Chinese New Year - Sassy Hong Kong

New Beauty Buys For January 2025: Skincare, Lunar New Year Collections & More

Anna Lentchner — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 22:00:23 +0000

Looking for brand new beauty products? We’ve rounded up the most-anticipated drops in makeup, skincare, haircare and more — including limited-edition Lunar New Year & Valentine’s Day collections! — for January 2025, all available to buy in Hong Kong now.

We’ve scoured near and far for the most highly-anticipated drops in makeup, skincare and other beauty items to get your hands on this season. From Fenty Skin’s new cherry gel cleanser and a Tom Ford fragrance to limited-edition Chinese New collections and more — here’s what we’re eyeing and buying this January in Hong Kong.

The Best New Beauty Buys In Hong Kong 2025

Shu Uemura Launches Chinese New Year Palette & Lip Set

We can’t stop thinking about the fan imprinted designs on Shu Uemura’s new CNY drop. The full Lunar New Year offerings include sublime cleansing oils, soft-matte cream lipsticks and the elusive flare eye sculpt eyeshadow palette. Plus, the whole collection comes in auspicious red tones!

Fenty Skin’s New Barbados Cherry Gel Cleanser

When Rihanna says jump, we ask how high — and when she tells us that this cleanser reduces shine without stripping the skin, we add it to our carts! Packed with hydrating ingredients like niacinamide, aloe vera juice and a triple cherry complex, the light foaming gel is supposed to remove dirt, oil, impurities, sunscreen and makeup for a deep cleanse.

NARS Reveals “Amour” Valentine’s Collection

We’re all heart-eyes over this NARS Valentine’s collection! From the adorable pink-and-red heart packaging to the embossed powders (plus, new limited-edition shades!), these would make a perfect V-day gift for your boo. The Amour Quad Eyeshadow is especially tempting, as the rosy colour story is fitting for every season.

Hourglass Adds New Shades To Phantom Glossy Balms

This lip product from Hourglass has long been a fan-favourite (they were a winner in Allure’s “Best of Beauty” Awards in 2023!) due to their high shine and comfort on the lips — like if a tinted lip oil and a pigmented lipstick had a love child. Now, Hourglass has launched four new shades, including this stunning true-red that’s perfect for CNY! The best part? The shade is made without crushed female beetles (“carmine”), which is typically behind the pigment in red cosmetics!

Dyson Introduces Lunar New Year Editions

All your favourite haircare products have just gotten a red-and-gold makeover! The Dyson Airwrap i.d. multi-styler and dryer, Airstrait Straightener and Supersonic Nural hair dryer now come in rich burgundy and copper tones with a ceramic finish, so you can dry and style with the most auspicious products.

Ole Henrikson’s “Après Skin” Overnight Moisturiser

Dry skin girlies can rest easy, because Ole Henrickson has done it again. This mask-and-moisturiser-in-one packs a punch with its electrolytes, ceramides, vitamins and berry oils straight from Scandinavia, all helping to repair your flakes and cracks! We’re especially keen to see how this performs in Hong Kong’s off-again on-again weather, which leaves our skin both dry and oily.

Charlotte Tilbury Releases Limited-Edition Lipsticks

Ladies, meet Charlotte’s newest lippies: Kiss of Mystery (from the “Kissing” series) and Kiss of Fortune (from the “Matte Revolution” series). Dressed up in red-and-gold packaging with a super-sleek snake graphic, these lipsticks are sure to make your pout Lunar New Year-ready. Is it the most original CNY launch? No. Will we still be purchasing? Probably…

Tom Ford Beauty’s “Rose Exposed” Collection

Nothing says luxury quite like Tom Ford Beauty, and this limited-edition collection is no different. The titular fragrance is a musky-yet-sweet floral leather scent, while the signature eyeshadow quad includes metallic rosy and golden shades — perfect for Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day looks! The exclusive lipstick and lip oil are pretty too, but perhaps not at that price point.

New “Uplifting & Firming” Cream From Shiseido

Shiseido’s new Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Advanced Advanced Cream Soft claims to hydrate and target the appearance of sagging, deep wrinkles and dark spots, giving you a 35% firmer, brighter and more lifted look in just one week. All that happens through its patented SafflowerRED technology —essentially, highly contracted safflower extract — and dry-down whipped texture, locking in the powerful ingredient all night.

MAC Cosmetics Goes Nude

MAC Cosmetics has officially launched four new shades within its iconic nude collection, including bringing back the one-and-only Fleshpot. That’s right, folks, the unofficial lipstick of the noughts is back and better than ever, with a whole new creamy and comfy-on-the-lips formula. We’ve also got our eye on the shade Stone — a grey-brown that is sure to suit every skin tone.

Laneige’s New Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser

This foaming gel cleanser is similar to many in that it its formulated to remove daily makeup and sunscreen, but what makes it unique is its balanced pH 5.0 composition, which is specifically designed to keep skin balanced, hydrated and resilient to future dryness. In doing so, it’s supposed to maintain your skin barrier — protecting it from the winter chill and pollution!

The post New Beauty Buys For January 2025: Skincare, Lunar New Year Collections & More appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

2025 Chinese New Year: A Guide To Lunar New Year Traditions & Taboos

Team Sassy — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 22:00:29 +0000

Enter the new lunar year with your best foot forward! Our guide to 2025 Chinese New Year traditions and taboos will help you maximise your good luck and ward off the bad.

