Enter The Dragon: Celebrate CNY Like A Local in Hong Kong

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- The Chinese New Year (CNY) is one of the most popularly celebrated holidays in Asia, especially in Hong Kong as the city is abuzz with preparations for the festivity and a vibrant array of exciting celebrations.

The CNY period is the liveliest and most vibrant time in Hong Kong, with bustling flower markets, exciting city-wide events and beautiful festive displays galore staging throughout the entire festive period from day to night, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board in a statement.

Tourists looking to experience a celebration like no other should definitely pay a visit during CNY to celebrate just like the locals do, such as partaking in a traditional poon choi feast which is also known as a “basin meal”, joining extraordinary local tours to one of Hong Kong’s rural walled villages like those in Yuen Long or Sha Tau Kok.

In addition, one of the most popular dishes to serve during the celebration are CNY puddings that symbolises prosperity and attaining new heights in the new year, are perfect for cooking lovers, who can take home the recipe through participation in the hands-on festive workshops run by traditional bakeries like Kee Wah.

Meanwhile, tourists can kick off a prosperous CNY with dried seafood shopping at the section of Sheung Wan’s Des Voeux Road West between Queen Street and Centre Street which is well-known as “Dried Seafood Street”.

Many dried seafood products symbolise blessings and lucky words, whereby fish maw symbolises prosperity, while dried abalone looks similar to gold ingots and thus represents wealth.

During the CNY, locals visit each other's homes to share new year blessings and spread happiness, engaging in one of the favourite activities among locals which is playing mahjong to activate good luck.

Other than family and friends' gatherings, the festive atmosphere is also filling up every corner of the city with exciting array of celebratory events including the city's biggest CNY event, the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade.

The parade is returning with a bang to kick off the Year of the Dragon on Feb 10 (Chor 1) after a five-year hiatus and festive ambience continues to shine on Feb 11 (Chor 2) as the world famous Victoria Harbour lights up with the spectacular 2024 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display.

-- BERNAMA