Spring Festival in Hong Kong

Chinese New Year， or Spring Festival， starts in either January or February. This holiday is very meaningful to Chinese people all over the world， akin to Christmas to Westerners. Spring Festival customs even share similarities with those of Christmas， such as gift exchanges， family gatherings and feasts. Hong Kong， as a metropolis blending Eastern and Western cultures， is an ideal destination during Spring Festival. Tourists can participate in myriad activities sated with festive atmosphere.

The flower market， New Year parade， and fireworks above Victoria Harbor are highlights of New Year’s Eve， New Year’s Day and the second day of the Lunar New Year， respectively. Contrasting some areas on the Chinese mainland， the week preceding the festival brings the strongest festive atmosphere to Hong Kong， especially New Year’s Eve when the flower market pushes the celebration to its climax.

The Spring Festival flower market is considered Hong Kong’s modern temple fair. Many areas of southern China practice the custom of buying flowers and placing them in homes for the festival. Various flowers and potted plants imply different auspicious meanings. Hong Kong’s 14 flower markets begin festivities about a week before the festival， and the one in Victoria Park is the largest and most bustling. Since every flower market closes by the early morning of New Year’s Day， visitor traffic peaks on New Year’s Eve.

For those who prefer the parade and fireworks at Victoria Harbor， patience and physical strength are required. Hong Kong’s New Year parade began in 1996， with inspiration from its renowned international counterparts such as the Rose Bowl Parade plus injection of Chinese elements. Disney characters wearing traditional Chinese costumes join Chinese acrobats in the parade. As for fireworks at Victoria Harbor， visitors can watch them from either Kowloon or the island.

Of course， Hong Kong is home to plenty of scenic spots year-round. The area around Central is full of Hong Kong flavor. Visitors will not only find plenty of modern skyscrapers， but also typical local life and time-honored structures combining Eastern and Western features. Victoria Peak， Hong Kong’s most popular attraction， offers a panoramic view of the harbor. Hong Kong Park is an amazing combination of human design and nature and ideal for families.