It’s almost a brand new lunar year – kung hei fat choi! Arguably the festival with the most cultural significance in Hong Kong, Chinese New Year celebrates the start of the Chinese lunisolar calendar year, marking the end of a cold, dark winter and welcoming spring. Enter the Year of the Snake with your best foot forward, and if you play your cards right, this just might be your most prosperous year yet! From when to book your next haircut to how to properly hang your decorations, here are all the Chinese New Year traditions and taboos you need to know.

When Is Chinese New Year 2025?

Following the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year usually takes place in either January or February. In 2025, the first day of the lunisolar calendar will fall on Wednesday, 29 January and will welcome the Year of the Snake.

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.

Common Chinese New Year Greetings: Kung Hei Fat Choi, Sun Tai Kin Hong & More

The Lunar New Year doesn’t officially begin until the second week of February but you’ll probably start to hear people greet each other with “kung hei fat choi” (wishing you a prosperous year) much earlier in the month. If someone says this to you, it’s good form to return the greeting, or you can respond by saying “sun tai kin hong” meaning “I wish you good health”. Married people are traditionally obliged to give lai see to anyone younger and single when greeted. If you really want to impress this year (and try and score a few extra lai see), you can mix it up and try these other common Chinese New Year blessings:

新年快樂 “sun nin fai lok” — happy new year
心想事成 “sum seung si sing” — may all your wishes come true
大吉大利 “dai gut dai lei” — good luck and may your year go smoothly

Pay Your Dues Before The Start Of Chinese New Year

If you borrowed money from anyone last year, be sure to pay them back before the start of the New Year. It is said that any outstanding loans will bring you misfortune (lending money on Chinese New Year’s Day is also not recommended!). And if you’re the one who is owed money, don’t go knocking on your friend’s door demanding your dues as this is believed to bring you bad luck for a full year!

Hang Up Your Chinese New Year Decorations — The Right Way!

Once you’ve finished deep cleaning your flat, it’s time to hang up your Chinese New Year decorations. You’ll see a lot of red lanterns (used to drive off bad luck), as well as paper cutouts and couplets (to attract good fortune). Just be sure to hang your decorations the correct way! The vertical couplets (two lines of Chinese poetry) go on each side of a doorway, while the horizontal banners are hung above doorframes. The paper cutouts of auspicious symbols are typically affixed to windows.

Sassy Tip: In Chinese, the word for “upside down” sounds similar to the word for “arrive”, so people tend to hang their fuk (福) signs — which represent “good fortune” — upside down to symbolise a good year to come.

Buy New Clothes For Chinese New Year (But Not Books Or Shoes!)

Shopaholics will be glad to hear that a shopping spree is encouraged. In fact, it’s customary to buy yourself a whole new outfit to wear on New Year’s Day (don’t mind if we do!) to set yourself up for a fresh start and attract more wealth in the year ahead. Be sure to buy any shoes and books you’ve been eyeing up while you’re at it as it is frowned upon to buy these items (both are thought to bring misfortune) during the start of Chinese New Year.

Sweep Out The Old Before Chinese New Year Eve

What better incentive to declutter your room and give your home a good dusting than the promise of bringing in good fortune? As the Chinese characters for “dust” and “old” sound similar, the act of sweeping away dust is seen as a way to banish the old and usher in the new. It’s important for this to be done before Chinese New Year Eve as it’s considered bad luck to clean your home during the first week of the first Lunar month; people typically start two days before the holiday (spring cleaning day). Remember to stow away your broom and vacuum because you wouldn’t want to accidentally reduce your good fortune!

Dressing In Red For Luck On Chinese New Year

In Chinese culture, the colour red is considered to bring good luck. So it’s no surprise that the hue is seen all around during Chinese New Year in the form of lai see packets, paper lanterns and door couplets. You may also notice that many people choose to wear red on the day to attract even more good fortune. At the opposite end of the spectrum, wearing black and white is a big no-no, as these colours are traditionally associated with mourning.

Don’t Wash Or Cut Your Hair During Chinese New Year

The Chinese character for “hair” is the same character as the “fat” in “fat choi” (as in “kung hei fat choi”), which means “to become wealthy”. This is why people refrain from washing or cutting their hair over the first few days of the Chinese New Year. Sharp objects are also avoided during the holiday as they are seen as a sign of bad luck (the use of scissors, in particular, is believed to lead to quarrels and disputes with others), so if you failed to book a trim ahead of the holiday, stay away from those pointy shears, no matter how long your locks have grown.

Open Your Windows At Midnight

The annual fireworks display over Victoria Harbour is one of Hong Kong’s biggest Chinese New Year traditions (our city’s way of warding off bad luck with a bang), and we always look forward to seeing how the year’s display will top the last. Carry out the custom of opening your windows at the stroke of midnight, which some households believe in doing, to usher out the old year, and welcome in the Year of the Snake.

Editor’s Note: “2025 Chinese New Year: A Guide To Lunar New Year Traditions & Taboos” was most recently updated in January 2025.

The post 2025 Chinese New Year: A Guide To Lunar New Year Traditions & Taboos appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

2025 Chinese New Year Fashion: What To Wear For The Year Of The Snake

Anna Lentchner — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 22:00:10 +0000

Wondering what to wear this Lunar New Year? Dress for success in the Year of the Snake with these must-have red and gold Chinese New Year fashion picks…

Have you decided what to wear this Chinese New Year? Dress for the occasion and attract good fortune and wealth in the Year of the Snake in reds and golds. Scroll through for our favourite must-have festive Chinese New Year fashion items to plan your CNY outfit, or use our lookbooks for inspiration and incorporate pieces you already own!

