As Hong Kong gets ready for Chinese New Year celebrations, visitors have the opportunity to immerse in a vibrant festive spirit and observe Cantonese traditions.
Families will gather at home to enjoy poon choi in rich, savoury gravy sauce, which has become a favourite dish in recent years. Known as a basin meal, this dish is made with a mixture of auspicious ingredients such as pork, which signifies prosperity, and prawns, which represent joy.
Local folks believe that eating these blessed meals will bring good things into their life. To really appreciate the allure of local life, tourists are welcome to explore the tranquil coastal villages of Yuen Long or Sha Tau Kok and indulge in a traditional poon choi feast.
Chinese New Year pudding is also a popular dish and represents prosperity and reaching new heights. They are available in both sweet and savoury varieties. They are usually made ahead of the holiday and offered to friends and family who visit their homes.
For those who want to prepare their own traditional Chinese New Year pudding for loved ones, a number of traditional bakeries around the island are providing hands-on festive cooking workshops.
(Photos courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board)
Since the beginning of the new year is said to set the tone for the upcoming year, a hearty dinner prepared with high-quality ingredients on the first day of the year symbolises starting the year off well.
Dried seafood has traditionally been a prominent ingredient in Chinese New Year dishes. Most dried seafood products are associated with good fortune or charm. For example, dried abalone symbolises wealth, while fish maw represents success.
The most popular pastime during this time among the Chinese people is mahjong, which requires both ability and luck to win. The loud clacking of mahjong tiles sounds exactly like firecrackers fired off during Chinese New Year to chase away misfortune.
This enjoyable, highly sociable game promotes togetherness and unity. Travellers can also enrol in a unique mahjong course conducted by various local operators.
On Saturday, local families and vacationers can join hands to share amazing holiday memories as the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade will return to the island. The parade begins at 8pm and winds through Tsim Sha Tsui, and includes elaborately adorned floats and a range of fascinating acts from across the world.
To welcome in plenty of wealth and happiness, the magnificent 2024 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display will light up Victoria Harbour on Sunday.
(Photo courtesy of Panther Media / Alamy Stock Photo)
(Photo courtesy of Alamy Stock Photo)
