Lee Tung Avenue
Photograph: Courtesy Lee Tung Avenue
Photograph: Courtesy Lee Tung Avenue

Chinese New Year events to celebrate Year of the Snake in Hong Kong 2025

We've got the scoop on everything from traditional activities to street parades and auspicious decorations to help you ring in the Year of Snake

Jenny Leung
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Chinese New Year is a huge deal in Hong Kong – and for good reason. It’s the perfect time to spread joy and blessings, feast with your loved ones over a hearty festive meal, fill your home with auspicious plants, and even do a bit of spring cleaning (if you're feeling ambitious).

With so much going on, we’re here to help you gear up for the Year of the Snake and those public holidays that come with. From the incredibly popular Chinese New Year Night Markets to the traditional Wishing Tree festival in Tai Po, here's how you can make the most of CNY this year. 

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Festive Chinese New Year displays

Times Square

To celebrate the Year of the Snake, Times Square presents Lucky Chessland in collaboration with Japanese illustrator Heisuke Kitazawa. The Open Piazza transforms into a giant chessboard featuring life-size installations of gold ingots, candies, windmills, fairy ponies, and interactive wishing trees, all inspired by Kitazawa’s vibrant drawings.

In addition, eight giant maneki-nekos will be on display at the mall Atrium and Food Forum to spread love and luck to all. Team Times members can redeem exclusive 'Lucky Chessland' red packets and the 'Ladders in Bloom' board game with designated spending until January 28.

Date: Now to February 16

Citygate Outlets

Citygate Outlets is celebrating the Year of the Snake with ‘Catch the Luck’, their first-ever collaboration with KitKat featuring larger-than-life installations of the lucky cat and daruma to spread good fortune for the year ahead. There'll be a Purrfect Pick Lucky Draw AI game to peek into what stars say about your luck in the year 2025, along with live performances like a Japanese dance and a lion dance parade. Visitors will also have the chance to get their hands on exclusive CNY-edition gift boxes and a new Nestlé KitKat Milo chocolate sharing bag, while Club CG members will be able to get limited-edition red packets and e-vouchers worth up to $850.

Date: Now to February 16

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Lee Tung Avenue

Lee Tung Avenue returns with its iconic lanterns for CNY, featuring a magnificent display of over 800 red and gold Chinese lanterns to symbolise a year of good fortune ahead. In addition to the lanterns, the avenue will showcase 12 tall peach blossom trees and a large heart-shaped arch, creating a romantic atmosphere perfect for snaps. Don't miss the traditional lion dance performances from January 29 to February 1, where spectators will receive festive treats to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

Lee Tung Avenue will also celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day on February 8 and 9 with the Golden Pair of The Dragon and Phoenix event, offering cultural talks, instant photo services, and wedding-themed workshops. Photography services will be offered on the Lantern Festival (February 12) and Valentine’s Day (February 14) for visitors to capture special moments.

Date: Now to March 2

Go Park Sai Sha

Go Park Sai Sha launches its first Lunar New Year celebration, 'GO Blossom!' in collaboration with local plant art team Botanic Union and homegrown fragrance brand BeCandle. The centrepiece is a massive five-metre-tall heart-shaped peach blossom tree, where guests can enjoy the fresh, romantic scent of peach blossoms. Those who spend $100 or more can redeem a special blossom wishing wind chime to bring good luck and well wishes home for the new year to come.

Date: Now to February 16

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Elements

Elements celebrates the Lunar New Year with the 'Embrace Springtime with Full Vigour' art installation, created in collaboration with local artist Sonic Lam. Standing 5.5 metres tall, the majestic peacock is crafted from colourful fabrics and intricate patchwork, symbolising good fortune and happiness. The auspicious knots and traditional lanterns also bring a lively atmosphere to welcome a prosperous new year.

Date: Now to February 16

Landmark

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Landmark presents 'Flourishing Blooms', a floral installation by internationally acclaimed artist Nicolai Bergmann. This marks Bergmann's first major installation in Hong Kong, showcasing over 50 types of flowers in a dramatic display the Landmark Atrium.

Date: Now to February 8

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Pacific Place

Pacific Place and Starstreet Precinct are celebrating CNY with 'Weaving Celebration of Fortunes'. Discover colourful installations, including a spectacular installation by renowned knot designer Zoe Siu which blends traditional techniques with modern artistry; special lucky knot charms; exclusive lai see packets; shopping rewards; and live performances like the Lion Dance Parade. 

