Chinese New Year in Hong Kong: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Parades, Fireworks & Traditions

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Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant times of year to visit the city. Skyscrapers glow red, incense smoke drifts through temple courtyards, lion dances echo through neighborhoods, and fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour.

But beyond the parade and skyline spectacle, Chinese New Year is deeply rooted in tradition. It is a holiday centered around family, prosperity, symbolism, and renewal.

When I first considered visiting Hong Kong during Chinese New Year, I found surprisingly limited information online. Many sources suggested it wasn’t a “good” time to visit because businesses might be closed.

That advice didn’t make much sense to me. A city hosting massive parades, fireworks over Victoria Harbour, and major cultural celebrations seemed like exactly the kind of experience worth seeing, so I decided to go anyway.

This guide is based on my firsthand experience visiting Hong Kong during Lunar New Year – not as someone returning home to family, but as a traveler experiencing the holiday as a visitor.

If you’re considering visiting Hong Kong during Chinese New Year, this guide covers everything you need to know.

Lunar New Year vs. Chinese New Year: Why the Terminology Matters

You’ll often see the holiday referred to as either Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year, and the distinction can feel politically or culturally sensitive.

Here’s the context:

Chinese New Year refers specifically to traditions rooted in Chinese culture.
Lunar New Year is a broader term that acknowledges that multiple cultures celebrate a new year based on the lunar calendar.

For example:

In Vietnam, it is called Tết.
In South Korea, it is known as Seollal.

While the dates may align, customs, foods, rituals, and symbolism differ by culture.

Because this article focuses specifically on Hong Kong – a city whose traditions stem from Chinese heritage – I’ll use Chinese New Year when referring to the celebrations in Hong Kong.

What Is Chinese New Year? (for the history nerds)

Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a new year based on the traditional lunisolar calendar. It typically falls between late January and mid-February and begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar.

In Chinese culture, the holiday is officially known as the Spring Festival (Chūn Jié) and lasts for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. During Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, the first three days of the celebration are public holidays.

Historically, the festival developed from ancient agricultural cycles, symbolizing the end of winter and the beginning of the spring planting season. Over centuries, traditions evolved, blending folklore, ancestor worship, and prosperity rituals into the celebration observed today.

One of the most well-known legends tells of the monster Nian, who was believed to terrorize villages at the start of each new year. According to the story, villagers discovered the creature feared loud noises, fire, and the color red. These beliefs eventually shaped many of the traditions still practiced today, including firecrackers, red lanterns, and wearing red clothing.

Each year is also associated with one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac, which rotates on a twelve-year cycle. The zodiac sign is believed to influence the energy and symbolism of the coming year.

Each year is also associated with one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac, which rotates on a twelve-year cycle. The zodiac sign is believed to influence the symbolism and energy of the coming year.

The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig (I’m a dog!).

Each animal carries its own symbolic traits and cultural associations. For example, the Dragon is often linked with power and success, while the Rabbit represents peace and elegance. People born in a given zodiac year are often believed to share personality characteristics associated with that animal.

In addition to the animal, each year is also paired with one of the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, or water – creating a 60-year cycle. During our visit, the zodiac year was the Fire Horse, a combination traditionally associated with energy, independence, and bold personality traits.

You’ll often see the zodiac animal of the year reflected throughout Chinese New Year decorations and celebrations in Hong Kong. During our visit, horses were everywhere: toys, lanterns, decorations, street signs, and festive displays all across the city!

Traditional Chinese New Year Customs in Hong Kong

When deciding where to experience Chinese New Year, the two places I initially considered were Hong Kong and Beijing, as both host some of the largest celebrations. I visited Beijing on a school trip in 2018 and would love to return one day to explore it more independently – but in the end, I chose Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been on my mind for a while, and it is considerably warmer than Beijing in February.

Chinese New Year in Hong Kong blends deeply rooted traditions with modern city energy. Even with skyscrapers and global commerce, many rituals remain central to the celebration.

Throughout the city, you’ll see symbolic decorations, temple visits, family gatherings, and prosperity traditions that have been practiced for generations.

Red is for Prosperity

Red symbolizes luck, joy, and prosperity, and during Chinese New Year it appears everywhere. You’ll see it in clothing, decorations, storefront signage, and of course, the red envelopes known as lai see.

It was fun walking through the malls and seeing all of the Lunar New Year–themed items. Just about every store was showcasing red and gold collections, and many shops – including major brand-name stores – had some kind of festive decoration or special holiday product.

