Chung Yeung Festival (重阳节): remembering ancestors in autumn
Chung Yeung (重阳节) is known in English as the Chung Yeung Festival, from its Cantonese pronunciation and the usual spelling in Hong Kong, or the Double Ninth Festival; in Mainland China it is often written Chongyang Festival. It falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month: Sunday 18 October in 2026. Together with Qingming in spring, it is one of the two times of year when Chinese families, especially in Hong Kong and Guangdong, visit and tidy their ancestors' graves. This guide explains when it falls, where it comes from, what families do, and how to remember from wherever you are.
When is Chung Yeung?
Chung Yeung follows the lunar calendar, so its date on the Western calendar changes every year.
| Year | Date | Lunar date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday 18 October | 丙午年九月初九 |
| 2027 | Friday 8 October | 丁未年九月初九 |
| 2028 | Thursday 26 October | 戊申年九月初九 |
Chung Yeung is a public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so in Hong Kong the holiday is on Monday 19 October.
Why the ninth day of the ninth month
In the old system of yin and yang, nine is the highest yang number. The ninth day of the ninth month doubles it, which is why the festival is called 重阳, "double yang". The words for "nine nine" (九九) also sound like 久久, "for a long, long time", so the day has long been tied to long life and to honouring one's elders.
The best-known story behind the festival tells of a man named Huan Jing (桓景), who was warned by his teacher that disaster would strike his home on the ninth day of the ninth month. He took his family up a hill, carrying sprigs of dogwood (茱萸) and drinking chrysanthemum wine. When they came home, their animals had died in their place. Climbing high on the Double Ninth has been a custom ever since.
What families do
Visiting the graves 拜山 · 扫墓
In Hong Kong and Guangdong, Chung Yeung is the autumn season for visiting ancestors' graves and columbarium niches, just as Qingming is in spring. Families clear the grave or wipe the niche, set out food, light incense and candles, burn joss paper, and bow to pay their respects. The crowds are smaller than at Qingming but still large, so many families go on the weekends before or after the day. In Hong Kong, the Transport Department runs special transport arrangements to the main cemeteries over several weekends around the festival.
Before leaving, many families weigh down sheets of paper on top of the grave, a sign that it has been visited and tended by the family.
Climbing high 登高
Following the old story, many people walk up a hill on Chung Yeung. In Hong Kong, the hillside graves make the two customs one: climbing to visit the family grave is itself the ascent.
Chrysanthemums and dogwood 菊花 · 茱萸
The festival falls in chrysanthemum season. Chrysanthemums are placed at graves and altars, and chrysanthemum wine or tea is drunk for health and long life. Dogwood was traditionally worn to keep misfortune away.
Chongyang cake 重阳糕
A steamed cake is eaten on the day because 糕 (cake) sounds like 高 (high), a wish to rise higher in life.
Honouring elders
Because of its link with long life, Chung Yeung is also a day for honouring the elderly. In mainland China it has been Seniors' Day (老年节) since 2012, and in Taiwan it is likewise marked as a day for older people.
In Singapore and Malaysia the festival is quieter than Qingming. Some families, often those with Cantonese roots, visit columbaria or make offerings at home around the day.
What to bring to the grave
Families bring much the same as at Qingming. Common items include:
- incense, a pair of red candles, and gold and silver joss paper;
- fruit such as oranges, and the food your loved one enjoyed; in Hong Kong, roast pork is a common offering;
- tea or wine, poured in three small cups;
- chrysanthemums or other fresh flowers;
- a cloth, gloves and a small broom or shears to tidy the grave.
Autumn in Hong Kong is dry, and hill fires are a real risk at grave-sweeping time. Burn offerings only in the burners provided, never leave anything smouldering, and check what each cemetery or columbarium allows before you go.
Writing the parcel seal for Chung Yeung
If you burn a paper parcel (包袱), the seal is written as for Qingming, with only the middle column and the date changed. The middle column for Chung Yeung reads:
重阳节追远 冥中宝用
("remembering at the Double Ninth, for treasured use in the netherworld"). The date beneath the senders is the lunar date of the day you burn the parcel; for Chung Yeung 2026 itself, it is 丙午年九月初九. For the other two columns, the titles for parents and grandparents, and worked examples, see How to write a Qingming parcel seal.
Quick answers
What is Chung Yeung called in English?
In English, 重阳节 is called the Chung Yeung Festival, from its Cantonese pronunciation and the usual spelling in Hong Kong, or the Double Ninth Festival, because it falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. In Mainland China it is often written Chongyang Festival.
