The Hong Kong market will be closed on Monday, October 19, 2026, in observance of the Double Ninth Festival holiday. Please note the trading arrangements during the holiday period and make any necessary preparations in advance.

Background

The Double Ninth Festival, also known as the Chongyang Festival or Double Yang Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival observed on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

The festival is a public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau and is also observed in several other East Asian countries.

According to the I Ching, nine is a yang number, representing one of the two complementary forces in traditional Chinese philosophy. The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is therefore associated with a doubling of yang energy and is traditionally regarded as an auspicious occasion.

Common customs include climbing mountains, drinking chrysanthemum wine, and wearing zhuyu (Cornus officinalis), a plant traditionally believed to ward off misfortune. Chrysanthemums and zhuyu have long been associated with purification and protection in Chinese folk beliefs.

The festival is also a time for honoring ancestors. In Hong Kong and Macau, families often visit ancestral graves to clean the tombs, repaint inscriptions, and present offerings such as roast suckling pig and fruit. After the offerings have been presented, the food may be shared among family members. Chongyang cake is another traditional festival food, and incense is often burned as part of ancestral rituals.