How to Enjoy Chinese New Year in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has been celebrating Chinese New Year with great ardor, style, and ecstasy as a buoyant mood engulfs the city. If you plan to visit Hong Kong to witness how they enjoy Chinese New year, here are the tips to follow!
1st Day
Stroll the Local Flower Market
You should reach Hong Kong before the Year of the Dog ends to witness one of the most convivial and memorable flower markets in the city. Here the locals shop displays the seasonal flowers and plants that symbolize multiple good wishes, like cherry blossoms, which are known to improve romantic relationships and water bamboos said to bring wealth.
You should visit Victoria Park or Fa Hui Park, which are the biggest and most popular flower markets crowded with people in the evening.
2nd Day
Go for Healthy Lunch and Spiritual Walk
You can start the New Year with a healthy lunch and spiritual walk. It is believed by Hong Kongers going for hiking on the first day of Chinese New Year or climbing uphill bring progress in life.
Lantau Island is the best place to go for such hiking, which is home to the world’s tallest sitting Buddha statue built outdoors. You can take the cable car from Tung Chung to marvel and enjoy the views of lush greenery and the sea along the way. Get down at Ngong Ping Village to visit the Good Luck Garden, before trying out Chinese vegetarian dishes at Po Lin Monastery. Do not forget to visit the Big Buddha next to the temple.
Now head to Tsim Sha Tsui little early to block a spot for viewing the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade that starts at 8 pm, a signature event started in 1996.
In the evening you can watch the roving performers starting from 6 pm before floats including people from Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park Hong Kong along with the dancers, acrobats and other performers from all over the world take over the major roads.
3rd Day
Explore New Territories for Fresh Air
On the third day, you can venture to the New Territories to ingest some fresh air and try placard-throwing at the Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po.
Get a placard tied to an orange, write your wishes on it, and throw it at the imitation Wishing Tree. The higher the placard hangs, the wider chance for the wishes to come true.
Fireworks in Cantonese is staged above Victoria Harbour on the second day of Chinese New Year at 8 pm. You can view this spectacle act for free along the harbour front in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai or International Finance Centre in Central.
DAY 4
Visit Che Kung Temple and Kau Chim
It is a customary practice to pay respect to the deities. For a glimpse into this tradition, visit Che Kung Temple in Tai Wai, where you will find crowds of avid worshipers every year around this time to pay respect to their deities.
You can also try our “Kau Chim”, or fortune stick drawing to see what is there in store for you in the Year of the Pig. Spin the temple’s famous copper windmill clockwise to trigger good luck in the New Year.
Witness City’s Popular Sporting Event
From the Che Kung Temple take the MTR East Rail line to the Sha Tin Racecourse to attend the Chinese New Year Race Day that is scheduled from 11 am to 6 pm. It offers the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience horseracing, which is a popular game in Hong Kong.
You may also place a small bet to get in the mood and cheer on the jockey of your choice shouting the number of the horse you bet.
Synopsis
So friends if you ever plan to visit Hong Kong to see how they celebrate Chinese New year, do not forget the above tips to make the best of it!