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Chung Yeung is on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, when many visit their ancestors' graves or hike up mountains in remembrance of an ancient Chinese family's escape from plague and death by fleeing to a mountain top. Chung Yeung is a day to head to the cemetery to pay tribute to ancestors and perform cleansing rites. However, the day is not all about solemn gestures. It also honors a Han Dynasty legend (202BC-220AD). Traditionally you are supposed to "go up the mountain" on this day. The story goes that a long time ago there appeared a devil of plague in the Ruhe River. A kid named Heng Jing was taught by an old Taoist how to defeat this plague. The priest told the boy that the devil would come back on the 9th of September and told him to go back and save the village. He did this by telling them to go climb up a mountain, then while the villagers were safe he tricked the plague devil with some strong Chinese wine made of Chrysanthemum flowers and killed him. The men obeyed the Woon King and went to a high place for the entire ninth day of the ninth moon, they found upon returning home that all living things had died during their absence. Like its sister festival, Ching Ming, which is held in the spring. This festival is also known as known as Autumn Remembrance. Observers go to high ground and so all means of transport to such areas are heavily used, although there are some extra services to cope with increased traffic. They share the food they bring along, especially Chinese cakes, Ko, which is a homonym of the word for "top". Some believe that those who eat these cakes will be promoted to the top It is also a day for hiking. On this day, many Hong Kong families head to the hills to picnic during the Chung Yeung Festival. With the cooler weather and clear skies at this time of the year, many people simply take the opportunity to go on one of Hong Kong's many hikes. Why not join a hiking tour for the day!
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