Friday, January 30, 2009

Firework at 2009 Hong Kong Chinese New Year

Travel Hong Kong during Chinese New Year has a bonus of admiring our brilliant fireworks. It is a tradition here that at 8pm on the second day of Chinese New Year, there is a firework show at the Victoria Harbour, which usually lasts about 20 minutes.

8pm - January 27, 2009
Victoria Harbour

Firework is an extremely challenge subject to shoot, even for professional photographers. So, why not simply admiring? Here I am going to suggest a number of Hong Kong hotels best for admiring fireworks. But please make sure to book a harbour view room, or you are going to be upset. If you are booking a table at a restaurant, please also make sure it has a harbour view.

Hotels on Hong Kong Island

Hotels on Kowloon

Other Places Ideal to Admire the Fireworks
* Tsimshatsui harbour front outside HK Cultural Centre (Kowloon)
* Harbour front along Victoria Harbour from Central to North Point (Hong Kong Island)
* Restaurants at One Peking Road, Tsimshatsui (Kowloon)
* Restaurants at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (Hong Kong Island)

Hot Dates for Fireworks in Hong Kong
2nd day of Chinese New Year (usually between mid January to mid February) - must
July 1 - Establishment of HKSAR - not mandated
October 1 - National Day

Hong Kong Travel Blog - Firework

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Chinese New Year Foods

Enjoy yummy Chinese food is one the most important theme when visiting Hong Kong. The Chinese foods we eat around New Year time have very beautiful names and carry excellent meanings. Now let me introduce some of the dishes that almost every family cook at home or eating out.

New Year Pudding 年糕
Pudding 糕 sounds like 'gao 高' in Chinese, which means 'growth' and 'promotion'. We eat all kinds of puddings everyday, but this sweet sticky pudding is usually and specifically for new year time.Turnip Pudding 蘿蔔糕
This contains preserved Chinese sausages, pork and dry shrimps. This is my home-made turnip pudding. We don't usually make it at home, except at new year time, because it is quite time consuming. However this is quite a popular dim sum dish at any Hong Kong dim sum restaurants.
Lettuce Soup with Fish Cake and Pork 生菜鯪魚球湯
This is easy to make. Almost every housewife in Hong Kong can do it. Here is my home-made soup. Again it carries very good meanings. Fish - surplus; Lettuce - wealth. Pork is added to increase the flavour.

The followings are from my dim sum table.
Pork Dumplings with Dry Oyster, Pig's Tongue and Fa Cai (hairy vegetable) 發財好市大利
Oyster - sounds like 好市 in Chinese, which means 'lots of business'
Tongue - sounds like 大利 in Chinese, which means 'lots of profit'
Fa Cai - sounds like 發財 in Chinese, which means 'making lots of lucky money'

Stewed Pig's Knuckle 橫財就手
橫財 is lucky money, apart from money you make from work or business. 就手 means 'handy (easy)'.
Jian Dui - Deep Fried Seasame Balls 煎堆
煎堆碌碌, 金銀滿屋 - the shape of the jian dui resembles a rolling ball. Together with the golden color of the balls, it means 'treasure and wealth rolling towards your house'.

Getting to know the meaning behind the names, I am sure you will have extra fun eating these Chinese New Year foods in Hong Kong.

Want to view and get to know more about Hong Kong Chinese food? Take a look at my Hong Kong Food Blog.

Hong Kong Travel Blog - Chinese New Year Foods

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Hong Kong Victoria Park

In about an hour's time, it's going to be Chinese New Year - Year of the Ox. One of the traditions in Hong Kong is going to buy flowers at the year-end flower market. These temporary flower markets usually start doing business about a week ahead of the New Year. The largest flower market is at the Victoria Park, right next to the shopping area of downtwon Causeway Bay.

If you happen to travel Hong Kong during Chinese New Year, make sure to visit the Victoria Park, enjoy and share the fun at the flower market.

Here are the photos I took yesterday at Victoria Park flower market.

Tao Hua
A must at Chinese New Year Tao Hua
These are super stars at the flower market
Tao hua implies lots of business or romance 5 Generations
Tangerines
Implies 'peace' throughout the yearNarcissus
Hybridium


Chinese love 'red' in general
During the New Year, red flowers are highly sought after
Peony



Other than flowers, there are plenty of Ox stuff

Anna embedded in tangerines
Victoria Park Travel Information:
MTR Tin Hau Station (Hing Fat Street Exit)
Tram stops at main entrance (opposite to Central Library)
Bus 5, 10, 23, 102 and plenty others
Admission: Free

Victoria Park Nearby Hotels
Park Lane - on the opposite, overlooking the park
Excelsior - a Mandarin Oriental hotel, 3-minute walk to the park
Rosedale - on the opposite, overlooking the park
L'hotel - on the opposite, overlooking the park
Hong Kong Travel Blog - Victoria Park

Welcome to Travel Hong Kong !

Today is Chinese New Year Eve. I have decided to kick off my Hong Kong travel blog with Chinese New Year. To follow my blog, we are going to find all kinds of useful information for your visiting Hong Kong. Even you are doing your armchair travelling, you will enjoy reading about Chinese culture, Chinese language, Chinese food – all and everything about Hong Kong.

First of all, let’s take a quick look at some the most charming views of Hong Kong and we shall continue to explore the Chinese New Year Flower Market.


Victoria Harbour
World famous for its stunning night view
Hong Kong Skyline
A view from Mid-Levels
Clock Tower
A view from colonial days
Peak Tram
One of the oldest transportation in the world
Running in Hong Kong for over 100 years
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