When is Chung Yeung Festival in 2026?
Chung Yeung falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month: Sunday 18 October 2026 (丙午年九月初九). In Hong Kong the public holiday is on Monday 19 October 2026, because the festival falls on a Sunday. In 2027 it is on Friday 8 October.
What do people do on Chung Yeung?
In Hong Kong and Guangdong, families visit and tidy their ancestors' graves or columbarium niches, offer food, incense and joss paper, and bow. Other customs are climbing a hill (登高), drinking chrysanthemum wine or tea, eating Chongyang cake (重阳糕) and honouring elders.
How is Chung Yeung different from Qingming?
Both are times for visiting ancestors' graves. Qingming, in spring, is the larger occasion; Chung Yeung is the autumn grave-sweeping season and is observed most in Hong Kong and Guangdong. The offerings are much the same, and only the middle line and date of the parcel seal change.
What is written on a parcel seal for Chung Yeung?
The middle column reads 重阳节追远 冥中宝用 ("remembering at the Double Ninth, for treasured use in the netherworld"). The other two columns are the same as for Qingming, and the lunar date of the day you burn the parcel goes beneath the senders: 丙午年九月初九 for Chung Yeung 2026.
Can I make a Chung Yeung offering if I cannot visit the grave?
Yes. At Nirvana Hall of Remembrance you can send a parcel online on the day. The seal is written for you with the Chung Yeung line, the correct title and the lunar date, and the offering appears on your loved one's memorial page for the family to see.
Can't be at the grave this Chung Yeung?
Not everyone can travel home or climb the hill each year. At Nirvana Hall you can send a parcel online on the day: choose your offerings, add your name and relationship, and the seal is written for you with the Chung Yeung line, the correct title and the lunar date. Your offering then appears on your loved one's memorial page for the whole family to see.
Visit Nirvana HallAlso read: How to write a Qingming parcel (包袱) seal · The 7th, 49th and 100th day after a death: 头七, 七七, 百日 and 对年
重阳节：秋天里的追思
