Thursday, January 26, 2012

Hong Kong Chinese New Year Firework 2012

It is a tradition in Hong Kong that on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year, firework will be shown atop Victoria Harbour. I live on Hong Kong Island, so my best place to view firework is Wanchai ferry. In fact I must say viewing firework from Tsimshatsui waterfront is the best. Below I've borrowed a photo from Ming Pao which is taken from Tsimshatsui and is really stunning.

Weather is really cold this year - only 8 degrees and it was quite freezing standing for 23 minutes outdoor at the harbour front. Even so, there are thousands of people crowding over both sides of the Victoria Harbour, not to mention people viewing the show from boat cruises, restaurants, offices and homes with harbour view.

Firework at Victoria Harbour 2012
Photo source: Ming Pao

Next year if you happen to visit Hong Kong during Chinese New Year, don't forget to view the firework show at 8pm on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year.

Hong Kong Travel Blog - Firework 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Chinese New Year Photos in Hong Kong

As Chinese New Year is approaching, the city of Hong Kong is getting more and more colourful. Shops, restaurants, homes, everywhere - people are beautifying places with flowers and all kinds of CNY decorations. Let me share with you some of the views of Hong Kong.

Large floral decorations at Pacific Place Shopping MallA Close Up of the Tao Hua. May be weather is getting warm, flowers are opening up quickly.
Red and gold are typical Chinese colours at Chinese New Year. A big new year decoration at the shopping arcade of Times Square.
Even on a street, you can find decorations like this - Russell Street, outside Times Square.
My office is here at Times Square. Here are the tangerines at the lift lobby.
Almost all commercial buildings are deocrating their lift lobbies. Here's another one resembling the year of Dragon.
Chinese like gold bars, gold cubes, gold everything are used to decorate display windows.
The floral arrangement within hotels are added some Chinese colour as well. The yellow ones are only available around Chinese New Year.
Some traditional new year decorations outside a hotel restaurant.
The reception areas of a Chinese restaurant. See beautiful floral arrangements.

Even MacDonald's is adding some Chinese taste to its cappuccino. I really don't know how they turn their house symbol 'M' into this Chinese character 'fortune'. Wonderful!

Chinese New Year Dim Sums are all given good names. The dumplings below have pork's tongue, dry oyster and hairy vegetable - all related to profit, good business and lucky money.
Pork's knuckle is also a must-eat during Chinese New Year, meaning lots of lucky money throughout the year.

City Views of Hong Kong - Chinese New Year 2012