Temple Visits and Prayers

Many locals visit temples to pray for good fortune, health, and success in the coming year.

The two most well-known temples in Hong Kong are Wong Tai Sin Temple and Man Mo Temple.

We made a brief visit to Man Mo Temple and watched worshippers lighting incense and making offerings for the new year. The temple wasn’t as architecturally decorated such as some of the temples I’d seen in Thailand or Japan, but I was thoroughly intrigued by the New Year activities.

Temporary tables had been set up outside the temple where worshippers prepared their offerings before entering. They were covered with red trays and bundles of incense. The temple itself was smaller than I expected, but there was a steady flow of people going in and out.

Family Reunion Dinners

The evening before Chinese New Year is reserved for the reunion dinner, when families gather together for a large meal to celebrate the start of the new year.

These dinners often include symbolic dishes that represent abundance, longevity, and prosperity (like long “longevity” noodles).

Obviously, since we were not visiting family, we didn’t participate in a traditional reunion dinner. However, we did manage to find an open hot pot restaurant and had our own little “feast” to celebrate the evening.

Prosperity Symbols and Lucky Plants

Throughout Hong Kong, symbolic plants and decorations appear in homes, storefronts, and public spaces during Chinese New Year. Each item carries a specific meaning connected to luck, prosperity, or happiness for the year ahead.

Some of the most common symbols include:

Tangerine and Kumquat Trees
Small citrus trees are extremely popular decorations during Chinese New Year. The Cantonese words for orange and gold sound similar, so these fruits symbolize wealth and financial prosperity. You’ll often see potted citrus trees placed outside homes and businesses.

Peach Blossoms
Peach blossoms are associated with romance, growth, and new beginnings. Their bright pink flowers symbolize renewal and are especially popular decorations leading into the new year.

Orchids
Orchids represent fertility, elegance, and abundance. They are commonly displayed in homes and offices to attract good fortune.

Lucky Calligraphy and Red Banners
Red banners with gold Chinese characters are often placed on doors or storefronts. These phrases typically express wishes for prosperity, happiness, and success in the coming year.

In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, we noticed people writing calligraphy and fortunes along the streets in certain areas, such as near Cat Street. I’m not sure if this happens year-round, but it seemed especially common during the holiday period.

One thing that surprised me was seeing long lines forming outside gold jewelry stores on New Year’s Day. It felt a little unexpected since it’s a public holiday, and many other businesses were opening later in the day.

At first, I thought one of the shops might have been running some kind of New Year’s promotion. But as we kept walking, it became clear this wasn’t just one store – every gold shop we passed had a line of people waiting outside for the doors to open.

Curious about what was going on, I had to look into the meaning behind it.

Gold is strongly associated with wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture, and purchasing gold at the beginning of the new year is believed by some to symbolize attracting financial success in the year ahead

Lunar New Year Flower Markets

In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, temporary flower markets appear across Hong Kong, selling lucky plants, decorations, and festive goods for the holiday. These markets usually open several days before New Year’s Eve and gradually become busier as the celebration approaches.

Flowers play an important role in Chinese New Year traditions because they symbolize renewal, prosperity, and good fortune for the year ahead. Many families visit these markets to purchase peach blossoms, orchids, and small citrus trees to decorate their homes.

During our visit, we explored two of Hong Kong’s flower markets – one at Victoria Park and another in Kowloon.

Kowloon has a year-round flower market street that expands significantly for Chinese New Year. Vendors line the street with flowers and decorations, and the nearby park fills with additional stalls selling food, souvenirs, and festive items.

The Kowloon market is near Goldfish Street (note: there is much more than gold fish here), Sneaker Street, and Ladies Market.

In contrast, the market at Victoria Park is transient. It’s set up entirely within the park and is larger, but more compact. Rows of stalls filled the space, selling flowers, decorations, and New Year goods.

We visited the Victoria Park market on New Year’s Eve because I thought it would be fun to see the festival at its peak. In reality, it was absolute chaos.

Crowds were so dense that visitors were forced to move in one direction through the aisles, and at one point, we became completely stuck in the middle of a walkway, packed together like sardines. I started to feel a little claustrophobic.

I would still recommend visiting one of Hong Kong’s flower markets – they’re colorful, lively, and an important part of the lead-up to Chinese New Year – but I’d strongly suggest going a few days before New Year’s Eve, when the atmosphere is festive, but the crowds are much more manageable.

