The Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival Enables Residents and Tourists to Enjoy the Fun of Chinese New Year Celebrations in Lam Tsuen

During the Chinese New Year holiday, the Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival held in Lam Tsuen of Tai Po was bustling with crowds. Many citizens and tourists experienced a series of New Year celebration activities at the festival and tossed wishing placards onto the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, praying for a prosperous and peaceful new year.

The Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival held in Lam Tsuen of Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

The festival site featured several photo spots where visitors could capture beautiful New Year photos. Among them, the horse sculptures in the shapes of "Golden Horse" and "Galloping Horse" allowed visitors to experience the fun of "leading in the winner" and gain good fortune for the Year of the Horse.

The horse sculpture in the shape of "Golden Horse" allowed visitors to experience the fun of "leading in the winner" and gain good fortune for the Year of the Horse. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

The colorful New Year decorations on the site created a strong festive atmosphere, while the Lam Tsuen-themed float, which had attended the Chinese New Year Parade on the night of February 17, was also on display for visitors to take photos and relive the exciting moments of the parade.

The Lam Tsuen-themed float, which had attended the Chinese New Year Parade on the night of February 17, was also on display for visitors to take photos and relive the exciting moments of the parade. Photo by Bastille Post

Besides, a variety of New Year's goods stalls were set up on the site, offering visitors the fun of New Year's shopping. Meanwhile, the stalls selling delicacies and game booths also allowed visitors to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Well-Wishing Festival.

The huge Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, Photo by Bastille Post

A variety of stalls were set up on the site, offering visitors the fun of the New Year's celebration. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Aini, a Hong Kong resident from Indonesia, said she would come to Lam Tsuen every year to participate in the New Year blessing activities. She mentioned that, having worked and lived in Hong Kong for many years, she has built a deep affection for the city and loves its unique folk culture. For her, tossing wishing placards is a very interesting traditional custom. As for her new year wish this year, she hoped the people in Hong Kong could share joy and make everything go well.

Aini, Photo by Bastille Post

As for Niraj and his family from Nepal, it's their second time participating in the Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival, which, together with the previous experience, made him very happy. For him, starting the new year by tossing wishing placards onto the wishing tree is a unique Hong Kong cultural experience. The brightly colored oranges hanging on the branches not only made for a beautiful New Year's scene, but also symbolized good fortune. Looking forward to the coming year, he hoped for good health, peace, and prosperity for his family.

Niraj and his family, Photo by Bastille Post

David Byrne, a tourist from Ireland, said it was his first time experiencing the activities of the Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival. During the Chinese New Year period, he felt a strong festive atmosphere in Hong Kong by enjoying local New Year delicacies with family and friends, and participating in many unique folk celebrations, making him feel Hong Kong's strong commitment to traditional culture inheritance and the public's anticipation and enthusiasm for the New Year celebrations. Looking forward to the new year, he hoped his new baby would be born safe and healthy.

David Byrne and his family, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Ni, a local resident, came from Mong Kok to Lam Tsuen to experience the unique tradition of tossing wishing placards. She said it was her first time participating in the Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival celebrations, and the lively festive atmosphere left a deep impression on her: "The atmosphere is great with so many people around." She also mentioned that her New Year's wish written on the wishing placard was "to have good health, smooth work, and everything go well in the new year."

Ms. Ni, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Yan, another local resident, said she was very joyful to come to Lam Tsuen on the third day of the Chinese New Year to experience the lively festive atmosphere. Seeing many people writing their New Year's wishes on wishing placards and throwing them onto the wishing tree as she did, she felt a strong sense of ritual for celebrating the Chinese New Year. She sincerely hoped that everyone's wishes would be fulfilled in the Year of the Horse.

Ms. Yan, Photo by Bastille Post

On the third day of the Chinese New Year (February 19th), many residents visited the Che Kung Temple in Shatin to pray for blessings. Long queues started at the entrance of the temple, with the police present to maintain order.

On the third day of the Chinese New Year (February 19th), many residents visited the Che Kung Temple in Shatin to pray for blessings. Photo by Bastille Post

The temple was bustling with people burning incense, while the windmills were moving with the wind along the way. The residents lined up patiently, entered the temple one by one to sincerely offer incense, praying for peace and prosperity in the new year. Many citizens also drew fortune sticks in the temple, hoping to pray for good blessings for the Year of the Horse.

The temple was bustling with people burning incense. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Many citizens also drew fortune sticks in the temple, hoping to pray for good blessings for the Year of the Horse. Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Kang and her family came to the Che Kung Temple to experience the characteristic New Year celebrations in Hong Kong, after enjoying the fireworks display on the second day of the Chinese New Year. She said that the festive atmosphere was very lively on the site. Looking forward to the new year, she hoped that everything could go well, her family could be healthy, and her daughter could make academic progress.

Ms. Kang and her daughter, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Lo, a resident from Yuen Long, said he kept visiting the Che Kung Temple every year to offer incense and pray for blessings. He said that since he might have come early today, he felt that the flow of people at the scene was not too much. If he came later, there would be long queues. He described himself as in a good mood and bought a beautiful windmill to put at home to pray for a smooth new year. As for his New Year's wish, he said that the most important thing was "achieving good health".

Mr. Lo, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chan came from Kowloon Bay to offer incense and pray for blessings with his son. He said he would visit the Che Kung Temple on the third day of the Chinese New Year every year to pray for good luck in the new year. He mentioned that, due to the crowd control measures on the site, the incense offering process was orderly without being chaotic. Otherwise, as in the past, “it might take two hours to get out from the temple since every corner would be filled with people”. Regarding his New Year's wish, Mr. Chan said he hoped for "world peace and good health for his family". As for his son, the little boy hoped to make academic progress and fulfill all his wishes in the new year.

Mr. Chan and his son, Photo by Bastille Post

Another 7-year-old child, Yeung Hou Tin, came to the Che Kung Temple from Ma On Shan with his parents. He mentioned that his family has the habit of visiting the Che Kung Temple during the New Year. Seeing the lively atmosphere at the scene today, he felt joyful and excited. He hoped that not only he could make academic progress in the new year, but also that everyone around him could "achieve good luck and prosperity".

Yeung Hou Tin, Photo by Bastille Post

There was also a New Year market installed at the exit of the Che Kung Temple, selling a range of New Year items for people who came to worship to bring the festive atmosphere home and keep the blessings and good luck for the coming year.

The New Year market at the Che Kung Temple, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Wong, a windmill stall owner at the market, said the flow of people this year was similar to that in the past. As for the sales performance of his stall, it was proportional to the flow of people, remaining roughly the same as in previous years. Moreover, he mentioned that the popular product at his stall recently was the windmill, among which, the most popular type was the "tiny" one since it could be placed at home easily to maintain blessings for all year round.

Mr. Wong, Photo by Bastille Post

In addition, Mr. Chan Joon Sun, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management), visited the police officers on duty at the Che Kung Temple on the morning of the third day of the Chinese New Year. Besides, he also visited the promotional booth set up by the Sha Tin Police District Headquarters outside the Che Kung Temple to chat with the public and distribute Chinese New Year couplets to them.

The Che Kung Temple, Photo by Bastille Post

In response to the media, Mr. Chan said he hoped Hong Kong's economy would get better and safer, and residents would happily welcome the Year of the Horse. He added that the police had effectively managed the crowd at the Che Kung Temple, keeping good order in the morning.