เที่ยวฮ่องกง ฮ่องกง Festivals Highlights 2011

ฮ่องกง MEGA Events & Celebrations

Throughout the year, Hong Kong brings you an exciting sequence of festivals and events offering you a diverse assortment of unique traditional Chinese festivals and Western cultural celebrations.

Chinese New Year Celebration (January – February 2011)

You are welcome to join the celebration for the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations as we welcome the Year of the Rabbit! Festivities include flamboyant flower markets, a spectacular night parade, a float display and stage performances, fabulous fireworks and lively sporting events, plus plenty of other attractions. Chinese New Year celebrations run from 28 January to 14 February, allowing visitors to discover all the wonderful events and attractions synonymous with Hong Kong.

Highlights include: a magnificent New Year’s Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui, a stunning harbour side fireworks display, followed by a day of exciting horse racing providing you with a taste of all the excitement of the Chinese New Year festivities in Hong Kong. There are also colourful flower markets, festive celebrations and temples to visit.

Flower markets are an indispensable part of Chinese New Year celebrations. The markets are a gorgeous rainbow of colours and a riot of scents, offering the perfect backdrop for the multitudes who descend upon popular markets in search of that perfect plant or bloom for the home or office to bring them good luck for the coming year. Kumquat trees, narcissus and peonies are believed to bring prosperity, peach blossoms add fire to romance, while tangerine plants, with their leaves intact, help to ensure long-lasting relationships and ‘fruitful’ marriages. Mingle with the happy bustling crowds and let the vivid sights and smells overwhelm your senses in this, the Year of the Rabbit!

It’s customary at Chinese New Year to give thanks for the past 12 months and pray for good fortune for the coming year. For an unforgettable experience, join the crowds as they make a trip to the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple to burn incense sticks and shake out a fortune stick for a New Year prediction. The other popular place of fortune seeking is at the Yuen Yuen Institute in Tsuen Wan where locals pray to Tai Shui, the deity governing the Year of the Rabbit. You can also spin the Wheel of Fortune at Sha Tin’s Che Kung Temple to dispel bad luck and encourage good fortune. Another possible trip is to visit the fabled Wishing Trees in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po and make a wish or pay tribute to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo) at Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road in Central.

The Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade (ICNYP) is the most anticipated and best-loved event of the entire New Year celebrations. Proudly brought to you by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the parade has been selected by the Lonely Planet Bluelist as one of the world’s most fascinating attractions and celebrations. Travel + Leisure also selected the parade as one of the six great Chinese New Year parties in the world. Such is its popularity, broadcast and print media organizations from 14 countries from all over the world carried the parade in 2010, including CNN. It’s an event not to be missed as we bring the Year of the Rabbit to the world.

This is the 16th parade and the 13th consecutive year it is being sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways. This stunning spectacle showcases a combination of international and Chinese elements featuring illuminated floats, dragon and lion dancers, clowns, marching bands and an all-star cast of performing teams from around the world. They will follow a route that snakes around Tsim Sha Tsui, transforming the Victoria harbourfront area into a giant street party venue. Roving performers and interactive games will add fun and enhance the festivities prior to the start of the parade.

The floats from the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade will be on display in various prominent locations around town for a few days after the parade. This is a fantastic chance to see these wonderful creations up close. At night, the floats will be brilliantly lit up making this a great photo opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. There will also be exciting performances by international groups at designated locations.