What To Wear For A Chinese New Year Dinner With Family

It’s time to bring back old school maximalism and give off all the ’70s Gucci vibes. For this look you’ll want to mix colours and textures, and thankfully, snake-inspired garb comes in all shapes and sizes — from a jacquard knit vest, courtesy of Zara‘s new CNY collection, to Loewe’s calfskin snake bags. For a little glow, think gold sequin skirts, Messica‘s 2025 Lunar New Year campaign and Onituska Tiger‘s metallic red trainers!

What To Wear For A Celebratory Date Night

Could there be a more perfect occasion to pull out the snakeskin print? This flowy-yet-fitted number from MANGO is suitably festive while remaining wearable, and the grey tones match perfectly with an auspicious deep-red. Pair it with burgundy tights and accessories from Dolls Kill (we can’t get over these motorcycle boots) and a campy crystal-encrusted clutch — Judith Leiber being the forever inspiration.

What To Wear For A Casual Yet Festive Day Out

We’re all for dressing up, but there’s plenty of festive casual options, too. There’s nothing like denim from The Ragged Priest, and these snakeskin print jeans are perfect if you want to stay on theme. Finish off the look with a comfy knit like this gradient Year of the Snake sweater from Argue Couture, chunky silver jewellery (we love this wrap-around snake necklace) and TUMI‘s limited-edition snake fanny-pack!

What To Wear If You Want A Modern Take On The Traditional Fit

Mob wife aesthetic meets traditional Chinese New Year dressing with this opulent fit. Shanghai Tang boasts some of the most exquisite modernised cheongsam designs, a la this red, textured snake-scale dress with a high buttoned neck. Add some gold touches for extra auspiciousness, like these pearl-drop snake earrings from Chloé and strappy pumps from Lulus!

What To Wear To For A Cosy Chinese New Year

Don’t plan on leaving the house this Chinese New Year? Fair enough, but don’t let that stop you from getting into the festive spirit. Chuck on your favourite red or on-theme PJs, whether that’s silk snake print trousers, a fitting graphic tee or Hong Kong-inspired sleep accessories (G.O.D. and Bookazine have loads!).

The post 2025 Chinese New Year Fashion: What To Wear For The Year Of The Snake appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Slither Into The Year Of The Snake With Mandarin Oriental

Team Sassy — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 22:00:40 +0000

Celebrate the Year of the Snake and pamper yourself at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong!

Get ready to celebrate the Year of the Snake at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, where auspicious festivities await! This Chinese New Year, dive into a whirlwind of vibrant celebrations that promise to have you slithering into 2025 with good fortune!

Step into the Mandarin Oreintal’s hotel lobby, transformed into a stunning display of colourful Chinese lanterns and fragrant flowers, setting the perfect backdrop for your New Year festivities. Don’t miss the exhilarating Lion Dance and eye-dotting ceremony on Lunar New Year’s Day at 1pm, a spectacular sight that attracts blessings of prosperity for all!

Foodies, this one’s for you! Indulge in exquisite culinary creations at the Mandarin Oriental’s one-Michelin-starred restaurant Man Wah, featuring a special menu crafted by Executive Chinese Chef Wong Wing Kwong. Savor the Sautéed Lobster in Superior Fish Broth, rich with flavors and well wishes for a thriving year ahead. Delight in the Honey Glazed Sun-dried Oyster, a symbol of abundance, or the Braised Mushrooms in Casserole that whisper luck and peace with every bite.

For those looking to pamper themselves, unwind with the Year of the Snake Oriental Qi Rebalancing massage at The Mandarin Spa.

Head here to discover more about the Mandarin Oriental’s Chinese New Year offers and deals!

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

The post Slither Into The Year Of The Snake With Mandarin Oriental appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Red Packets Do’s And Don’ts: The Etiquette Of Giving Lai See

Raveena Raghunath — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 22:00:58 +0000

Chinese New Year 2025 is upon us and that means it’s time to give — and receive! — red packets. But it’s not as simple as putting money in a red envelope and distributing it, there’s some lai see and hong bao etiquette you need to know and follow.

While many of us have grown up in Hong Kong, there is still a handful of us who are new to the Chinese culture and traditions this Fragrant Harbour holds. When the Lunar New Year approaches, we often catch ourselves asking, “Wait, so how exactly does lai see work?”. Stay respectful to age-old tradition and avoid a string of misfortune and judgement! From how much you’re expected to give to lucky sayings and numbers, who is and who isn’t to distribute red packets and more, we’ve highlighted all the lai see do’s and don’ts. Save this cheat sheet for The Year of the Snake!

The Tradition Of Lai See Red Packets In Chinese New Year

According to ancient Chinese folklore dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.), it’s believed that an evil spirit would roam the streets on Lunar New Year’s Eve and attack anyone who was sleeping.

One year, a couple gave their son a pocket of gold coins to play with — who wrapped and unwrapped them in a red cloth to distract himself and stay awake. He did eventually fall asleep but when the demon approached, the gold coins shone so bright they warded the evil spirit off. This led to the belief that the colour red wards off evil and started a tradition of giving lai see red packets for good fortune.

The gold coins eventually changed to bills but the symbolism of the colour red remains. Lai see is distributed at auspicious events and occasions like Lunar New Year, weddings, birthdays and other festive gatherings.

