How To Celebrate Chinese New Year In Hong Kong

Wondering how to celebrate Chinese New Year In Hong Kong? We’ve got you covered in the Year of the Rabbit with Chinese New Year activities, dining deals, festive staycations and more…

Now that you’ve got your lucky outfit sorted and lai see packets filled, you’re just about ready to celebrate Hong Kong’s biggest festival of the year. The Chinese New Year fireworks may be cancelled for another year, but there is still much to do over the long weekend! Read on for how to ring in the Year of the Rabbit, plus where to go for a decadent meal or festive staycation.

Read More: Best Events & Weekend Activities For Your Diary This January

Jump To:
When Is Chinese New Year?
What To Do
What To Eat & Drink
Where To Stay

When Is Chinese New Year?

Traditionally, this festival used to take place over fifteen days but, in the modern working world, only three days are given in Hong Kong as public holidays. However, many festivities and traditions still carry on past this three-day holiday.

For 2023, Chinese New Year takes place from Sunday, 22 January to Tuesday, 24 January (with three statutory public holidays on Monday, 23, Tuesday, 24 and Wednesday, 25 January 2023). Though most shops in Hong Kong will be closed over the public holidays, there’s still plenty to do to get into the festive spirit!

Read More: Public Holidays In 2023: How to Maximise Your Annual Leave

Chinese New Year Activities: How To Celebrate Chinese New Year In Hong Kong

Chinese New Year Flower Market 2023

Heading to a Chinese New Year flower market is almost synonymous with the festival. This lunar new year, there will be 15 flower markets held across the city. Of course, the biggest will be found at Victoria Park, where you can find everything from lucky kumquat trees to bunny plush toys and delicious festive treats to munch on as you shop around.

When: Monday, 16 January to Sunday, 22 January

Read More: A Guide To Lunar New Year Traditions & Taboos

Handmade Hong Kong Chinese New Year Sunday Market

Stroll through lines of stalls and shop for Lunar New Year essentials at this year’s Chinese New Year Sunday Market at DB Plaza. There will also be festive calligraphy, origami, paper-cutting, fresh flowers and more on offer.

When: Sunday, 15 January, 11am to 6pm
Where: DB Plaza, 1 Discovery Bay Road, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry

Books for Love @ $10

The annual charity book drive Books supporting The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong and the Agency for Volunteer Service is perfectly timed for after you’ve culled away all the books you’re ready to let go of in the new lunar year. From now until the end of the month, you can drop off your preloved books at 40 collection points across the city. The donated books will then be sold at an eight-day book sale event at Taikoo Place in April (children’s books will go on sale online sometime in March).

When: Until Tuesday, 31 January
Where: 40 collection points across Hong Kong

Read More: 10 Books We Can’t Wait To Read In 2023

Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival

Visit Lam Tsuen’s Wishing Tree to participate in the age-old custom of writing your hopes and dreams for the year ahead on joss paper and throwing them into the wishing tree’s branches in Tai Po. If your paper stays on the tree without falling back down, it is believed that your wish will come true!

When: Sunday, 22 January to Sunday, 5 February
Where: Lam Tsuen Wishing Square, Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
How much: Free

The Art of the Game: Behind Mah-jong Tiles

Celebrate a beloved Chinese New Year pastime at this special Mahjong-themed exhibition. Discover the origin and evolution of mahjong tile-making and check out a collection of exhibits showcasing rare century-old ox bone mahjong tiles; Japanese bamboo-backed tiles dating back to the 1970s, and discontinued hand-carved sets from Hong Kong. Use your own creativity at the Chinese New Year Paper Art: Handcrafted Fairy Chun workshop while you’re there.

When: Until Sunday, 5 February, 11am to 8pm
Where: 1/F, Temple Mall North, 136 Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
How much: Free Entry

Read More: Must-See Hong Kong Art Exhibitions

Chinese New Year Food: What To Eat Over Chinese New Year

Shake Shake’s CNY Special Hot Honey Menu

Shake Shack is launching an all-new Hot Honey Menu to kick-start the new lunar year. Warm your belly with the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, made with glazed crispy chicken topped with a crisp cabbage and green apple slaw. The sticky Hot Honey Chicken Bites paired with a fiery red sweet and spicy dipping sauce are also hard to resist. Try out any of the Hot Honey exclusives between Tuesday, 17 January to Sunday, 26 February and receive a complimentary set of limited edition red packets (while stocks last).

Shake Shack, various locations across Hong Kong, www.shakeshack.com.hk

Read More: The Best Burgers In Hong Kong

Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea At The Murray’s Garden Lounge

The Murray’s Garden Lounge is ringing in the Year of the Rabbit with a special Chinese New Year afternoon tea offering. The East-meets-West-inspired three-tiered tea set features savoury treats such as Baked Pandan Leaf and Preserved Egg Puff, Smoked Salmon Spring Roll, and Abalone Diced Chicken Puff. On the sweet side, delight in Foie Gras Crème Brûlée, Date Cake and Osmanthus Whipped Cream and more.

