March 5 marks "Jingzhe," one of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar. On this day, people in Hong Kong participate in the "beating despicable men" ritual under bridges and in temples to ward off bad luck and misfortune.
Popular spots include the area under the Canal Road Flyover in Causeway Bay, where crowds gathered in large numbers today, with one American visitor even requesting to "beat" US President Donald Trump.
At noon, dozens of stalls were set up under the Canal Road Flyover, drawing a massive crowd of devotees. Over ten police officers were on-site to manage the crowd. Some devotees arrived as early as 8 a.m., only to face long waits due to queue jumpers. Visitors from the mainland also came to HK specifically for the ritual, hoping for good fortune.
According to one "hitter" (a professional practitioner of the ritual), the service fee remains steady at HK$50 per session. Business this year is comparable to previous years, with most clients seeking to dispel bad luck and resolve personal grievances. She recounted how an American visitor brought a newspaper featuring Donald Trump's photo, referring to him as a "troublemaker" and requesting to beat him symbolically.
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