Chinese New Year in Hong Kong: 5 Things Not To Miss

There are few places in the world where Chinese New Year feels as alive, as electric, and as deeply rooted as Hong Kong. The city transforms completely during the Lunar New Year celebrations. Red lanterns line the streets, the harbor lights up with one of the most spectacular fireworks shows on earth, and ancient traditions mix with world-class dining and nightlife in a way that only Hong Kong can pull off.

I had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong during Chinese New Year and it remains one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life. Out of everything we did that week, these are the five things I’d tell anyone not to miss.

1. Visit the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees

We all have wishes and dreams for the new year — and in Hong Kong, there’s a beautiful tradition for making them official. The Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in the New Territories are two ancient banyan trees near the Tin Hau Temple in Fong Po Village where locals gather to cast their hopes for the year ahead.

The tradition involves writing your wish on a piece of red joss paper, tying it to a mandarin orange, and tossing it up into the branches of the tree. If your wish-paper lands and stays in the branches without falling, it’s believed your wish will come true. And the higher it lands, the more likely all your wishes will be granted. The paper we were given conveniently had wishes already written so we could just select the check box for our many wishes for the new year.

To protect the aging banyan trees from the weight of so many wishes over so many years, an artificial tree has been created to bear the joss paper offerings. It’s just as lush and full as the originals, and the experience is just as meaningful. For a small fee you can buy the joss paper and mandarin orange on-site. Plan to spend a whole morning here. It’s about an hour from central Hong Kong by MTR, but the journey through the New Territories is worth it.

Practical tip: 

Take the MTR East Rail Line to Tai Po Market station, then a short taxi to Fong Po Village. The wishing trees are busiest on the first days of the new year. Arrive early if you want a quieter experience.

2. Watch The Lunar New Year Fireworks Over Victoria Harbour

This is one of the largest and most breathtaking fireworks displays in the world, launched over Victoria Harbour on the second night of Lunar New Year. It’s impossible to miss if you’re in Hong Kong as the entire waterfront becomes a viewing party.

The key is picking the right spot. The Avenue of Stars Promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui puts you right on the waterfront with an unobstructed view across to Hong Kong Island. The rooftop of the Regent Hong Kong (formerly the InterContinental) is spectacular if you can get a reservation. Even the rooftop of a parking garage at the Victoria Harbour waterfront works. That is exactly where we ended up, and we had a perfect view.

Practical tip: 

Arrive at your viewing spot at least two hours early. The entire waterfront fills up fast and the crowds are enormous. The fireworks typically begin at 8pm. Check the Hong Kong Tourism Board website for the exact date each year as it shifts with the lunar calendar.

3. Climb To The Big Buddha on Lantau Island

This is a pilgrimage every visitor to Hong Kong should make regardless of when they visit. But there’s something particularly moving about making the climb during the new year when the island is decorated with festive lanterns and the Po Lin Monastery is at its most ceremonial.

The Tian Tan Buddha (known affectionately as the Big Buddha) sits 34 meters high atop a lotus throne on Ngong Ping plateau on Lantau Island. The climb up 268 steps to the base of the statue is a genuine workout, but the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and South China Sea from the top are extraordinary.

Afterward, visit the Po Lin Monastery directly adjacent to the statue. During Chinese New Year it’s filled with worshippers lighting incense and offering prayers, and the atmosphere is unlike anything you’ll experience at other times of year. The monastery also serves a wonderful vegetarian lunch. It’s simple, inexpensive, and genuinely delicious after the climb.

Practical tip: 

Take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Tung Chung station for a dramatic aerial approach over the mountains and coastline. Book tickets in advance during Chinese New Year as it sells out. The gondola journey alone is worth the trip.

4. Sail Victoria Harbour on the Aqua Luna

Hong Kong’s harbor is iconic at any time of year, but sailing it on a traditional Chinese junk at night during Chinese New Year, with the city lit up in red and gold and the fireworks still fresh in your memory, is something else entirely.

Aqua Luna operates evening harbor cruises on a beautifully restored traditional Chinese sailing junk with striking red sails. You lounge on the deck, sip a cocktail, and drift past the glittering skyline as the Symphony of Lights show plays out across the harbor buildings. The vibe on board is relaxed and festive. There’s a wonderful world-beat soundtrack, good drinks, and the kind of view that makes you realize why people fall so completely in love with this city.

Practical tip: 

Book tickets in advance through the Aqua Luna website, especially during Chinese New Year when sailings fill up quickly. Evening cruises depart from Central Pier 9 and Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier. The 45-minute cruise is perfect. It’s long enough to settle in and enjoy the view without being too long.

5. Celebrate at Regent Hong Kong

For the most spectacular dinner and drinks setting in Hong Kong, the Regent Hong Kong (formerly the InterContinental) on Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is in a class of its own. The hotel sits right on the edge of Victoria Harbour with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look directly across the water to the Hong Kong Island skyline. There are few more dramatic dining backdrops anywhere in the world.

