There are few puts on this planet the place Chinese language New 12 months feels as alive, as electrical, and as deeply rooted as Hong Kong. Town transforms totally all through the Lunar New 12 months celebrations. Crimson lanterns line the streets, the harbor lighting up with probably the most impressive fireworks presentations on earth, and historical traditions combine with world-class eating and nightlife in some way that most effective Hong Kong can pull off.
I had the chance to consult with Hong Kong all through Chinese language New 12 months and it stays probably the most memorable go back and forth stories of my existence. Out of the whole lot we did that week, those are the 5 issues I’d inform any person to not pass over.
1. Discuss with the Lam Tsuen Wishing Timber
All of us have needs and desires for the brand new 12 months — and in Hong Kong, there’s an attractive custom for making them legitimate. The Lam Tsuen Wishing Timber within the New Territories are two historical banyan bushes close to the Tin Hau Temple in Fong Po Village the place locals collect to forged their hopes for the 12 months forward.
The custom comes to writing your want on a work of pink joss paper, tying it to a mandarin orange, and tossing it up into the branches of the tree. In case your wish-paper lands and remains within the branches with out falling, it’s believed your want will come true. And the upper it lands, the much more likely your entire needs shall be granted. The paper we got with ease had needs already written so shall we simply make a selection the test field for our many needs for the brand new 12 months.
To give protection to the growing old banyan bushes from the burden of such a lot of needs over such a lot of years, a synthetic tree has been created to endure the joss paper choices. It’s simply as lush and entire because the originals, and the enjoy is simply as significant. For a small rate you’ll purchase the joss paper and mandarin orange on-site. Plan to spend an entire morning right here. It’s about an hour from central Hong Kong through MTR, however the adventure during the New Territories is worthwhile.
Sensible tip:
Take the MTR East Rail Line to Tai Po Marketplace station, then a brief taxi to Fong Po Village. The wishing bushes are busiest at the first days of the brand new 12 months. Arrive early if you wish to have a quieter enjoy.
2. Watch The Lunar New 12 months Fireworks Over Victoria Harbour
This is among the greatest and maximum breathtaking fireworks presentations on this planet, introduced over Victoria Harbour on the second one evening of Lunar New 12 months. It’s unimaginable to pass over in case you’re in Hong Kong as all the waterfront turns into a viewing birthday party.
The important thing is choosing the right spot. The Street of Stars Prom in Tsim Sha Tsui places you proper at the waterfront with an unobstructed view throughout to Hong Kong Island. The rooftop of the Regent Hong Kong (previously the InterContinental) is impressive if you’ll get a reservation. Even the rooftop of a parking storage on the Victoria Harbour waterfront works. This is precisely the place we ended up, and we had a great view.
Sensible tip:
Arrive at your viewing spot a minimum of two hours early. All of the waterfront fills up rapid and the crowds are monumental. The fireworks most often start at 8pm. Test the Hong Kong Tourism Board web page for the precise date each and every 12 months because it shifts with the lunar calendar.
3. Climb To The Large Buddha on Lantau Island
It is a pilgrimage each and every customer to Hong Kong will have to make without reference to after they consult with. However there’s one thing specifically transferring about making the climb all through the brand new 12 months when the island is adorned with festive lanterns and the Po Lin Monastery is at its maximum ceremonial.
The Tian Tan Buddha (identified affectionately because the Large Buddha) sits 34 meters prime atop a lotus throne on Ngong Ping plateau on Lantau Island. The climb up 268 steps to the bottom of the statue is a real exercise, however the panoramic perspectives of the encircling mountains and South China Sea from the highest are strange.
In a while, consult with the Po Lin Monastery immediately adjoining to the statue. All over Chinese language New 12 months it’s stuffed with worshippers lighting fixtures incense and providing prayers, and the ambience is in contrast to anything else you’ll enjoy at different occasions of 12 months. The monastery additionally serves a ravishing vegetarian lunch. It’s easy, affordable, and if truth be told scrumptious after the climb.
Sensible tip:
Take the Ngong Ping 360 cable automotive from Tung Chung station for a dramatic aerial manner over the mountains and sea coast. E book tickets prematurely all through Chinese language New 12 months because it sells out. The gondola adventure by myself is definitely worth the go back and forth.
4. Sail Victoria Harbour at the Aqua Luna
Hong Kong’s harbor is iconic at any time of 12 months, however crusing it on a conventional Chinese language junk at evening all through Chinese language New 12 months, with town lit up in pink and gold and the fireworks nonetheless contemporary on your reminiscence, is one thing else completely.
Aqua Luna operates night time harbor cruises on a fantastically restored conventional Chinese language crusing junk with placing pink sails. You living room at the deck, sip a cocktail, and float previous the glittering skyline because the Symphony of Lighting fixtures display performs out around the harbor structures. The vibe on board is comfortable and festive. There’s a ravishing world-beat soundtrack, excellent beverages, and the type of view that makes why other people fall so totally in love with this town.
Sensible tip:
E book tickets prematurely during the Aqua Luna web page, particularly all through Chinese language New 12 months when sailings refill briefly. Night time cruises leave from Central Pier 9 and Tsim Sha Tsui Megastar Ferry Pier. The 45-minute cruise is best possible. It’s lengthy sufficient to settle in and benefit from the view with out being too lengthy.