Who Gives To Who — The Big To Small Rule For Lai See

Lai See is distributed to wish prosperity and good luck for the coming year from seniors to juniors, parents to children, married couples to single relatives and employers to their employees. Rule of thumb, go from big to small to avoid being seen as rude. The elder ones in the family also give lai see to domestic helpers, security guards and service providers.

It’s always good to carry spare red packets containing $20 in your bag, so you can hand lai see out to miscellaneous service staff like waitstaff, those who help you find taxis at hotels and so on.

How Much Lai See To Give And Numbers To Avoid

The amount of lai see given in red packets is largely dependent on the closeness of the relationship between the giver and receiver. The closer you are, the more you are expected to give. And there are a number of customs you need to keep in mind, including:

Each lai see packet can only contain one single dollar bill — use crisp notes either straight from the bank or good-as-new ones.
Do not give coins or crinkled and wrinkled notes.
Do not give lai see amounting to odd numbers as it’s associated with bad luck (our banknotes are all even which makes it easier for you!).
Do not give increments of four; the number four (四) in Chinese is pronounced sei which sounds identical to the word “死”, also pronounced sei but meaning death.

Sassy Tip: Stay organised — group different red packets for different groups so you don’t accidentally end up giving the wrong ones!

As a rough outline for how much to give, you start with $20 for security guards and start going up to $100 to $300 for service providers and domestic helpers, and around $1,000 for close relatives. Again, this is all dependent on how much you want to give and how close you are. The reason for giving lai see red packets is to spread good fortune, wish luck and prosperity and pay respect, which ultimately amounts to much more than the money you collect.

When To Give Lai See Red Packets

Lai see must be given within the 15 days of the Lunar New Year. You can start handing your red packets out on the first day — which falls on Wednesday, 29 January, 2o25 this year — and have them all distributed by Wednesday, 12 February, 2025 which is the Spring Lantern Festival.

Kung Hei Fat Choy! What To Say When Giving And Receiving Lai See Red Packets

When giving red packets, the elders will usually wish success to the younger generation, whereas the receivers will wish good health to the elders. Nonetheless, the following greetings can go both ways:

“Kung Hei Fat Choy” (恭喜發財) – Congratulations and wishing you prosperity.
“Sun Nin Fai Lok” (新年快樂) – Happy New Year, or more formally, “Gung Ho Sun Hei” (恭賀新禧)
“Sun Tai Gin Hong” (身體健康) – Wishing good health.
“Dai Gat Dai Lei” (大吉大利) – Wish you good luck.

Don’t forget your “doh jeh” when receiving your red packets with two hands. And don’t open your lai see in front of the giver — it’s considered rude.

Now that you know exactly how to give lai see like a local, from all of us at Sassy, Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Editor’s Note: “Red Packets Do’s And Don’ts: The Etiquette Of Giving Lai See” was most recently updated in January 2025 by Veena Raghunath.

The post Red Packets Do’s And Don’ts: The Etiquette Of Giving Lai See appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

How To Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 In Hong Kong: CNY Events, Menus & More

Team Sassy — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 22:00:26 +0000

Wondering how to celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in Hong Kong? We’ve rounded up Year of the Snake events like parades and flower markets, CNY menus and dining deals, staycations and more!

We may be about a month into 2025 but the real big deal in Hong Kong is Chinese New Year! Once you’ve learnt the traditional customs, sorted out the perfect festive fit and gathered lai see to give out (I’m talking to you, newlyweds!) — you’re ready to celebrate the biggest festival of the year. We’re talking Chinese New Year fireworks, the Cathay CNY parade and so much more for the Year of the Snake. Plus, we’ve rounded up some tasting menus and staycations, so you can ring in the Lunar New Year in style. This is your ultimate guide to Chinese New Year 2025 in Hong Kong.

Read More: Plan The Perfect Chinese New Year Outfit

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

When Is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year celebrates the start of the Chinese lunisolar calendar year, tending to mark the end of a cold, dark winter and welcome spring. This year, the first day of that calendar will fall on Wednesday, 29 January, 2025, welcoming the Year of the Snake — a creature that symbolises wisdom, agility and transformation in Chinese culture.

Traditionally, the festival could be celebrated over up to 15 days, starting from its Eve through to the Spring Lantern Festival (not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival). We get three statutory public holidays for the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong, so Chinese New Year holidays will fall on Wednesday, 29 January, Thursday, 30 January and Friday, 31 January this year.

CNY Events: How To Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 In Hong Kong

Lee Tung Avenue — Traditional Dragon & Lion Dance

On the first four days of the Lunar New Year, the iconic avenue will become full of life with traditional lion dance performances. Traditional festive food will be also distributed to spectators to drum up the joyous atmosphere. On 7 February, the Dragon and Lion Dance Spectacular will return with breath-taking pole jumping performances and the parade of a golden dragon!

When: Wednesday, 29 January to Saturday, 1 February, 2025 and Friday, 7 February, 2025
Where: Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry

Discovery Bay Chinese New Year Market 2025 — Handmade Hong Kong

And make sure to also pencil in Handmade Hong Kong’s annual Chinese New Year Market in Discovery Bay! Again, beautiful handmade offerings from local vendors will be on offer, like art, jewellery, candles, activewear, apparel, sweet treats, savoury eats and so much more.

