OVERVIEW

Chinese New Year Celebrations (February 2011)

The Chinese New Year festival is always a wonderful and special occasion. Festivities involve flamboyant flower markets, a spectacular Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade, a fascinating fiesta, fabulous fireworks, lively sporting events and plenty of other attractions for you to enjoy.

During the celebrations, you can immerse yourself in cultural activities, visit fortune tellers, learn to write fai chun (lucky sayings), try traditional Chinese New Year snacks and of course, indulge in the fabulous shopping opportunities.

Event	Dates
Lunar New Year Fairs (Flower markets)	End Jan-Early Feb
Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade	3 Feb
Lunar New Year Fireworks Display	4 Feb
Chinese New Year Race Day (horse racing)	5 Feb
Lunar New Year Cup (soccer tournament)	Early Feb
Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival 2011	Feb

Where the Chinese word for ‘year’ comes from?

In Chinese the word for ‘year’ translates as nian. On the last day of the year,
legend has it that a nian or monster would eat villagers. They were told to hang red paper (fai chun) and light firecrackers to scare him off. This worked and eventually became a tradition and part of the New Year celebrations. A well-known expression for Chinese New Year is Guo Nian or the ‘passing of the beast’!

Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is the perfect opportunity to experience the city’s vibrant living culture as well as attend a number of top-class sporting and western cultural performances.

Event	Date
Hong Kong Trophy (sailing)	9 – 23 Jan 2011
Hong Kong Salsa Festival 2011	14 – 20 Feb 2011
Hong Kong Marathon 2011	Feb 2011*
The 39th Hong Kong Arts Festival 2011	Feb – Mar 2011*

* Event dates to be confirmed by the organisers.

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