5. Have fun at Regent Hong Kong
For essentially the most impressive dinner and beverages environment in Hong Kong, the Regent Hong Kong (previously the InterContinental) on Salisbury Highway in Tsim Sha Tsui is in a category of its personal. The lodge sits proper at the fringe of Victoria Harbour with floor-to-ceiling glass home windows that glance immediately around the water to the Hong Kong Island skyline. There are few extra dramatic eating backdrops anyplace on this planet.
The lodge just lately finished a complete renovation and reopened in 2023 to monumental acclaim, these days ranked the #1 town lodge in Asia. The Foyer Living room is an ideal spot for cocktails sooner than dinner, with the ones unobstructed harbor perspectives. For dinner, make reservations at Lai Ching Heen, the lodge’s celebrated Michelin-starred Cantonese eating place. It’s a ravishing selection all through Chinese language New 12 months when the menu continuously options particular festive dishes. For one thing lighter, the Harbourside eating place serves because the lodge’s all-day eating possibility with similarly impressive perspectives.
Sensible tip:
Reserve neatly prematurely for Chinese language New 12 months. The lodge is highly regarded all through the celebrations and tables at Lai Ching Heen e-book up weeks forward. The foyer bar is extra walk-in pleasant in case you simply need to benefit from the view with a drink.
What To Devour All over Chinese language New 12 months in Hong Kong
No consult with to Hong Kong for Chinese language New 12 months is whole with out consuming your means during the festive meals. Each and every dish carries symbolic which means in Cantonese tradition. What you devour all through Chinese language New 12 months performs crucial function in bringing about excellent good fortune for the 12 months to return, with each and every dish related to ushering in prosperity in a specific house of existence. Right here’s what to search for:
Nian gao (sticky rice cake): Its title feels like “upper 12 months,” symbolizing enlargement, growth, and emerging fortunes. Households continuously pan-fry slices till golden and quite crisp at the out of doors, comfortable and chewy inside of. To find it at native bakeries and supermarkets during town all through the season.
Turnip cake (lo bak pass): A savory dim sum dish manufactured from shredded radish, Chinese language bacon, and Chinese language sausages, maximum recurrently eaten all through Chinese language New 12 months in Hong Kong. It may be served steamed or stir-fried with Chinese language chili sauce.
Complete steamed fish: In Cantonese, the phrase for fish has the similar pronunciation because the phrase which means “surplus,” signifying a variety of prosperity. Maximum Cantonese eating places may have it at the menu all through the brand new 12 months season.
Poon choi: A uniquely Hong Kong dish originating from village communities within the New Territories, the place households give a contribution meals to a big communal pot symbolizing cohesion and togetherness. Components are layered in a large basin and come with seafood, meats, mushrooms, and greens. It’s discovered all over the place all through Chinese language New 12 months from informal eating places to positive eating.
Lo hei (prosperity toss): A uncooked fish salad of shredded greens and uncooked salmon the place diners collect across the dish and toss it with chopsticks as prime as imaginable, an act that symbolizes prosperity. It’s a happy, communal enjoy and probably the most a laugh issues you’ll take part in as a customer.
Dim sum: Any dim sum eating place all through Chinese language New 12 months is a festive, celebratory enjoy with particular seasonal dishes at the menu. E book forward as fashionable spots refill rapid, particularly for weekend brunch.
Pineapple buns (bolo bao): This isn’t a meals particularly for the brand new 12 months, but it surely’s a Hong Kong staple year-round and a must-taste in case you’re visiting. The title refers back to the scored, quite candy pastry best that resembles a pineapple (there’s no exact pineapple inside of). Get them contemporary from a conventional bakery whilst they’re nonetheless heat.
Sensible Guidelines For Chinese language New 12 months in Hong Kong
When to move: Chinese language New 12 months falls on a special date each and every 12 months in keeping with the lunar calendar, most often between overdue January and mid-February. The primary celebrations run for the primary 15 days of the brand new 12 months, with the fireworks on the second one evening and the most important parade at the 3rd.
E book the whole lot early: Motels, eating places, and fashionable stories just like the Aqua Luna and Ngong Ping cable automotive refill neatly prematurely. E book once you might have your go back and forth dates showed.
Get an Octopus card: The Hong Kong MTR subway gadget is among the best on this planet and an Octopus card makes navigating town seamless. It really works at the MTR, buses, ferries, or even in lots of comfort shops and eating places.
Be expecting crowds: Chinese language New 12 months is Hong Kong’s largest birthday celebration and town attracts guests from throughout Asia and past. The Wishing Timber, Victoria Harbour waterfront, and Lan Kwai Fong are all extraordinarily crowded. Simply include it … the power is a part of the enjoy.
What to put on: Crimson is auspicious all through Chinese language New 12 months and dressed in this can be a authentic gesture of admire and participation within the festivities. Even a pink shawl or accent counts. Extra vital is what to steer clear of: white, black, and darkish army are related to mourning in Chinese language tradition and are easiest skipped completely all through the celebrations.
Disclosure: My go back and forth to Hong Kong used to be backed through Uncover Hong Kong. As at all times, my reviews and exuberance for go back and forth and meals are completely my very own. At first printed in 2014, up to date for 2026.
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