HONG Kong will be bursting at the seams with entertainment, activities and excitement from February 16-March 2 as locals and visitors welcome in the Year of the Dog and wish for a prosperous 12 months ahead.
From dazzling fireworks and street parades to outdoor carnivals and vibrant flower market stalls, colourful festivities will light up the streets of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon
For those intending to visit, here are a few highlights:
- The annual International Chinese New Year Night Parade, February 16. Watch colourful floats sail past and enjoy lively performances with thousands of others along Tsim Sha Tsui's main streets.
- The 20-minute fireworks extravaganza will light up the sky creating a kaleidoscope of colour from 8pm on February 17. The Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and Central Harbourfront will provide best viewing spots.
- The Chinese New Year Raceday, February 18. A British colonial legacy, horse-racing is enthusiastically embraced by the locals.
Adding to the festivities is the Great European Carnival at the Central Harbourfront event space, which will be transformed into an outdoor amusement park until the end of February.
Every Chinese New Year, the Che Kung Temple is awash in a sea of colourful spinning "wheels of fortune" that dance along with the breeze.
The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees are another popular destination for locals during the new year. Located in Lam Tsuen Village in Tai Po, New Territories, the original trees were believed to bring good fortune. Villagers would tie joss papers to the branches in the hope their wishes would be granted.
Every Chinese New Year the village is crowded with people waiting their turn to cast their wish.
Also worth the trip are the vibrant and aromatic Flower Markets, packed to the brim with everything you need for Chinese New Year, from traditional decorations, souvenirs and delicious treats to vivid and exotic blooms.
Various "lucky plants" carry their own auspicious omens. For instance, cumquats represent wealth and peach blossoms symbolise romance and longevity.
The vibrant temporary flower markets in Victoria Park and Mongkok usually open about a week ahead of the festival. Join the locals to search for auspicious buds before the markets close in the early hours of the first day of Chinese New Year.
Last, but not least, poon choi, or one-pot casseroles, are a hallmark of traditional village dining culture and are especially prevalent at this time.
Made from layering different types of ingredients, from meat and poultry to seafood and vegetables, in a giant pot or basin, it's a heart-warming communal dish perfect for big groups and celebrations. Visitors can sample this distinct dish at select restaurants across the city during the celebrations.