Major Chinese New Year Celebrations in Hong Kong

The Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade typically takes place on the first day of the new year in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon.

The parade includes elaborate floats, lion dances, and international performance groups of all kinds.

the street experience

Streets start getting roped off several hours before the event begins. Not only is the parade route closed, but much of the surrounding neighborhood is also restricted. Sidewalks are taped off, police are stationed throughout the area, and movement between streets becomes increasingly controlled as the evening approaches.

Because our Airbnb was nearby, we intentionally positioned ourselves on the same side of the street earlier in the evening. We knew traffic control would make it difficult to cross streets after the parade started, and we didn’t want to risk getting stuck on the wrong side when it was time to go home.

We ended up watching from a corner along Nathan Road and arrived about three hours before the parade began. We were planning to walk around some more, but saw the crowds building along the streets and the sections becoming full and roped off. At some point after we arrived, they stopped allowing additional people into the viewing area. From where we stood, we could actually see people exiting the MTR station across the street, only to be redirected by police and told to keep walking because the viewing areas were already full.

Because we were positioned near a turn in the route, most of the performers stopped briefly before making the corner. This meant we were able to see many of the acts up close, though most performances were short as they moved along the route. One group did stop for a longer performance in front of the wheelchair viewing area, which felt like a really thoughtful gesture.

While we waited for the parade to begin, I ended up chatting with a man named Jeffrey who had lived in Hong Kong for 53 years. He told me he originally came from Sri Lanka and had built his life in the city, raising three children there. Two of his kids had become teachers, which he seemed especially proud of.

Jeffrey walked with a cane because of a bad leg, and he told me his wife had been upset with him for coming to the parade. He had a 45-minute bus ride home, but he was determined to attend because watching the Chinese New Year parade had become one of his annual traditions.

Despite living in Hong Kong for decades, he mentioned he never learned Cantonese and had navigated life in the city primarily using English. He spoke with so much pride about Hong Kong and seemed genuinely happy to be there.

Unfortunately, he only stayed through the pre-parade festivities before heading home, which I assume was because his leg began to bother him.

As for the floats themselves, my favorite was easily the Disney float, which was extra fun after we had just spent the previous day at Hong Kong Disneyland. The dragon dance performances were also incredible to watch.

The parade really felt like the official kickoff to the city’s Chinese New Year celebrations.

Grandstand tickets

Hong Kong also offers paid reserved seating for the Chinese New Year parade. These tickets include assigned seats in grandstands set up along the parade route in Tsim Sha Tsui.

We didn’t initially plan to buy them because the instructions indicated that you needed to arrive several hours early and remain seated once you entered the viewing area. At the time, it seemed restrictive.

In reality, we ended up standing and waiting along the street for almost the same amount of time anyway.

If I were to attend again, I would absolutely purchase a reserved seat a few weeks in advance. Standing for hours in the crowd was exhausting, and it’s very common for people to push through the viewing areas without much acknowledgment as they try to move closer.

With the grandstand seating, you’ll likely have a much more comfortable experience and a clearer view of the performances. You’ll also get to see the full routines, since performers often stop to perform in front of the main seating areas.

I imagine this is also where the parade is filmed and broadcast, so it’s likely one of the best vantage points along the route.

Tickets are usually released through the Hong Kong Tourism Board or official ticket vendors ahead of the holiday and can sell out quickly as Chinese New Year approaches.

Fireworks Over Victoria Harbour (Day 2)

The second night of Chinese New Year brings one of Hong Kong’s most spectacular events: the fireworks display over Victoria Harbour.

Thousands of people gather along both sides of the harbor to watch the show. The city skyline reflects off the water while fireworks burst between the buildings, making it one of the most visually impressive moments of the celebration.

After learning our lesson from the parade crowds, we made sure to arrive at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade early. Police begin working throughout the day – often starting in the morning – roping off sidewalks and setting up barriers to control pedestrian traffic. The goal is to keep large crowds from spilling into the streets as people gather near the waterfront.

We arrived in the area around 4:30–5:00 PM and barely made the cut to secure a spot by the water. Later in the evening, closer to 6:00 PM, police guided a large group of people through the barriers and allowed them to move closer to the waterfront as well.

Because we arrived earlier, we were able to claim a spot along the harbor and relax for a while before the fireworks began. Some people were sitting along the water, chatting with friends or watching the skyline as the crowd slowly grew.

