Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

Marked in many countries with fireworks, parades and family gatherings, the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations happen in Hong Kong. The festivities include a huge night parade with traditional floats and lion dances set to loud, excited percussion music and an enormous fireworks display held in Victoria Harbour on the second day of the three-day holiday (the festival lasts for 15 days). The sound of fireworks exploding is thought to scare away bad spirits and promote luck. People visit temples and tend to wear new clothes and favour the colour red during these days, so there is frenzied shopping and a lot of bustling around town. Hong Kong holds a vast flower market (to celebrate spring), families share feasts of chicken and fish for good luck and prosperity, and sweet traditional treats are exchanged. Already a vibrant city, Hong Kong explodes with red decorations, lights and activity during Chinese New Year.