FOUR fallacies of the Chinese New Year celebration in Hong Kong

Four fallacies about Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration

Lots of travelers misunderstand the Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration.

(1)During Chinese New Year, most shops and restaurants don't open......

NO! Most shops and and restaurants in the malls still open and welcome you. 

Hong Kong is still the shopping paradise and dining capital during the Chinese New Year. 

Just some small shops may close for a few days for family reunion.

(2)There are a lot of New Year Carnivals during the Chinese New Year holidays......

NO! All Chinese New Year Carnivals close at the early morning of the New Year Day. 

Many locals do go to the carnivals before sunrise to buy the largely discounted flowers. 

Different from Beijing, Hong Kong has no temple fair during the New Year.

(3)Hong Kong's Chinese New Year holiday is long......

NO! Hong Kong is the World financial center. 

Hong Kong citizens can only enjoy 3-day holiday. 

Everything returns to normal after the public holidays. 

In some Mainland China's cities, the daily life just gets back to normal after the fifteenth day of the New Year. 

(4)Temples are the best sightseeing points during the Chinese New Year......

NO! Lots of locals go to make the wishes.  

You need to wait for a long time to go inside and are difficult to move in the crowded temples. 

You need to skip the packed TEMPLES. 

Please save your valuable time for other highlights!

You may browse the link for the easy Hong Kong Highlights private tour.

For private tour planning, please contact Frank the tour guide.

To individual travelers, 4 things to do on Hong Kong Island's Central & Western District

Things to do in Central and Western District for individual travelers

Apart from visiting Man Mo Temple, you have four other things to do on Hong Kong Island's Central & Western District to learn the history, enjoy shopping and local delicacies.

(1)Learn Hong Kong's public health history

There is the Taipingshan Medical Heritage Trail, which shows you the history of 1894 bubonic plague and Hong Kong public health. 

The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences and the Blake Garden are the focal points of the trail.  

(2)Learn Dr. Sun Yat-sen's life

The Father of Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen studied medicine and got the enlightenment in Hong Kong. 

He then organized the revolution in the colony. 

You can learn his life by visiting the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park and Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail.

(3)Buy and eat like locals

Sun Yat-sen once studied in the Government Central School.

The site later became the first Police Married Quarter in Asia. 

Today you can go shopping at the 'PMQ' to support Hong Kong's talented designers. 

You can also go dining at different Taipaidong (outdoor food stalls) to taste the local delicacies.

(4)Visit different markets 

Apart from PMQ and malls, you can visit different markets.

You can go to the 'Cat Street Market' (Upper Lascar Row) for the curios. 

You can go to the Lei Yuen Street East and West for the souvenirs. 

You can still go to the Graham Street Wet Market to see locals' dining habits. 

But you must be quick. Hong Kong's oldest wet market may disappear soon due to the urban renewal project.

For further questions about Central and Western District, please contact Frank the tour guide.

Five busy places before the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's five busy places before the Chinese New Year

After saying 'happy new year', people will say 'gong hei fat choy' soon. Five places in Hong Kong are very busy before the Chinese New Year.

(1)Dried Seafood Market in Sheung Wan and Chinese restaurants

For making a good family reunion dinner, lots of old housewives go to Sheung Wan's Dried Seafood Market with their daughter in laws or domestic helpers to buy the precious and expensive dried seafood, abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, fish maw etc. 

Some big families, which has no big apartment to accommodate many family members, just go to the Chinese restaurants to enjoy the all-included new year banquets. 

They use the lazy Susan to share the dishes, which have a lucky names.    

(2)Chinese New Year Carnivals

Hong Kong Government does organize many Lunar New Year Canivals, i.e. the new year bazaars, til the Chinese new year eve. 

People do want to leave their bad luck and get some good luck at the carnivals. 

So after enjoying the reunion dinner, lots of families just go shopping at the carnivals. 

(3)Temples

People make wishes at the temples at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. 

At the end of the year, no matter their dreams come true or not, they need to go back to the temples to say 'thank you' to the Gods.

(4)Flower Market in Mong Kok

Chinese people believe the beautiful blossoming flowers can bring good fortune and prosperity. 

So people go to Mong Kok's Flower's Market to buy the seasonable Narcissus, Peach Blossom, Kumquet , Sword Lily etc. to decorate their homes or offices before new year.

(5)Shopping malls

Although the stylish Hong Kong citizens buy and change new clothes and accessories all year round. 

They still believe that they should wear something brand new at the new year time. 

So the time before new year is the high season for retailing industry. 

Discount is waiting for you!

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