Hong Kong putting on a show for New Year
Print Edition
Long lines formed at a border station yesterday as tourists from China鈥檚 mainland traveled south to celebrate Spring Festival in Hong Kong.
鈥淲e are here not just for shopping, but mainly for experiencing Hong Kong鈥檚 unique culture,鈥 said Chen Yu, a 33-year-old teacher who came from Beijing with his wife.
He says Hong Kong is not just a place for luxury stores.
鈥淲e鈥檙e extremely looking forward to the upcoming Lunar New Year activities, such as night parade and giant fireworks. I鈥檓 sure we鈥檒l have fun here,鈥 he said.
According to Hong Kong鈥檚 Immigration Department, around 7.88 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong鈥檚 control points during the festive week which begins tomorrow, up 7.7 percent year on year.
Around 5.7 million are expected to pass through land boundary control points.
In order to woo more tourists, Hong Kong is to hold a series of festival activities during the Lunar New Year.
Tourists may squeeze into crowded temples to pray for good fortune, browse festive markets selling auspicious foods and flowers, and photograph the red lanterns that adorn the city.
They may also watch a fabulous parade of international and local performers, a stunning fireworks show over Victoria Harbor, and heart-pounding action at the race track.
鈥淚鈥檒l definitely go to the horse races. I鈥檓 already feeling excited,鈥 said Alex Wong, a college student who traveled from Shanghai with his parents.
Horse racing is one of the best-loved events of the entire New Year鈥檚 celebrations. Some 100,000 excited fans will crowd into Sha Tin Racecourse on the third day of the holiday.
There will be a grand opening show, a lion dance, and a variety of cultural performances and entertainment.
鈥淭he Lunar New Year here gets a makeover that is uniquely Hong Kong. A blend of modern fun and ancient customs will present visitors an unforgettable experience,鈥 said Becky Ip, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Hong Kong鈥檚 Lunar New Year celebrations were recently listed by Forbes as one of the world鈥檚 10 best festival extravaganzas, along with Germany鈥檚 Oktoberfest and Brazil鈥檚 Carnival.
鈥淗ong Kong is not just a shopping Mecca. It has many sides to its complex personality. We hope that tourists could explore them and get a taste of local life,鈥 Ip said.
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