Here are a few memorable ways couples can celebrate their love and ring in the new year, Hong Kong style in the year of the dragon.
Explore the city’s lantern displays
The dazzling Lantern Festival is celebrated in honour of the first full moon of each year, bidding farewell to chilly winter days while welcoming the beginning of spring. Lanterns, as a result, are lit to drive away darkness and bring hope for a prosperous new year. The festival is also seen by some as a Chinese Valentines Day, as historically unmarried boys and girls would gather on this day under the warm light of lanterns to meet. Couples can take a romantic stroll through Victoria Park in Hong Kong to experience the Lantern Festival at its finest, featuring massive lantern displays and traditional performances, including the iconic lion and dragon dances.
Catch the Tsim Sha Tsui Parade
The Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade is without a doubt a must-see on every itinerary. Lighting up the streets and skies of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong’s southern Kowloon, the parade (beginning on Saturday, 10 February 2024) promises plenty of spectacles to delight and amaze. Folk performances in celebration of love, acrobatic and martial arts dance dedicated to centuries old tradition, and even Double Dutch groups showing off their streetstyle moves are just a taste of what to expect, all against the backdrop of spectacularly curated fireworks displays.
Enjoy a Symphony of Lights cruise
Get lost in romantic views of the Victoria Harbour at sunset, along with dazzling light displays dancing across the face of a number of buildings during the Symphony of Lights show. This popular attraction, which earned pride of place in the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show, is even grander during CNY, with special animated decorations celebrating the new lunar year that never fail to delight onlookers.
Indulge in a romantic dinner for two
No visit to Hong Kong is complete without enjoying a meal at one of its many iconic and locally beloved restaurants and food stalls. Wine and dine that special someone at Bochord, a newly reopened fine-dining and casual date night hotspot with nightly live music and incredible views of Victoria Harbour. For classic Hong Kong cuisine, Junon in Wan Chai is a favourite among locals and foreigners alike. It’s stained-glass ceiling depicting Roman goddess, Juno, is a spectacular feat to behold. Whether it’s Valentine Day dinner, a casual date night or the right place to pop the question, Hong Kong has a dining experience made to impress for everyone.
Snuggle up indoors
Sometimes the best way to enjoy time with a significant other away from the crowds is to spend time indoors. Luckily, Hong Kong boasts some of the world’s most beautiful hotels that make for the perfect hideaway during a trip to the bustling city. The five-star Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong located on Connaught Road is a popular choice among couples, likely for this very reason, offering a series of signature suites that are spacious and exquisitely decorated, along with two Michelin Star restaurants to choose from for a special evening out. The Conrad Hong Kong is another five-star offering couples will love, with Victoria Harbour views, an outdoor heated swimming pool and 24-hour fitness centre, plus easy access to the Pacific Place shopping mall where you can find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift to spoil that special someone.
Chinese New Year 2024 promises to be an especially memorable experience for couples looking to fall in love all over again in a city made for fun, romantic getaways. From the awe-inspiring sights and sounds of the Lantern Festival to the mainstay attractions that the city is famous for, Hong Kong during CNY promises to be a traveller’s dream for couples.
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