The Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza in Tsim Sha Tsui will host a Chinese New Year Lantern Display from February 12 to March 15, with daily lighting hours from 6 pm to 11 pm. Admission is free to the public.
The Chinese New Year Lantern Display in Tsim Sha Tsui, Photo source: HKSR Government Press Release
The Chinese New Year Lantern Display in Tsim Sha Tsui, Photo source: HKSR Government Press Release
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) stated that the lanterns, crafted by master lantern makers Mr. Mo Cheuk Kei and Mr. Hui Ka Hung, have incorporated the Chinese New Year elements such as horses, bats, lion dances, cheongsam, Chinese candy boxes, coins, and auspicious symbols, etc. Through the intangible cultural heritage craft of traditional lanterns, the display aims to allow the residents to experience the festive atmosphere, blending tradition and creativity, of the Chinese New Year, and to welcome the Year of the Horse.
The Chinese New Year Lantern Display in Tsim Sha Tsui, Photo source: HKSR Government Press Release
14 Chinese New Year Fairs across Hong Kong have opened on Wednesday (February 11th) and will remain open until 7:00 AM on February 17th. The 14 fairs will feature approximately 1,500 stalls selling fresh products, dried goods, fast food, festive plants, flowers, decorations, and couplets, etc.
The Chinese New Year Fair, Photo source: rednote
The Victoria Park Chinese New Year Fair, the largest one in Hong Kong, has set up 400 stalls. Many residents arrived early in the morning for New Year's product purchases, but some stalls were still making final preparations and were not yet officially open.
Mr. Wong, a flower stall owner at the Victoria Park Chinese New Year Fair for over 20 years, was optimistic about expected sales this year, estimating they would be higher than last year. He mentioned that the overall cost price of fresh flowers is higher this year, with increases in the cost of flowers from overseas, such as the ones from Japan and the Netherlands, which have the largest increase, resulting in slightly higher selling prices.
The Chinese New Year Fair, Photo source: rednote
Ms. Hung, the owner of a stall selling dried seafood and soup ingredients, expressed concern about the sales of her stall due to the increasing number of people choosing to consume in the Mainland in recent years, coupled with the competition from online shopping. However, she also mentioned that some customers had expressed dissatisfaction with their online purchase experiences and ultimately opted to shop at physical stores, leading her to believe that the Chinese New Year Fair would still have certain competitiveness.
The Chinese New Year Fair, Photo source: threads
Some secondary school students also participated in running the stall, selling ornaments and toys. They said they could apply the knowledge they had learned in class, such as pricing strategies. Moreover, they also mentioned that it was their fourth year participating, and their role had changed from being students to becoming "little bosses" who strengthened their leadership and teamwork skills by leading younger students.
The Chinese New Year Fair, Photo source: threads
Some elderly residents said they usually preferred to visit the Chinese New Year Fair in Sha Tin, but this year they chose to visit the one in Victoria Park, describing it as larger, with more products and fresher flowers. A regular attendee of the Chinese New Year Fair noted that the weather was good this year, and he planned to buy some flowers to enhance the festive atmosphere at home.