重阳节的英文是 Chung Yeung Festival（按粤语读音拼写，香港通用），也称 Double Ninth Festival，中国内地常写作 Chongyang Festival。重阳节在农历九月初九，2026年为10月18日（星期日）。它与春天的清明节，是华人家庭一年中两次祭扫祖先坟墓的时节，在香港和广东尤其如此。本指南介绍重阳节的日期、由来、家人在这一天的习俗，以及身在远方时如何追思亲人。
重阳节是哪一天？
重阳节按农历计算，所以每年的公历日期都不同。
| 年份 | 公历日期 | 农历 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10月18日（星期日） | 丙午年九月初九 |
| 2027 | 10月8日（星期五） | 丁未年九月初九 |
| 2028 | 10月26日（星期四） | 戊申年九月初九 |
重阳节是香港和澳门的公众假期。2026年重阳节适逢星期日，香港的假期顺延至10月19日（星期一）。
为什么是九月初九
古人以九为阳数之极，九月初九两阳相重，故称“重阳”。“九九”又与“久久”谐音，寓意长长久久，所以这一天自古与长寿、敬老相连。
重阳节最为人熟知的由来，是桓景的故事：他的老师告诉他，九月初九家中将有大灾，嘱他带家人登高，身佩茱萸，饮菊花酒。他们傍晚回家，发现家中的牲畜都已暴毙，而一家人得以平安。从此，重阳登高便成了习俗。
家人在重阳节做什么
拜山扫墓
在香港和广东，重阳是秋天的扫墓时节，与春天的清明相对。家人清理坟墓或擦拭骨灰龛，摆上供品，点香烛，烧金银纸钱，再向先人行礼。人潮虽不及清明，但仍然拥挤，所以许多家庭会提早或延后在周末前往。香港运输署也会在重阳节前后的几个周末，为前往主要坟场的人士作特别交通安排。
离开前，许多家庭会在坟上压几张纸，表示坟墓已有子孙前来拜祭打理。
登高
承袭古老的传说，许多人在重阳节登山远足。在香港，祖坟多在山上，上山拜祭本身就是登高。
菊花与茱萸
重阳正值菊花盛开。人们在墓前或供桌上摆上菊花，饮菊花酒或菊花茶，祈求健康长寿；古时还佩戴茱萸以辟邪。
重阳糕
重阳节吃糕，因“糕”与“高”谐音，寓意步步高升。
敬老
因与长寿相连，重阳节也是敬老的日子。中国大陆自2012年起定为“老年节”，台湾也在这一天敬重长者。
在新加坡和马来西亚，重阳节不如清明节隆重。部分家庭，尤其是广府籍家庭，会在这段时间前往骨灰堂或在家中祭拜。
扫墓带什么
所带的物品与清明大致相同，常见的有：
- 香、一对红烛，以及金银纸钱；
- 橘子等水果，以及先人生前爱吃的食物；在香港，烧肉是常见的供品；
- 茶或酒，倒在三个小杯中；
- 菊花或其他鲜花；
- 抹布、手套，以及小扫帚或剪刀，用来打理坟墓。
香港秋季干燥，扫墓期间山火风险很高。请只在指定的化宝炉焚烧供品，离开前确保火种完全熄灭，并事先了解各坟场或骨灰龛场的规定。
重阳节包袱封条怎么写
如果您焚化纸包袱，封条的写法与清明相同，只需更改中栏与日期。重阳节的中栏写：
重阳节追远 冥中宝用
封条下方的日期，写焚化当天的农历日期；2026年重阳节当天为“丙午年九月初九”。其余两栏的写法、父母与祖父母的称谓及书写范例，请参阅清明包袱封条怎么写。
常见问题
重阳节的英文是什么？
重阳节的英文是 Chung Yeung Festival（按粤语读音拼写，香港通用），也称 Double Ninth Festival，因为它在农历九月初九。中国内地常写作 Chongyang Festival。
2026年重阳节是哪一天？
重阳节在农历九月初九，2026年为10月18日（星期日），即丙午年九月初九。由于适逢星期日，香港的公众假期顺延至10月19日（星期一）。2027年重阳节为10月8日（星期五）。
重阳节有什么习俗？
在香港和广东，家人会拜山扫墓，清理祖先的坟墓或骨灰龛，供奉食物、香烛与金银纸并行礼。其他习俗包括登高、饮菊花酒或菊花茶、吃重阳糕，以及敬老。
重阳节和清明节有什么不同？
两者都是祭扫祖先坟墓的时节。春天的清明规模较大；重阳是秋天的扫墓时节，在香港和广东最为重视。供品大致相同，包袱封条只需更改中栏与日期。
重阳节的包袱封条怎么写？
中栏写“重阳节追远 冥中宝用”。其余两栏与清明相同；敬献者下方写焚化当天的农历日期，2026年重阳节当天为“丙午年九月初九”。
无法亲自拜山，可以在重阳节敬献供品吗？
可以。在涅槃追思堂，您可以在当天于网上寄出包袱，系统会为您写好封条，包括重阳节的中栏、正确的称谓与农历日期；供品会显示在亲人的纪念页上，供家人观看。
今年重阳无法亲自拜山？
不是每个人每年都能回乡或上山拜祭。在涅槃追思堂，您可以在当天于网上寄出包袱：选择供品，填上您的姓名与关系，系统便会为您写好封条，包括重阳节的中栏、正确的称谓与农历日期。供品随后会显示在亲人的纪念页上，供家人观看。
进入涅槃追思堂延伸阅读：清明包袱封条怎么写 · 离世之后的日子：头七、七七、百日与对年
重陽節：秋天裏的追思