When: Sunday, 19 January, 2025; 11am to 6pm
Where: DB Plaza, 1 Discovery Bay Road, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry

Chinese New Year Flower Markets 2025 — Victoria Park & More

Heading to a Chinese New Year flower market in Hong Kong is almost synonymous with the festival. We’re expecting a total of 15 2025 Lunar New Year fairs and flower markets across the city, with the biggest at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. Fairs will open on Thursday, 23 January, giving you plenty of time to get ready for the new year — stock up on festive flowers, lucky kumquat trees, CNY decorations and Year of the Snake plushies and toys, while munching on Hong Kong-style eats and other treats.

When: Thursday, 23 January to Wednesday, 29 January, 9am to 12am
Where: 15 locations across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and Outlying Islands, at various parks and playgrounds — see the list here
How much: Free entry

2025 Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade

Cathay’s Chinese New Year Night Parade is back! Expect a procession of stunning floats to spread auspiciousness and luck across Tsim Sha Tsui, and plenty of musical and dance performances before, during and after. Buy tickets for spectator stands or find somewhere along the parade route to view for free — make sure to check the parade route map!

When: Wednesday, 29 January, 6pm (pre-parade performance); 8pm to 9:45pm — see full timings here
Where: Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. From Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, 10 Salisbury Road through Canton Road, Haiphong Road and Nathan Road — see the parade route map here
How much: Free if you head to a spectator-friendly spot along the parade route. You can also buy tickets for spectator stands from the Hong Kong Tourism Board Kowloon Visitor Centre located in the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier — see pricing here

Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival, Wishing Tree & New Night Market

Visit Lam Tsuen’s Wishing Tree to participate in Hong Kong’s Well-Wishing Festival — 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’s believed that your wish will come true! This year, we’re expecting lotus lanterns, golden mandarins, food stalls, a couple of performances — and a planned night market in Tai Po as part of the government’s “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign.

When: Wednesday, 29 January 10 to 12 February, 2025
Where: Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, Lam Tsuen Wishing Square, Lam Tsuen Heung Kung Sho Road, Lam Tsuen, New Territories, Hong Kong
How much: Free

2025 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display In Hong Kong

Catch the annual Chinese New Year Fireworks show from either side of the Victoria Harbour; watching a guaranteed-to-be big, beautiful, display as Hong Kong ushers in the Year of the Snake with a bang. The best places to watch the fireworks in Hong Kong will be along the shores of Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai — see our top fireworks vantage spots here.

When: Thursday, 30 January, details have yet to be announced
Where: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

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

Chinese New Year Specials At The Astor

There’s no better way to ring in the new year than with seasonal Chinese ingredients — think chicken soup, wolfberry and whelk, pork knuckle, braised sea cucumber, fried abalone and oyster with bamboo shoot!

When: Wednesday, 29 to Friday, 31 January, 2025
Where: The Astor, B1, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong
How much: lunch starts at $538; dinner starts at $778 — book here

Read More: The Best Hong Kong Dim Sum

The Cakery’s Vegan Afternoon Tea

The Cakery and MAYA Bakery at K11 Musea are offering a decadent vegan afternoon tea for two, exclusively during Chinese New Year! From no-added sugar sweets to a wide selection of teas, the tea set is both indulgent and guilt free.

When: Saturday, 10 to Saturday, 7 February
Where: Shop 217, level 2, K11 Musea, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
How much: $328

Yong Fu Hong Kong Chinese New Year Specials

Five new year-inspired dishes are presented by the one-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant Yong Fu, including clams in ginger and wine sauce, braised sheep belly, crispy Sichuan chicken and steamed brown croaker!

When: Sunday, 12 January to 29 January, 2025
Where: Yong Fu Hong Kong, Shop 2, G/F & 1/F, Golden Star Building, 20-24 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
How much: A la care speciality dishes start at $358 — book here

Read More: The Best Steakhouses In Hong Kong

Mott 32 Unveils Chinese New Year Menu

Out of all the delicious speciality new year’s dishes, a must-try is the lobster and abalone lo hei salad, which not only features symbols of abundance and good fortune, but also has a perfect blend of freshness and umami.

When: Wednesday, 29 January to Wednesday, 12 February, 2025
Where: Mott 32, Standard Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong
How much: A la carte items range from $88 to $1080— book here

Chinese New Year Pici x The Chilli Lab Collaboration

This limited edition festive collaboration adds a little bit of Chinese sweet and spice to your traditional Italian pasta, with dishes like The Chilli Lab Salsiccia, Shaoxing Haa Jung Ravioli and Tim Aap Tagliolini!

When: Monday, 13 January to Friday, 28 February 2025
Where: various locations across Hong Kong
How much: A la carte items range from $88 to $160

Duddell’s Chinese New Year Set Menu

An eight-course set menu at Duddell’s, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant in Central, offers traditional dishes like chicken soup with fish maw, abalone with shiitakand dried black moss, fried rice with scallop and red bean cream dumplings.

When: Monday, 20 January to Wednesday, 12 February, 2025
Where: Duddell’s, Level 3 & 4, 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $1588 per person (plus $450 for a Hennessy drink pairing, inclusive of three cocktails!) — book here

The post How To Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 In Hong Kong: CNY Events, Menus & More appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Public Holidays 2025: Plan Ahead To Maximise Annual Leave

Team Sassy — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 22:00:22 +0000

Looking to make the most of the Hong Kong public holidays in 2025? Here’s when to book your annual leave!

