Among Hong Kong’s many age-old traditions, villain hitting stands out for its unique mix of folklore and catharsis. Practiced mainly in Hong Kong and Guangdong, this centuries-old ritual is believed to drive away misfortune and negative energy.

The ceremony typically involves crafting a paper effigy symbolising one’s “villain”, a person or problem causing distress, and striking it with a shoe while the hitter chants to expel bad spirits. Once the effigy has taken enough blows, it’s burned to symbolise the end of one’s troubles.

While villain hitting can be performed any time of year, it’s most popular during Jingzhe, the “Awakening of Insects” in the Chinese lunar calendar, when spring’s arrival signifies renewal and rebirth.

Today, the underpass of Canal Road Flyover between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai remains the city’s most famous spot for this ritual – where locals and visitors alike can symbolically stamp out their bad luck and step into brighter days.