Hot Spots Celebrating

Year of The Rabbit Chinese New Year Celebration at Hong Kong Disneyland To kick off the year-long celebration of the 5th Anniversary, Hong Kong Disneyland fills the Chinese New Year with loads of good fortune. The Lucky Trail, festival feasts and auspicious gifts lead you to the lucky Year of the Rabbit. The 5th Anniversary climaxes at Celebration in the Air with the energy-filled, all-new Flights of Fantasy Parade that takes everything to a new height. The pixie-dusted Tinker Bell Castle also adds a magical sparkle to the grand celebration! DATE 21 January – 13 February 2011 TIME TBC VENUE Hong Kong Disneyland ENQUIRY TEL +852 1830 830 EVENT WEBSITE http://www.hongkongdisneyland.com

Ngong Ping 360 "Wealthy" wishing cable car To celebrate the Year of Rabbit, Ngong Ping 360 is proud to present you a giant wealth wishing cable car decoration at the Ngong Ping Village. Toss a coin and make a wish at the golden cable car, you will be blessed with good fortune and luck in the Year of Rabbit. DATE mid January to mid February 2011 TIME Weekdays : 10am – 6pm; Weekends & Public holidays: 9am – 6:30pm VENUE Ngong Ping Village ENQUIRY TEL +852 3666 0606 EVENT WEBSITE http://www.np360.com.hk

Ocean Park Lunar Lucky Fiesta Visit Ocean Park’s largest and newest attraction, the marine-themed Aqua City area for an auspicious Chinese New Year! This world-class Grand Aquarium with over 5,000 fish from 400 species, including manta rays and hammerhead sharks! Feel the fury of the fire dragon and the power of the water dragon with the world’s first 360° water screen multisensory show – Symbio! Accumulate fortune with peach blossom trees, gold ingots, the God of Fortune, and dragon and lion dances throughout the park! DATE 3 – 13 February 2011 TIME TBC VENUE Ocean Park Hong Kong ENQUIRY TEL +852 3923 2323 EVENT WEBSITE http://www.oceanpark.com.hk

It’s ‘out with the old and in with the new’ at Chinese New Year as Hong Kong people take advantage of the irresistible bargains available at this time of the year and indulge in some retail therapy. They also welcome the Year of the Rabbit with a mouth-watering assortment of traditional festive foods that have a special significance at this important time of the year. There’s simply no better place than Hong Kong where you can experience the magical celebrations of Chinese New Year.

Cultural Celebrations (April – May 2011)

Join the locals as they celebrate the traditional festivals of Hong Kong and experience the city’s fascinating living culture! The unique Cheung Chau Bun Festival is just one of the four classic traditional festivals that take place in Hong Kong in April and May. There are also events marking the birthdays of important deities such as Tin Hau and Tam Kung as well as a religious festival celebrating the birth of Lord Buddha.

Summer Spectacular (June – August 2011)

Hong Kong Summer Spectacular encompasses all that’s great about summertime in Hong Kong, with a fun-filled city-wide programme of events and activities. Indulge yourself with numerous tempting privileges and discounts in the city’s various shopping malls and department stores. Don’t miss the Dragon Boat Carnival, the ‘Summer Pop – Live in Hong Kong’ concert, as well as a host of exciting happenings such as the Lan Kwai Fong Beer Festival and the Summer International Film Festival.

Hong Kong Halloween Treats (September – October 2011)

It’s fun for the whole family when Hong Kong shifts into Halloween mode. Popular attractions put on spooky events, leading shopping malls and food districts serve up Halloween-themed goodies and trendy nightspots throw outrageous parties. Don’t miss the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival that takes place in September, famous for its beautiful display of lanterns around town, and the amazing three-day fire dragon dance in Tai Hang.

Wine & Dine Month (November 2011)

Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month begins with the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, a spectacular gathering of wine, food and live entertainment! This great event showcases international wines paired with food from local restaurants. There will also be fabulous food and wine offers at the dining districts across town. Nature lovers should not miss the Great Outdoors Hong Kong! campaign which is a wonderful opportunity to discover the vast network of hiking trails and visit the Hong Kong National Geopark filled with amazing geological formations.

WinterFest (December 2011)

During WinterFest the city is aglow with festive lighting and glorious Victoria Harbour is a dazzling sight with all the surrounding illuminations. The holiday season offers great opportunities for a bargain during the winter shopping sales while the city’s restaurants are filled with seasonal dishes. Make sure your holiday plans include the fantastic pyrotechnic display over the harbour for the New Year Countdown Celebrations.