We’ve picked our word of the year and it is TRAVEL! So, to get set for the year of adventuring ahead, you’ll want to know how best to use your annual leave to maximise each and every weekend getaway. Whether you’re looking for a wellness retreat to reset and refresh or a city break that’s an easy direct flight away, here’s how to maximise your holiday time in 2025.

Read on to discover our top tips for maximising your time off…

Hong Kong Public Holidays 2025

The Hong Kong 2025 public holidays are set out by the government each year. Saturday is considered a work day for many in Hong Kong, so when a public holiday falls on a Saturday there is no extra weekday given. A shame for those of us working Monday to Friday, but at least we’ve only got two public holidays falling on a Saturday this year! However, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be given as a day off.

New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 January, 2025
Lunar New Year: Wednesday, 29 January to Friday, 31 January, 2025
Ching Ming Festival: Friday, 4 April, 2025
Easter: Friday, 18 to Monday, 21 April, 2025
Labour Day: Thursday, 1 May, 2025
Buddha’s Birthday: Monday, 5 May, 2025
Dragon Boat Festival: Saturday, 31 May, 2025
Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day: Tuesday, 1 July, 2025
National Day: Wednesday, 1 October, 2025
The Day Following Mid-Autumn Festival: Tuesday, 7 October, 2025
Chung Yeung Festival: Wednesday, 29 October, 2025
Christmas: Thursday, 25 December and Friday, 26 December, 2025

Lunar New Year Public Holidays 2025

Chinese New Year will take place in late January this year. The streets are eerily quiet during Chinese New Year, so make the most of fewer crowds, cooler weather and traditional festive happenings to get out and explore the city.

Travelling over the Chinese New Year public holiday in 2025

Get your health back on track in 2025, by booking a wellness retreat in Asia.
Oh, how we’ve longed for the white sand beaches of Thailand! Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta are all stunning at this time of year.
Catch the Australian summer in all its glory.
Snow bunnies should hop over to hit the slopes in Hokkaido.

2025 Public holiday: Wednesday, 29 to Friday, 31 January, 2025
Book off: Monday, 27 and Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Annual leave days used: 2
Days holiday: 9

Ching Ming And Easter Public Holidays In 2025

Unfortunately this year, the Ching Ming and Easter public holidays are too far apart to combine them into one grand adventure (unless you’re willing to book nine days off in one go!) but you can still make do with two shorter trips when the public holidays so conveniently land on a Friday.

Where to go for the Easter public holidays in 2025

Channel Indiana Jones as you explore the ancient wonders of Jordan.
Visit the New Zealand vineyards (just in time for the annual wine harvest!).
The heat of the blazing summer makes April a great time to book a South African safari.

Sassy Tip: Check the public holiday opening hours at your destination because some tourist providers in western destinations may close for the holiday.

2025 Public holiday: Friday, 4 April (Ching Ming); Friday, 18 to Monday, 21 April, 2025 (Easter)
Book off: Thursday, 3 or Monday, 7 April (Ching Ming); Monday, 14 to Thursday, 17 April or Tuesday, 22 to Friday, 25 April (Easter)
Annual leave days used: 1 (Ching Ming); 4 (Easter)
Days holiday: 4 (Ching Ming); 10 (Easter)

Labour Day And Buddha’s Birthday Hong Kong Public Holiday 2025

Since Buddha’s Birthday is on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, it changes on our Gregorian calendar year-to-year. In 2025, it happens to fall four days after Labour Day, giving us the perfect opportunity for a lovely five-day break. Not to mention, May is a great month of the year to travel! You’ll beat the crowds of July and August (not to mention the inflated prices and blazing heat) and tour providers are excited for the upcoming season (read: not exhausted!).

Great holiday destinations for a combined Labour Day & Buddha’s Birthday trip

In Penang, Malaysia you can lie on a golden sand beach in the morning, wander historic streets and take in fabulous murals in the afternoon and finish your day feasting on street snacks!
If you’ve ever wondered about visiting outback Australia, May is the time to do it, the days are warm and not scorching, making it perfect to hike the desert dunes.
Get your city fix by heading to bustling Busan, South Korea for some of the freshest seafood on the planet.
Take in the dramatic cliffs and sparkling sea on a romantic coastal getaway to the Almafi Coast in Italy, before the summer crowds spoil your perfect Insta shots.

2025 Public holiday: Thursday, 1 May and Monday, 5 May, 2025
Book off: Friday, 2 May, 2025
Annual leave days used: 1
Days holiday: 5

Dragon Boat Festival Public Holiday 2025

So this is the stray Saturday public holiday that we don’t get to redeem (the other is part of the Easter weekend) as it falls on 31 May, 2025. Of course you can still dip out of the super-busy Hong Kong streets for a few days, you just won’t really be maximising on your annual leave for it.

Where to travel for the Dragon Boat Festival public holiday

Explore the lush jungles, see orangutans swinging from the trees and maybe even catch sea turtles hatching! It’s all within easy reach of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo.
For a foodie adventure like no other book your tickets to Portugal and wine and dine your way through Porto and Lisbon.

2025 Public holiday: Saturday, 31 May, 2025
Book off: Monday, 26 to Friday, 30 May, 2025
Annual leave days used: 5
Days holiday: 9

Read More: Unique Hotels In Asia To Book

Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day 2025

This is a tricky one because Hong Kong is actually a great place to be on this particular public holiday what with all the deals available, but this year also offers the opportunity to take one day off and get a four day holiday so… maybe just spend it in the city on a little staycation or pop on over to Macau and explore our sister city?