The hotel recently completed a full renovation and reopened in 2023 to enormous acclaim, currently ranked the number one city hotel in Asia. The Lobby Lounge is a perfect spot for cocktails before dinner, with those unobstructed harbor views. For dinner, make reservations at Lai Ching Heen, the hotel’s celebrated Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant. It’s a wonderful choice during Chinese New Year when the menu often features special festive dishes. For something lighter, the Harbourside restaurant serves as the hotel’s all-day dining option with equally spectacular views.

Practical tip: 

Reserve well in advance for Chinese New Year. The hotel is extremely popular during the celebrations and tables at Lai Ching Heen book up weeks ahead. The lobby bar is more walk-in friendly if you just want to enjoy the view with a drink.

What To Eat During Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

No visit to Hong Kong for Chinese New Year is complete without eating your way through the festive foods. Each dish carries symbolic meaning in Cantonese culture. What you eat during Chinese New Year plays an important role in bringing about good luck for the year to come, with each dish associated with ushering in prosperity in a particular area of life. Here’s what to look for:

Nian gao (sticky rice cake): Its name sounds like “higher year,” symbolizing growth, progress, and rising fortunes. Families often pan-fry slices until golden and slightly crisp on the outside, soft and chewy within. Find it at local bakeries and supermarkets throughout the city during the season.

Turnip cake (lo bak go): A savory dim sum dish made of shredded radish, Chinese bacon, and Chinese sausages, most commonly eaten during Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. It can be served steamed or stir-fried with Chinese chili sauce.

Whole steamed fish: In Cantonese, the word for fish has the same pronunciation as the word meaning “surplus,” signifying plenty of prosperity. Most Cantonese restaurants will have it on the menu during the new year season.

Poon choi: A uniquely Hong Kong dish originating from village communities in the New Territories, where families contribute food to a large communal pot symbolizing unity and togetherness. Ingredients are layered in a giant basin and include seafood, meats, mushrooms, and vegetables. It’s found everywhere during Chinese New Year from casual restaurants to fine dining.

Lo hei (prosperity toss): A raw fish salad of shredded vegetables and raw salmon where diners gather around the dish and toss it with chopsticks as high as possible, an act that symbolizes prosperity. It’s a joyful, communal experience and one of the most fun things you can participate in as a visitor.

Dim sum: Any dim sum restaurant during Chinese New Year is a festive, celebratory experience with special seasonal dishes on the menu. Book ahead as popular spots fill up fast, especially for weekend brunch.

Pineapple buns (bolo bao): This isn’t a food specifically for the new year, but it’s a Hong Kong staple year-round and a must-taste if you’re visiting. The name refers to the scored, slightly sweet pastry top that resembles a pineapple (there’s no actual pineapple inside). Get them fresh from a traditional bakery while they’re still warm.

Practical Tips For Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

When to go: Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year based on the lunar calendar, typically between late January and mid-February. The main celebrations run for the first 15 days of the new year, with the fireworks on the second night and the biggest parade on the third.

Book everything early: Hotels, restaurants, and popular experiences like the Aqua Luna and Ngong Ping cable car fill up well in advance. Book as soon as you have your travel dates confirmed.

Get an Octopus card: The Hong Kong MTR subway system is one of the most efficient in the world and an Octopus card makes navigating the city seamless. It works on the MTR, buses, ferries, and even in many convenience stores and restaurants.

Expect crowds: Chinese New Year is Hong Kong’s biggest celebration and the city draws visitors from across Asia and beyond. The Wishing Trees, Victoria Harbour waterfront, and Lan Kwai Fong are all extremely crowded. Just embrace it … the energy is part of the experience.

What to wear: Red is auspicious during Chinese New Year and wearing it is a genuine gesture of respect and participation in the festivities. Even a red scarf or accessory counts. More important is what to avoid: white, black, and dark navy are associated with mourning in Chinese culture and are best skipped entirely during the celebrations.

Disclosure:  My trip to Hong Kong was sponsored by Discover Hong Kong. As always, my opinions and enthusiasm for travel and food are entirely my own. Originally published in 2014, updated for 2026.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Confessions Of  A Foodie:  Hong Kong Edition

Sometimes, being on a food tour is not as deliciously rewarding as it sounds.  Take, for instance, my visit to Hong Kong for Chinese New Year; the Year of The Snake. Do you think I found snake on the menu … you know … for good luck?  You betchya.

Sai Kung Pineapple Buns And A Proper Chinese Tea

Strolling through the streets of Hong Kong, there’s no shortage of fun foods to try.  Travelers can dig their chopsticks into traditional street foods such as rice noodle rolls and fish balls in tangy red sauce, or, for the adventurous gourmand, there’s slimy snake soup or gelatinous steamed tripe. 

3 Simple Ways To Survive A Long Flight

Do long flights hold you back from booking the trip of your dreams?  They shouldn’t.  I actually prefer longer flights to cross-country since you actually have time to rest and reset your internal clock to a new time zone.  But if you’re not traveling first class, there are still a few discomforts to work around. Here are my tips for enjoying a long flight.