重陽節的英文是 Chung Yeung Festival（按粵語讀音拼寫，香港通用），也稱 Double Ninth Festival，中國內地常寫作 Chongyang Festival。重陽節在農曆九月初九，2026年為10月18日（星期日）。它與春天的清明節，是華人家庭一年中兩次祭掃祖先墳墓的時節，在香港和廣東尤其如此。本指南介紹重陽節的日期、由來、家人在這一天的習俗，以及身在遠方時如何追思親人。
重陽節是哪一天？
重陽節按農曆計算，所以每年的西曆日期都不同。
| 年份 | 西曆日期 | 農曆 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10月18日（星期日） | 丙午年九月初九 |
| 2027 | 10月8日（星期五） | 丁未年九月初九 |
| 2028 | 10月26日（星期四） | 戊申年九月初九 |
重陽節是香港和澳門的公眾假期。2026年重陽節適逢星期日，香港的假期順延至10月19日（星期一）。
為甚麼是九月初九
古人以九為陽數之極，九月初九兩陽相重，故稱「重陽」。「九九」又與「久久」諧音，寓意長長久久，所以這一天自古與長壽、敬老相連。
重陽節最為人熟知的由來，是桓景的故事：他的老師告訴他，九月初九家中將有大災，囑他帶家人登高，身佩茱萸，飲菊花酒。他們傍晚回家，發現家中的牲畜都已暴斃，而一家人得以平安。從此，重陽登高便成了習俗。
家人在重陽節做甚麼
拜山掃墓
在香港和廣東，重陽是秋天的掃墓時節，與春天的清明相對。家人清理墳墓或擦拭骨灰龕，擺上供品，點香燭，燒金銀衣紙，再向先人行禮。人潮雖不及清明，但仍然擠逼，不少家庭會選在節日前後的週末上山。香港運輸署也會在重陽節前後的幾個週末，為前往主要墳場的人士作特別交通安排。
離開前，許多家庭會在墳上壓幾張紙，表示墳墓已有子孫前來拜祭打理。
登高
承襲古老的傳説，許多人在重陽節登山遠足。在香港，祖墳多在山上，上山拜祭本身就是登高。
菊花與茱萸
重陽正值菊花盛開。人們在墓前或神台上擺上菊花，飲菊花酒或菊花茶，祈求健康長壽；古時還佩戴茱萸以辟邪。
重陽糕
重陽節吃糕，因「糕」與「高」諧音，寓意步步高昇。
敬老
因與長壽相連，重陽節也是敬老的日子。內地自2012年起定為「老年節」，台灣也在這一天敬重長者。
在新加坡和馬來西亞，重陽節不如清明節隆重。部分家庭，尤其是廣府籍家庭，會在這段時間前往骨灰龕或在家中祭拜。
掃墓帶甚麼
所帶的物品與清明大致相同，常見的有：
- 香、一對紅燭，以及金銀衣紙；
- 柑等水果，以及先人生前愛吃的食物；在香港，燒肉是常見的供品；
- 茶或酒，倒在三個小杯中；
- 菊花或其他鮮花；
- 抹布、手套，以及小掃帚或剪刀，用來打理墳墓。
香港秋季乾燥，掃墓期間山火風險很高。請只在指定的化寶爐焚燒供品，離開前確保火種完全熄滅，並事先了解各墳場或骨灰龕場的規定。
重陽節包袱封條怎樣寫
如你焚化紙紮包袱，封條的寫法與清明相同，只需更改中欄與日期。重陽節的中欄寫：
重陽節追遠 冥中寶用
封條下方的日期，寫焚化當天的農曆日期；2026年重陽節當天為「丙午年九月初九」。其餘兩欄的寫法、父母與祖父母的稱謂及書寫範例，請參閲清明包袱封條怎樣寫。
常見問題
重陽節的英文是甚麼？
重陽節的英文是 Chung Yeung Festival（按粵語讀音拼寫，香港通用），也稱 Double Ninth Festival，因為它在農曆九月初九。中國內地常寫作 Chongyang Festival。
2026年重陽節是哪一天？
重陽節在農曆九月初九，2026年為10月18日（星期日），即丙午年九月初九。由於適逢星期日，香港的公眾假期順延至10月19日（星期一）。2027年重陽節為10月8日（星期五）。
重陽節有甚麼習俗？
在香港和廣東，家人會拜山掃墓，清理祖先的墳墓或骨灰龕，供奉食物、香燭與金銀衣紙並行禮。其他習俗包括登高、飲菊花酒或菊花茶、吃重陽糕，以及敬老。
重陽節和清明節有甚麼不同？
兩者都是祭掃祖先墳墓的時節。春天的清明規模較大；重陽是秋天的掃墓時節，在香港和廣東最為重視。供品大致相同，包袱封條只需更改中欄與日期。
重陽節的包袱封條怎樣寫？
中欄寫「重陽節追遠 冥中寶用」。其餘兩欄與清明相同；敬獻者下方寫焚化當天的農曆日期，2026年重陽節當天為「丙午年九月初九」。
無法親自拜山，可以在重陽節敬獻供品嗎？
可以。在涅槃追思堂，你可以在當天於網上寄出包袱，系統會為你寫好封條，包括重陽節的中欄、正確的稱謂與農曆日期；供品會顯示在親人的紀念頁上，讓家人一同看到。
今年重陽無法親自拜山？
不是每個人每年都能回鄉或上山拜祭。在涅槃追思堂，你可以在當天於網上寄出包袱：選擇供品，填上你的姓名與關係，系統便會為你寫好封條，包括重陽節的中欄、正確的稱謂與農曆日期。供品隨後會顯示在親人的紀念頁上，讓家人一同看到。
進入涅槃追思堂延伸閲讀：清明包袱封條怎樣寫 · 離世之後的日子：頭七、七七、百日與對年