Date: Now to February 16

MCP

For the Year of the Snake, MCP transforms into a Lego New Year Playground filled with adorable characters, photo spots, and various game zones including the four-metre-tall MCP Fortune Pinball Game and the Maneki Neko Mansion. Complete all five games and you'll be able to redeem an exclusive 2025 Lego Year of the Snake ornament! Additionally, there'll be educational workshops by Star Club Scientist Education offering fun STEAM learning experiences, as well as a New Year Market and the Vibrant Bouncing Paradise from now to January 28.

Date: Now to February 16

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Cityplaza

Cityplaza has teamed up with Coca-Cola to present 'Live Happy Cheers!' This retro diner concept features six interactive photo spots and zones for visitors to share heartfelt conversations and New Year blessings in a cheerful atmosphere. Exclusive Coca-Cola merch will also be available for purchase, along with a limited-edition 'Live Happy Cheers!' red packet set inspired by Coca-Cola’s firework-themed design, redeemable from now until January 28 with designated spending.

Date: January 16 – February 16, 2025

Harbour City

Harbour City is inviting everyone to celebrate the Year of the Snake with 'Lions Roar, Blessings Pour'. Embracing the Chinese lucky number 8, the mall features a 28-metre-long 'Vibrant Lion Corridor' at the Ocean Terminal Forecourt, showcasing 18 colourful lions and 13 traditional drums to symbolise prosperity and success – touch the lions for good luck and strike the auspicious drums to welcome positivity in the new year.

Additionally, Harbour City offers 'Let’s Celebr - EIGHT' red packets with auspicious combinations like 888 and 168, along with ticket redemption for the Chinese New Year fireworks display and shopping offers. 

Date: Now to February 16

Traditional Chinese New Year events

2025 Chinese New Year Fireworks Display at Sky100

The much-awaited Chinese New Year fireworks display is scheduled for the second day of the lunar new year, which falls on January 30. It’s time to start securing your vantage spots to watch the festivities, and Sky100 observation deck – standing at 393 metres above sea level – is a great venue for it.

Aside from being able to watch the fireworks and the city below from a bird’s eye view, Sky100’s 2025 Chinese New Year Fireworks Display package ($388 per person) also includes activities and treats like rainbow calligraphy, dragon’s beard candy, traditional flour dolls, Spring Field Pizza snacks, and more. Try your skills at the tap machine to see if you can get a mystery gift, but even if you don’t, tickets include a snack from the booths, a welcome drink, and a fortune cookie to crack open with your unique blessing for the Year of the Snake.

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  • Things to do
  • Tsim Sha Tsui

The Lunar New Year Lantern Carnivals take place across the city every year, where large-scale lanterns of various themes are put on display. This year, the lantern displays will be on view from January 23 to February 16, lighting up the Hong Kong Cultural Centre every day from 6pm to 11pm.

Aside from the display at Tsim Sha Tsui, there are usually several other Lunar New Year carnivals happening around town offering the public various lantern riddle games, dancing and singing performances, along with stage performances and other activities that highlight the characteristics of Chinese culture. More details coming soon, so stay tuned.

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  • Things to do
  • Tai Po

The power of the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree is legendary. One of the age-old traditions of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is a visit to this wishing tree in Tai Po, where you write your wishes on a placard and tie it to a mandarin, which is considered an auspicious fruit. It is believed that by throwing the placard high up onto the tree without it falling back down will make your wishes come true. Crowds will no doubt gather around the tree, but there are also usually food vendors selling local snacks and traditional Hakka food, as well as various performances like singing and lion dances.  

First Incense Offering at Wong Tai Sin Temple

When it comes to CNY celebrations, making the first incense offering at Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of the biggest traditions in Hong Kong. It is believed that those who enter the temple first and make an offering to the gods by burning incense sticks will receive the biggest of blessings. Thus, every year in the early morning of Chinese New Year's Day, thousands of worshippers gather outside Wong Tai Sin Temple in a bid to be the first ones inside to pray for a new fortuitous year ahead. 

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Che Kung Festival

During the second and third days of Chinese New Year, Hongkongers make it a point to visit Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin as many believe that people are more prone to quarrel on the third day of CNY. At the temple, worshippers gather to burn incense, draw fortune sticks, and rotate the copper windmill in a clockwise direction to attract good fortune. 

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