When: Until Monday, 13 February, 2:45pm to 6pm
Where: Garden Lounge, UG/F, The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $728 for two persons (additional $100 for two glasses of Saicho sparkling tea or sparkling wine)

Read More: Afternoon Tea In Hong Kong: Where To Go For High Tea

Chinese New Year Celebration Banquet Menu At Jiangsu Club

A lavish celebratory banquet awaits at the recently opened Jiangsu Club where Su Cuisine – one of the eight culinary treasures of China – takes centre stage. From now until Sunday, 5 February, choose between “The Fortune Feast” ($780 per person), which features the classic Silver Pomfret Fillet Jiangsu Style marinated in 10-year-old yellow wine, or “The Prosperity Feast” ($1,280 per person), which includes Braised Superior Abalone with Fish Maw, Pigeon seasoned with Garlic and Wine Sauce, and much more.

Jiangsu Club, 2/F, Alliance Building, 130-136 Connaught Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 6230 8973, www.facebook.com/jiangsuclub

Read More: The Best New Restaurants In Hong Kong – January, 2023

Tea WG’s Lunar New Year Festive Set Menu

Treat yourself to a luxe lunch set at Tea WG to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Enjoy a starter of Crystal Pork Trotter Terrine topped with Breakfast Yuzu Tea, followed by your choice of main. Your options are semi-dried oysters, pan-seared golden red fish and Wagyu beef tongue, each enhanced using some of the brand’s finest teas. This festive set menu (from $268 per person, plus 10% service charge) is exclusively available at ifc and Festival walk locations between Monday, 16 January and Sunday, 12 February.

Tea WG Salon and Boutique at IFC, Shop 1022, Podium Level One, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street Central, Hong Kong, 2796 2828

Tea WG Salon and Boutique at Festival Walk, Shop LG2-11 & 13, Level LG2, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2725 6930, teawg.com

Read More: New Menus & Dining Deals, January 2023 – Chinese New Year Menus, BOGO Deals & More

Dang Wen Li by Dominique Ansel’s Prosperous Lion Dance Gift Box

Featuring adorable rabbits performing a lion dance, the two-tiered Prosperous Lion Dance Gift Box houses a wheel of handcrafted chocolate bon bons in two flavours: Pistachio Raspberry Dark Chocolate and Black Sesame Milk Chocolate, and homemade Red Date Butter Cakes – and that’s just the top tier. Below, you’ll find a locally made Purple and Red Rice Pudding studded with walnuts. Want something small to grab and go? The patisserie will also be bringing back its Mandarin Mochi Buns ($48 for two) for the festive season.

Dang Wen Li by Dominique Ansel, various locations across Hong Kong, 2613 8618, dangwenli.com

Read More: The Sassy Edit – What’s New In Hong Kong This January

Chiu Chow Winter Hotpot

Stay warm this Chinese New Year and enjoy a decadent Chiu Chau Winter Hotpot ($2,280) with your nearest and dearest. Choose between the Clear Broth or Pig’s Tripe Clear Soup with Pickled Vegetables and White Pepper base, adding in Sliced Australian abalone, fresh prawn, Japanese scallop, seasonal fish and more.

Chiu Tang, 2/F, The Galleria Plaza, 9 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong, 2526 8798, chiutang.com

Read More: Top 10 Hot Pot Spots In Hong Kong

Head here for more Chinese New Year menus and dining deals.

Where To Stay Over Chinese New Year

Mandarin Oriental’s “Festival Celebration” Staycation Package

Looking to indulge in gourmet delights and rejuvenating spa and beauty treatments this Chinese New Year? Mandarin Oriental’s Festival Celebration package includes complimentary breakfast at Clipper Lounge or Café Caussette (for up to two adults and two children), plus guests can enjoy $200 USD Food and Beverage or Spa credit per stay when booking a consecutive two nights or above, or $200 USD Food and Beverage or Spa credit per stay when booking a Suite.

When: Friday, 20 January to Sunday, 5 February
What’s included: Accommodation and daily breakfast
How much: From $3,700 per night (plus 10% service charge) – head here to book

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, 2522 0111, www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong

The Fullerton’s “Auspicious Beginnings” Staycation Package

Manifest prosperity in the new year with a luxurious stay by the sea at The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel. The “Auspicious Beginnings” package comes with three festive tokens per night to be used to claim special activities or festive gifts from the Fullerton Collection, including a preserved flower wall art workshop, a pour painting rabbit making class, a pack of Pu’er Tea Cake (each costing one token), and more!

When: Until Tuesday, 31 January
What’s included: Accommodation and daily breakfast for two, three festive tokens per room per night
How much: From $1,996 per night (plus 10% service charge) – head here to book

The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, 3 Ocean Drive, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, 2166 7300, www.fullertonhotels.com

An Auspicious Getaway at Four Seasons Hong Kong

Enjoy a luxurious stay at one of Four Seasons’ newly renovated guest rooms and make the most of a nightly $800 credit to spend towards dining at The Lounge, Gallery, Argo, or Pool Terrace, or through in-room dining.

When: Until Sunday, 29 January
What’s included: Accommodation and daily breakfast for two, plus $800 hotel credit per night
How much: From $4,800 per night (plus 10% service charge) – head here to book

Four Seasons Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong, 3196 8888, www.fourseasons.com/hongkong

Head here for more Chinese New Year staycation packages.