There were a few food stands nearby where you could grab snacks, but the options were fairly limited. Many people came prepared with their own food and were already picnicking long before we arrived.

If you plan to watch the fireworks from the harbor, I would recommend bringing:

a blanket to sit on
snacks and water
extra layers

Eventually, everyone ends up standing as the fireworks begin, but having a place to sit beforehand makes the long wait much more comfortable.

The fireworks were outstanding! I loved watching them fall over the skyline as the crowd “ooh” -ed and “ahh” -ed.

This was easily one of the most photogenic moments of the entire celebration.

Other viewpoints

Central Harbourfront
On the Hong Kong Island side, the Central waterfront provides another vantage point of the harbor and skyline. However, I’ve heard the view from Kowloon side is better.

Harbour Cruises
Several companies offer special Chinese New Year fireworks cruises. Watching from a boat gives you a unique perspective in the middle of the harbor, though these tickets usually need to be booked in advance.

Aqua Luna, is one popular company that will offer firework boat rides (seasonal).

Victoria Peak
If you prefer a higher vantage point, you can watch the fireworks from Victoria Peak. Seeing fireworks explode above the entire skyline can be very impressive, and photos from this viewpoint often look incredible.

However, this option does come with some risks. Because of the elevation and wind conditions, smoke from the fireworks can sometimes drift across the skyline and obscure the view. I’ve seen several reports of this happening in past years.

If you plan to watch the fireworks from Sky Terrace 428, special tickets are required. The Ruby Special ticket is typically needed for that evening and should be purchased at least a week in advance, as it can sell out.

It’s also important to know that Sky Terrace 428 operates as single-entry only during the event. This means you cannot enter earlier in the day and return later for the fireworks. When we were there, the terrace closed briefly in the early evening (around 6 PM) and then reopened one hour later for guests who were specifically there to watch the fireworks.

Hotel Rooftops and Restaurants
Some hotels and restaurants around the harbor offer special fireworks viewing dinners or rooftop events. These can be a comfortable way to watch the show without dealing with the large crowds on the waterfront. Like many New Year’s events, these come with a higher price tag and usually require reservations well in advance.

Chinese New Year Horse Racing (Day 3)

On the third day of Chinese New Year, a major race meeting takes place at Sha Tin Racecourse, organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

It’s one of the biggest race days of the year and draws large crowds dressed for the occasion. Horse racing is deeply embedded in Hong Kong culture, and the Chinese New Year race day is considered one of the highlights of the holiday celebrations.

We couldn’t stay for the third day races, but it would have been especially fun to attend during the Year of the Horse.

Instead, we attended a themed race night earlier in the week at Happy Valley Racecourse, which hosts races every Wednesday. During Chinese New Year, the racecourse adds festive decorations and themed programming throughout the month.

The atmosphere at Happy Valley felt lively but more relaxed than what I imagine the larger Sha Tin race day would be. Happy Valley is generally considered more casual, tourist-friendly, and smaller in scale, which made it an easy and fun way to experience Hong Kong’s horse racing culture during the holiday season.

Wishing Trees and Good Fortune Traditions

One unique Chinese New Year tradition involves making wishes for the coming year.

At the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, visitors write their wishes on pieces of paper and tie them to oranges before tossing them toward the tree. If the wish successfully sticks to the branches, it is believed to symbolize good fortune and the fulfillment of that wish in the year ahead.

We didn’t make it out to the famous wishing tree itself, but we did notice smaller versions of this tradition throughout the city, where people wrote wishes or fortunes on red papers and tied them to decorative trees.

It’s a visually symbolic reminder that Chinese New Year is ultimately about hope, renewal, and fresh beginnings.

Kowloon During Chinese New Year

What Hong Kong Actually Feels Like During Chinese New Year

Before visiting, I expected the city to completely shut down.

It didn’t.

Are Stores Open During Chinese New Year in Hong Kong?

Yes – many stores remain open, though hours may shift.

From what we experienced:

Many businesses opened later in the afternoon on Day 1.
Day 2 felt more “normal” in terms of operating hours.
Smaller, family-run shops are sometimes closed for both days.
International stores seemed to be open both days (Starbucks, Jollibee, Uniqulo)

Overall, it felt a bit hit-or-miss when it came to whether a specific place would be open. Many smaller restaurants and shops don’t maintain social media accounts or updated websites, so sometimes the only way to find out is simply walking there and checking. A few places didn’t reopen until day 4 (based on their signs).