2025 Public holiday: Tuesday, 1 July, 2025
Book off: Monday, 30 June, 2025
Annual leave days used: 1
Days holiday: 4

National Day And The Day Following Mid-Autumn Festival Public Holiday 2025

Whew! You’ve made it through three whole months without a public holiday, now you get to treat yourself to this: two public holidays six days apart — you know what that means!

Where to travel during the early October public holidays 2025

Catch the end of Oktoberfest in Munich which wraps up on Sunday, 5 October, 2025.
Singapore is always an easy destination full of fun, sun and shopping, just be careful you haven’t emptied out your bank account after spending a week there!

2025 Public holiday: Wednesday, 1 October and Tuesday, 7 October 2025
Book off: Thursday, 2, Friday, 3 and Monday, 6 October, 2025
Annual leave days used: 3
Days holiday: 7

Read More: Your Guide To Taipa Village, Macau

Chung Yeung Festival Public Holiday 2025

This is sure to be a fun one for those who love going all out for Halloween (and then need to recuperate for a few days) as the Chung Yeung Festival in 2025 is two days before the spookiest night of the year!

Quick getaways for the late October public holiday in 2025

Head on over to Kerala, India and explore the canals by houseboat.
The best time to catch the autumn foliage in Japan is mid-October to late November.

2025 Public holiday: Wednesday, 29 October, 2025
Book off: Thursday, 30, and Friday, 31 October 2025
Annual leave days used: 2
Days holiday: 5

Christmas & New Year 2025 Public Holidays

It’s hard to imagine reaching the end of another year, but wherever you decide to spend the last days of 2025, it’s sure to be fabulous!

2025 Public holiday: Thursday, 25 December and Friday, 26 December (Christmas); Thursday, 1 January, 2026
Book off: Monday, 29, Tuesday, 30, Wednesday, 31 December 2025 and Friday, 2 January, 2026
Annual leave days used: 4
Days of leave: 11

Read More: Sassy’s Quick Guide To Macau

Editor’s Note: “Public Holidays In 2025: How to Maximise Your Annual Leave” was most recently updated in November 2024.

The post Hong Kong Public Holidays 2025: Plan Ahead To Maximise Annual Leave appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Where To Donate Or Sell Clothes, Furniture & Homeware In Hong Kong

Team Sassy — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 22:00:23 +0000

Donate or sell your clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, books and more in Hong Kong to make sure they get a second lease of life…

It’s no secret that our tiny apartments in Hong Kong can accumulate a whole lot over the years. If you’re anything like us and have a tendency to hoard, we bet you’re constantly left wading through piles of clothes and fancy dress odds and ends. That’s why we’re strong advocates of a good old fashioned clear out. Clothes, books, furniture, even electronics – sort through it all, then donate or sell the things you don’t want to these awesome charities, non-profits and consignment stores.

Sassy Tip: Do you have broken or poor quality unwanted items? Scroll to the end to find out where you can legally discard these belongings.

Jump To:
Where To Donate In Hong Kong
Where To Sell In Hong Kong
Where To Discard In Hong Kong

Where To Donate In Hong Kong

Redress – Donate clothing

Local environmental charity Redress works to prevent and transform textile waste in the fashion industry. With this in mind, its clothing recycling scheme makes it easy for you to give your old garments a new lease of life. The bulk of donated clothing will be redistributed to Redress’ charity partners for re-use by their beneficiaries.

What you can donate: Clothing (excluding shoes, bags and home textiles)
How to donate: Simply drop off your donations at any of the locations listed here

Redress, www.redress.com.hk

Refugee Union – Donate clothing, bedding, kitchen items, books and more

Hong Kong’s first and only refugee-led society, Refugee Union, was founded in 2014 and has been working to improve the protection, well-being and future prospect of all refugees in Hong Kong. Refugees here are prohibited by law from working and there is no provision for essentials like clothing, personal care and baby products and electrical appliances that are necessary in everyday life.

What you can donate: Baby formula and diapers, bedding, kitchen items and appliances, books, non-perishable foods, clothing and shoes for all ages, laptops, mobile phones and other small electronics
How to donate: WhatsApp 9828 7176 for information on how to donate

Refugee Union, 3/F, 102 First Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, WhatsApp: 9828 7176, www.refugeeunion.org

Crossroads Foundation – Donate clothing, furniture, office supplies and more

This long-standing NGO is no stranger to Hong Kong. Crossroads has been helping people in the community and around the globe for more than 20 years. Any donated goods will be distributed to charities and individuals in need across both Hong Kong and the globe.

What you can donate: All electrical appliances, furniture, household goods, clothing, toys and office supplies
How to donate: Donate using Crossroads’ GoodCity.HK app

Crossroads Foundation, Building 32, Crossroads Village, 2 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2984 9309, www.crossroads.org.hk

Pathfinders – Donate sanitary and baby items

Ensuring that each woman and child is treated with respect and has access to basic resources through its its social welfare and health care services, Pathfinders accepts donations that could be used by babies and mums alike.

What you can donate: Baby items and sanitary item
How to donate: You can drop off items at either the head office (address below), Redress collection boxes (clothing items only) or WhatsApp Martha on 5508 8304 to arrange for delivery

Pathfinders, Unit 2D, 2/F, Worldwide Centre, 123 Tung Chau Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 5500 5486, www.pathfinders.org.hk

Friends of the Earth – Donate clothing, shoes and handbags

Friends of the Earth launched its Used Clothes Recycling Program in 2001 with the aim of encouraging the city to reduce, reuse and recycle. All donated items will be sent to the needy or resold to places with high demand for used clothes, with any profits going towards the organisation’s operations and education work.

