Chinese New Year's Day marks the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday, which is the biggest holiday in China. Hong Kong's Chinese New Year festival is world-famous. In 2024, Chinese New Year will fall on February 10th. In Hong Kong, people get three public holidays from Feb. 10th to 13th.
In Hong Kong, people mark the occasion with a unique fusion of modern fun and ancient customs. The three days comprising a night parade, spectacular fireworks, and horse racing often make it to the top of world festival event lists.
Chinese New Year Flower Market
What makes the Hong Kong Chinese New Year festivities different from those of Chinese mainland isn't only the festival horse racing tradition and the luxurious shopping, it is the Hong Kong tradition of decorating items with flowers and plants, and also giving them as gifts, which many believe can bring good luck.
In Hong Kong, a lot of significance is attached to this custom, and the various kinds of flowers or plants that are given as gifts denote different wishes or signs and give good luck.
Chinese New Year Parade on Chinese New Year's Day
Chinese New Year paradeThe Chinese New Year Parade is one of the most popular events for the Hong Kong Chinese New Year celebrations. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors to enjoy the colorful parade each year.
Crowds line the streets and make way for the parade in the Tsim Sha Tsui area near Victoria Harbour. You can see dozens of colorful floats, lively dragons, traditional Chinese dancers, and bands. The parade route proceeds along the historic Nathan Road, Salisbury Road, Canton Road, and Haiphong Road. It goes past some Hong Kong highlights such as the Avenue of Stars, Kowloon Park, and the Golden Mile of Nathan Road.
The night parade begins at 8 pm but pre-parade street performances usually begin at 6 pm. You'd better arrive early to get a good spot.
Before the parade, you could tour the attractions, go shopping, and dine out. Hong Kong's biggest mall, Harbour City, is open along the parade route. The Temple Street Night Market pedestrian street is a place to browse for bargains and to snack or have a meal beforehand.
Read more about the International Performance Night and the parade program.
Chinese New Year Fireworks Over Victoria Harbour on the Second Day
Victoria Harbor blazes with fireworks, while the lights dance on the buildings.On the second day of the Spring Festival, Victoria Harbour is scheduled to roar with a giant firework display with choreographed pyrotechnics. The show is set to last for about 25 minutes. It usually coincides with the daily record-setting Symphony of Lights with its colorful building lights and laser light show.
The best places to view the display are both sides of the harbor front in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai, by boat on the water, or from The Peak. A more enjoyable and less-crowded way is to reserve a spot at a restaurant or bar, or sit in a hotel room with a harbor view.
Read about the Chinese New Year Fireworks in Hong Kong including locations and transportation.
Chinese New Year Horse Races on the Third Day
Horse races are a Chinese New Year tradition in Hong Kong.Known as the most popular races of all, 100,000 excited fans crowd into Sha Tin Racecourse on the third day of the holidays. The Chinese New Year races are a special event. This has always been Hong Kong's most popular horse racing event.
On this unique race day, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (a nonprofit charity group) features a full program of traditional and colorful festivities. Usually, there will be a grand opening show as well as cultural performances and entertainment. The featured race is the Chinese New Year Cup. Read more on the Hong Kong horse racing season.
The Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival
It is a long-established tradition for locals to go to Lam Tsuen in the New Territories to pray for good luck during the Chinese New Year period.
It is a colorful festival where you can experience many unique traditions and events, such as well-wishing at the wishing trees, releasing of the wishing lanterns, and seeing the floats and performance groups from the Chinese New Year Night Parade.
The Spring Lantern Festival
Lantern Festival in Hong KongDuring the Spring Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Chinese New Year, Hong Kong will be decorated with thousands of colorful lanterns. It is a tradition to hold a lantern carnival at Tsim Sha Tsui at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza.
Apart from lantern displays, you can see some performances, such as acrobatics, folk songs, and dances, and cultural activities, such as lantern making.
The Best Chinese New Year Staycations in Hong Kong
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
A magical staycation fuelled by rides, games, performers, and prizes to be won, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong's Winter Carnival Staycation includes a stay in a newly renovated room, daily breakfast for two adults, complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner at selected hotel restaurants
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
The hotel invites guests to cosy up amidst in-room Chinese New Year decorations and signature sky-high views. The "Spring Stellar-bration" package promises complimentary Mango Delight Cake, a bottle of house Champagne and breakfast for two.
The Langham, Hong Kong
The Langham, Hong Kong's 'Journey to Fortune' staycation is a much-welcomed chance to delight in decadence and feast on delectable CNY offerings.
The Peninsula, Hong Kong
Revel in "Wealth & Joy" at The Peninsula to enjoy dining and spa.
Chinese New Year Shopping Spree
Family shopping in Hong KongCrowds go shopping in Hong Kong before and during the Spring Festival for holiday food, decorations, clothes, gifts, and furniture. Promotions, discounts, and entertainment help make holiday sales usually skyrocket. This winter, because of a drop in tourism, expect prices to be lower than normal. It might be an opportunity for you to go bargain hunting.
Malls usually stay open and even extend hours for the shopping rush during Chinese New Year's Eve and the important first few days of the Chinese New Year. This winter, malls might reduce hours. Small-market street shops may close for a couple of days or close early as usual during the vacation period.
If you plan on shopping, here are regular and luxury shopping tips and guides:
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