That said, I was honestly surprised at how much remained open. I expected large parts of the city to shut down, but Hong Kong still felt active and lively.

I figured some restaurants would remain open since many residents live in smaller apartments where cooking large meals might not always be practical. And in reality, there were still plenty of places to eat – you just had to be a little flexible.

Our biggest challenge was finding a cha chaan teng (a traditional Hong Kong café) open on the first day of the new year. Many of these are small, family-run businesses, and several of the ones we had visited earlier in the week were closed for the holiday. We wandered around and found a few open options close by.

Kowloon During Chinese New Year

What I did during the day for Chinese New Year

By the time Chinese New Year arrived, we had already checked off most of the major things we wanted to see in Hong Kong. Instead of packing our schedule, we spent the holiday mostly wandering around Kowloon and observing the atmosphere of the city during the celebration.

On the first day of the new year, we were walking through Kowloon when we suddenly heard the sound of loud drums echoing through the streets. Curious, we followed the noise and ended up stumbling upon a traditional dragon dance performance taking place outside one of the hotels.

Dragon and lion dances are commonly performed during Chinese New Year, often by professional acrobatic troupes hired by businesses. The performances are meant to bring good luck and prosperity while warding off negative energy for the year ahead.

After performing outside, the group continued into the building and moved floor by floor, symbolically blessing the space. It was one of the most culturally unique moments we experienced during the holiday – and seeing it happen unexpectedly, right in front of us, made it even more special.

We also discovered that the Star Ferry was running free rides that day thanks to a holiday sponsorship, so we took advantage of the opportunity and crossed the harbor into Central. Interestingly, the ferry was closed the following day, so it seems schedules can vary during the holiday period.

On the second day of Chinese New Year, we spent time exploring the West Kowloon Cultural District. The weather was beautiful, and the waterfront area was full of people enjoying the sunshine, relaxing in the park, and spending time with friends and family.

It was nice to see people strolling along the harbor, groups sitting on the grass, and plenty of visitors exploring the area.

Where to Stay in Hong Kong for Chinese New Year

I highly recommend staying in the Kowloon area during Chinese New Year. The parade takes place in Tsim Sha Tsui, and the fireworks are best viewed from the waterfront promenade, so staying nearby makes it much easier to walk to and from the major celebrations.

During such a busy time, being within walking distance of key event areas can significantly reduce stress around transportation and crowd control.

We personally stayed in Jordan, and I would absolutely choose to stay there again. It felt centrally located with quick access to the MTR, plenty of restaurants, and the Temple Street Night Market within walking distance. The area was lively but still convenient for getting around the city.

Page Hotel in Jordan is a fantastic option. It’s moderately priced, centrally located, and has good reviews. I personally booked our stay 3 months in advance, but if earlier would be better as prices rise and stays quickly sell out.

Transportation and Tourism

Public transportation, including the MTR, continued operating efficiently throughout the holiday. The first day seemed noticeably quieter with fewer commuters, but activity picked back up by the second day.

I also noticed quite a few organized tour groups, many of which appeared to be visiting from mainland China. At the same time, there were families traveling together with suitcases heading toward MTR stations on both days, which made it feel like many people were either arriving to celebrate the holiday or traveling to visit relatives.

Is Chinese New Year a Good Time to Visit Hong Kong?

Absolutely. Visiting Hong Kong during Chinese New Year was a special experience and, in my opinion, one of the best times to visit the city.

I recommend arriving a few days before the holiday begins, especially if you’re a foodie like me and want to visit specific restaurants or cafés before some smaller spots close for the celebrations. Try to spend at least the first two full days of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong so you can experience both the parade and the fireworks.

In many ways, the celebrations felt surprisingly familiar. The parade and fireworks reminded me of festivals I’ve experienced growing up – big crowds, excitement in the air, and people gathering together to celebrate.

What stood out most, though, was how genuinely excited everyone was for the new year. Experiencing that energy in another part of the world was a reminder that, despite cultural differences, many of our traditions share the same foundation: coming together to celebrate hope, renewal, and the start of something new.

Hi, I’m Amber —

A Michigan native now living in Washington with a deep love for travel and the outdoors. What started with church mission trips and traveling across the U.S. as a nurse has grown into a passion for exploring the world through hiking, food, culture, and the beauty of God’s creation. Sometimes I’m joined by my goldendoodle, Millie, but I’m always traveling with my camera. My goal is to help you feel inspired and confident that travel is possible — no matter where you’re starting from.