Dragon boat season has arrived in Hong Kong–and more specifically right outside our living room window this past Sunday. On Saturday night as all the boats started arriving, we knew what was in store for the next day. Neighborhoods around Hong Kong sponsor dragon boat teams. During this time of year, the competition rotates through different neighborhoods. The season will culminate in June with a public holiday and a huge race/party on Stanley Main Beach. It makes our neighborhood even more fun and lively that one day a year. (Stanley is a peninsula; this side where we live doesn’t have a beach but rather a promenade. Stanley Market is in the middle.)
The entire bay was littered with tons of paper money bank notes. I was so curious, so I found out from my colleague. All the fake money is thrown into the sea for the Chinese God of Hell, King Yang or Yánwáng. The sponsor’s of the race, in this case Stanley Village, pay off Yánwáng and any ghosts in the area in an effort to protect all the action, activity, and perhaps unwanted visitors to these waters. It’s a form of protection on behalf of the hosts to keep the racers safe. It’s a very interesting cultural tradition despite how awful it is for the actual water and ocean life. I’d like to think they’re using biodegradable paper, but….well, one can hope.
That’s Yánwáng front and center on the paper money bank note.
Unfortunately we will miss the culminating race; we leave for the States on June 17 and the races are on Monday, June 18th. Next year….
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