Our travel writer, Pamela, jets off to the exciting land of lights, sounds and dim sum to celebrate Chinese New Year in a unique way
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]orshipped for its New World charm; sought after for its irresistible snacks and pastries; and heralded for throwing some of the best celebrations on Earth – Hong Kong is a nest of excitement, and one of the prime times to experience its full glory is the Chinese New Year (CNY) period.
None of my previous experiences here could compare to the surge of joy, festivity and tradition that the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, brings. This is Asia’s life of the party: the throbbing world city of Hong Kong. And the New Year just made it even better.
Putting the Yum in Yum Cha
What’s talk about Hong Kong without its culinary brainchild, dim sum? You’ve probably heard of Tim Ho Wan, the Michelin-starred franchise that has invaded our shores and stomachs.
But this time, I was brought to a more discrete contender. A small restaurant wedged between blocks in Central, Ding Dim is a rare gem in a city where traditional teahouses are fading out. Lunch and dinner crowds throng to Ding Dim for its juicy har gow (shrimp dumplings), crispy and fragrant BBQ pork buns, and chewy beef tripe.
Did I mention that its head chef, Master Black, ahem, transferred here from an aforementioned brand-name restaurant? No wonder Ding Dim’s so highly sought-after.
Of course, Hong Kong has more than just dim sum fare to offer. During CNY, you’ll be spoilt with a flood of special menus. Traditional favourites like poon choi (big bowl feast) and suckling pig are rolled out with lip-smacking condiments.
Some restaurants have even adopted Singapore’s lou hei (prosperity toss) with a mouth-watering twist. One restaurant, Shanghai Min, puts out a pretty ensemble of that’s generous with fresh sashimi. Toss it in messy fashion, take a mouthful, and you’ll find that it’s rather different from the Singapore variety.
Holding back on sweetness, it’s instead got a salty and tangy taste, complimented by the crunchy veggies, some of which were actually baked to a crisp.
Shanghai Min’s poon choi is another winner. Stuffed to the brim with a wealth of regional delicacies like abalone, sea cucumber and fish maw, the bowl is personally arranged before being soaked in a divinely sweet pork bone broth.
These dishes are available until Mar 5 and only for deliveries – so if you’re travelling for CNY, you can get a hot, steaming, yummy tray of poon choi and lou hei delivered right to your hotel doorstep!
Fortune- and Bargain-Hunting
After all that feasting, it’s important to work it off – and what better way to do that than sprinting (from sale to sale) and lifting heavy weights (of shopping bags)?
The whole city is stocked with everything you’ll need for CNY shopping. Street markets burst into a blossom of red and gold as vivid and detailed decorations and sweet goodies are put up for sale.
From big bazaars like Fa Yuen Street Market and Flower Market in Mongkok to village markets in Sha Tin and the New Territories, towns come to life with more treats and bargains than any other time.
Even Hong Kong’s Disneyland is stocked with limited-edition CNY collector’s dolls and snacks! These are available in Hong Kong Disneyland stores until end-February.
But don’t just cruise through the main routes – dig a little beneath the surface and you’ll uncover more bargains of the stylish kind. Hiding just behind the stalls of Fa Yuen Street Market is a string of outlets hawking the latest fashion items. There are so many deals to grab that CNY can become your runway show.
You’ll want to steer clear of colossal and central malls unless being swamped by crowds is your idea of a good time. Hunt for slightly more secluded plazas – like the new MOKO in East Mongkok – that are less populated and thus great to wander in.
Celebrations Old and New
You may remember this advertisement: two ladies frolicking in the neon city with shopping bags, proclaiming their looping itinerary of eating and shopping in Hong Kong.
Thanks to this, the nation has been branded by many of us as the trove of food and retail – but it has so much more hidden up its sleeves, especially during this festive season.
People gather to pray for good health, wealth and happiness in the temples dotted all over the country. Some flock to the famous Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in the Tai Po district to hang up their wishes for the New Year.
But don’t forget Hong Kong’s centrepiece when you visit during this time. Its International CNY Parade is, after all, ranked among the best of festivals in the world.
On 19 Feb, floats, dancers, and a whole sea of vivacious performers trawl through the streets. Victoria Harbour is lit up with a blazing and magical display of fireworks on the night of 20 Feb. And 21 Feb is CNY Race Day, where horses take to the tracks for an exciting tradition not to be missed.
But you know what my favourite thing about CNY in Hong Kong is? It’s the best kind of chilly, with temperatures hovering between 12 to 18 Degrees Celsius. So you can walk all you want, explore temples, and brave the streets and mountains without so much as breaking a sweat. You can be sure I’ll return!
By Pamela Chow
Weekender would like to thank the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the venues in its itinerary for hosting us.
Trip photographer: Joelyn Lee
Photographs were taken with a Canon Powershot SX60 HS by our freelance photographer Joelyn Lee. Joelyn was one of the top finalists of the Weekender Canon Giveaway contest.
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