Tuesday, 1 July 2014
On this day in 1997, Hong Kong was handed over from its British colonizers to its original owners. China’s president Hu Jintao has, over the years, led the ceremonies participated by thousands of flag-waving Hong Kong citizens. This is also an opportunity for dissatisfied citizens to show their dissent towards China’s reluctance to give Hong Kong full autonomy so there are pockets of street rallies occurring on this day.

The Day After the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 2013 – Tuesday, 9 September 2014
After the Spring festival, the Mid-Autumn (harvest) festival (September 6-8, 2014) is the second most important festival in Chinese territories. Contemporary celebrations in Hong Kong are centered around the preparation and consumption of moon cakes, named after the time of the year when the moon is said to be brightest. Families gather together and watch the roundest moon of the year or stroll along Victoria Park to watch giant lanterns adorn and light up the city.

National Day – Wednesday, 1 October 2014
The founding of the People’s Republic of China is celebrated on this day. On this day in 1949, Mao Zedong read a declaration of the founding of the republic at 3PM in Tiananmen Square in front of 300,000 people. The National Day culminates on this day, but the celebrations are actually week-long. As the Chinese economy grew, workers are given time off to visit their families and to allow them to travel. As the festivities close, much-photographed and extravagant fireworks display goes up in Victoria Harbour.

Chung Yeung Festival – Thursday, 2 October 2014
Ancestor worship is an age-old tradition in China. On this day, families sweep the graves of their departed (similar to the spring grave-sweeping festival Ching Ming) and hold picnic outdoors, particularly in high places. This outdoor expedition was rooted on the legend of a man who lived during the Han dynasty when he was told by a seer to leave his town and seek high ground. When he and his family returned, they discovered his entire village was slaughtered, and they alone were spared. Since this day happens on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, this festival is also called the Double Ninth.

Christmas Day – Thursday, 25 December 2014
Hong Kong has a sizable Christian population, so Christmas tradition is colorfully celebrated here as it is in the West.

Boxing Day – Friday, 26 December 2014
Hong Kong was a British colony before its handover to China. In Britain as in Hong Kong, gifts are ‘boxed’ on the first weekday after Christmas, hence the name of the holiday.

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For 2013, the following dates have been set as public holidays.

New Year’s Day 2013 – January 1, Tuesday
Hong Kong welcomes in the first day of the new year in the modern Gregorian calendar.

Lunar New Year 2013 – February 11 to February 13
The Chinese New Year is the most important of all the traditional Chinese holidays and marks the coming of the spring. It happens on the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar. Chinese all over the world observe this day, and over the years has also been celebrated by non-Chinese of various faiths.

Good Friday 2013 – March 29, Friday
This holiday has long been observed in Hong Kong because of its sizable Christian population. It commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

The day after Good Friday 2013 – March 30, Saturday
Holy Saturday, the day after Good Friday is also marked as a public holiday in Hong Kong and is closely related to the previous and succeeding holidays.

Easter Monday 2013 – April 1, Monday
This is another Christian holiday that is largely observed in Hong Kong in respect for the Christian community.

Ching Ming Festival 2013 – April 4, Thursday
This holiday is known by several names, particularly Pure Brightness Festival and Ancestors Day. It is a day for people to remember and honor their ancestors by visiting their graves.

Labour Day 2013 – May 1, Wednesday
The achievements and accomplishments of workers and laborers are recognized on this day.

The Birthday of Buddha 2013 – May 17, Friday
The birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama is celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, and its date varies on the Gregorian calendar each year. Legend has it that on his birth, Buddha was bathed with water by nine dragons. Bathing Buddha statues on this day is believed to help purify one’s soul.

Tuen Ng Festival 2013 – June 12, Wednesday
Tuen Ng Festival is the Cantonese name for Duanwu or the Dragon Boat Festival. It is also known as the Double Fifth because it falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. This is associated with patriotism, with people participating in dragon boat races to celebrate the day.

Hong Kong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day 2013 – July 1, Monday
This holiday celebrates the change of leadership from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China, which then led to the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The day after the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 2013 – September 20, Friday
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival that happens during the 16th day of the 8th month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. It is also known as the Moon Festival and Mooncake Festival. It puts importance to thanksgiving and prayer, as well as the gathering of friends and family.

National Day 2013 – October 1, Tuesday
This holiday commemorates the national day of the People’s Republic of China. Expect a massive and extravagant fireworks display at Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.

The day after Chung Yeung Festival 2013 – October 14, Monday
Since this holiday occurs on the 9th day of the 9th month in the Lunar Calendar, it is also known as the Double Ninth holiday. This festival also honors ancestors, and many families come together in cemeteries to pay their respects. Climbing the city’s high areas is also a popular activity for this day and believed to bring good luck.

Christmas Day 2013 – December 25, Wednesday
Christmas Day yearly commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated all across the world by Christians. In some countries, it is considered as a non-religious holiday and observed by non-Christians as well.

Boxing Day 2013 – December 26, Thursday
The first weekday after Christmas Day is considered as a holiday in Hong Kong, and is likely a heritage from the British colonizers.

Hong Kong laws state that if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the immediate weekday that follows would be a public holiday. For example, the Chung Yeung Festival in 2013 falls on a Sunday so the next day is marked as a holiday. In the case of Lunar New Year this 2013, the first day falls on a Sunday so the fourth day after is declared as a holiday to compensate. Hong Kong laws also state that Sundays are statutory or compulsory holidays.

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