What you can donate: Clothing, shoes and handbags. Friends of the Earth also collect empty toner and ink cartridges. Head here for more info.
How to donate: Drop off at a dedicated Used Clothes Recycling Bin or apply for door-to-door collection (conditions apply)

Friends of the Earth, 3184 1507, www.foe.org.hk

Christian Action – Donate clothing, books, small appliances and more

Christian Action serves those who are disadvantaged, marginalised, displaced or abandoned. All items collected through its Green Collection Charity Drive will either be offered for sale at Christian Action Community Sales Outlets, distributed to service users and vulnerable communities, or exported to developing countries.

What you can donate: All wearable clothing, books, toys, small appliances and housewares
How to donate: Apply for pick-up service here or drop off at one of the many Donation Collection Points

Christian Action, 2456 2220, www.christian-action.org.hk

Po Leung Kuk Orphanage – Donate clothing, books, stationery, electrical appliances and more

Po Leung Kuk provides welfare, educational and cultural services to its young community. All donations will help to fulfil the basic needs of its service recipients, particularly children, the elderly and low-income families.

What you can donate: Electrical appliances, computers, stationery, toys, books, household accessories, clothing and cookware
How to donate: Email plkinfo@poleungkuk.org.hk or call 2277 8158 for information on how to donate

Po Leung Kuk Orphanage, 2277 8158, www.poleungkuk.org.hk

Vision First – Donate clothing, bedding, kitchen appliances and more

Advocates of human rights for refugees, Vision First strengthens these individuals with knowledge, skills and support to address their challenges and concerns. What better way to support than by providing them with basic necessities that they otherwise wouldn’t have?

What you can donate: Blankets and bedding, clothing, phones, cameras, computers, kitchen appliances (e.g. kettles, rice cookers) and more. Head here for the full list.
How to donate: Drop off or send donations directly to its Sai Ying Pun office

Vision First, 5/F, 102 First Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, www.vfnow.org

Hong Kong Salvation Army – Donate clothing, books, electrical appliances and more

The Salvation Army is one of the most established organisations for recycling goods. Some of the collected items will go to those in need, such as the elderly, street sleepers and ex-prisoners; the rest will go to the Salvation Army’s retail chain to be sold with discount.

What you can donate: Electrical appliances, clothing, footwear, toys, stationery and books
How to donate: Donate via the dedicated Salvation Army Recycling Bins located across Hong Kong. Alternatively, if the donation quantity is five large bags or more, please drop off at one of the collection centres listed here. Large or heavy items may be eligible for pick-up by the Salvation Army logistics team – call 2332 4433 or WhatsApp 9688 5670 for more info.

Hong Kong Salvation Army, various locations across Hong Kong, 2572 2879, www.salvationarmy.org.hk

Remar HK – Donate furniture and large electrical appliances

A Christian charity dedicated to helping those fighting drug addiction, the homeless and other people in need. All donated items will be sold as secondhand goods, with the money raised going to support Remar centres.

What you can donate: Large electrical appliances and furniture
How to donate: Simply give them a call to arrange for a pick-up

Remar HK, 1/F, 19 Shui Tau Tsuen, Yuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong, 5828 2424, www.remarhk.com

Lily Bookshop – Donate books, CDs and DVDs

As the name suggests, flowBOOKS recycles secondhand books, CDs and DVDs. Since opening in 1997, is has processed more than half a million books! All donations will be either sold to the public or donated to charities and individuals in need.

What you can donate: Books, CDs and DVDs
How to donate: Drop off donations to the store directly

Lily Bookshop, Room F-G, 1/F, Kai Fung Mansion, 189-205 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/lilybookshophk

Read More: The Best Bookstores In Hong Kong

Other Notable Mentions For Donating Used Goods In Hong Kong

Green Dot Home – Collects and recycles used furniture and homeware to be donated to the public or sold in secondhand markets, with proceeds going towards charity. www.green-dot-home.com.hk
Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth – Donated toys, stationary and books will help to support local youth with disabilities. www.hkfhy.org.hk
Mother’s Choice – Donate baby items and small electrical appliances to support single girls facing crisis pregnancies. www.motherschoice.org
Caritas – Social service agency that accepts all wearable clothing. www.caritas.org.hk
Happyshop – Accepts electrical appliances and offers free furniture collection services for all suitable donations. www.happyshop.hk

Where To Sell Secondhand Goods In Hong Kong

Green Ladies – Sell women’s clothing and accessories

This fashion consignment store is actually a social enterprise initiative by St James’ Settlement. The project aims to promote eco-friendly habits, in addition to providing job opportunities and economic stability for the middle-aged women that run it. Consignors can earn up to a maximum 30% rebate of the selling price (this rebate can also be donated to St James’ Settlement). If your items remain unsold after two months, they will automatically be donated to the store.

What you can sell: Ladieswear (including shoes, bags, scarfs and accessories)
How to sell: Visit any of the stores in person. Staff will then screen your items to ensure they are suitable for sale. Head here for all the details.

Green Ladies, various locations across Hong Kong, gl.sjs.org.hk/greenladies/concept

2nd Chance Hong Kong – