Locals crowd Causeway Bay for annual villain-beating

Long lines could be seen as Hongkongers lined up under Canal Road Flyover in Causeway Bay for “villain-hitting” on Tuesday, with around 200 hopeful locals being seen at the site during peak hours.

Jingzhe, or Insects Awakening, is the third of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar. During this day, residents will conduct villain-hitting - da siu yan in Cantonese - to repel villains that are near them.

Crowds were seen queueing at different booths under the flyover today, especially during lunch hours.

During peak period, it was estimated that nearly 200 people were seen at the location, with police officers around to maintain order. 

The villain-hitting stalls were charging HK$50 per session, with men and women from all walks of life were seen at the site, some had even been queuing for up to two hours in order to wait for their preferred sorcerers.

A woman surnamed Lau, who also paid for villain-hitting last year, said she felt as if everything was more successful after the ritual, and she wished to do the same again this year.

A housewife surnamed Cheung is a first-timer and wants everything to be successful, including her children's studies, as well as good health after going through the Covid pandemic.