According to Chinese tradition, the ghosts who died without a proper burial, such as at sea or in war, those who died by their own hands, by accidents, by drowning or hanging or were murdered, or who have no relatives to care for them, bitterly wander the underworld of  yinjian, the world of darkness, angry because they are forced to dwell in hell without food or comfort. During the 7th month in the Chinese calendar, the Ghost Month (鬼月), for 30 days the gates of the underworld stand open and unleash these restless and hungry spirits on the living world, where they cause mischief and malevolence, and search for souls to take their place in misery.

The Hungry Ghost festival or the Feast for the Wandering Souls (also known as Zhong Yuan Jie 中元节), is held to appease these wandering spirits, as well as the ghosts of departed family and friends. The belief is that the anger of the restless ghosts can be assuaged if they are presented with the same offerings and entertainments that are given to the ancestral spirits and the gods. As part of the festival, to care for the souls who died by drowning communities on rivers or by the sea sail out to pray and scatter rice on the water, and float miniature paper boats filled with food and paper offerings to appease the hungry ghosts.

We also have a small selection of souvenir paper boats to purchase. They cost only a few yuan, and setting one out to float on the Grand Canal will surely save you from being followed home by any spirits and haunted in your bed tonight!

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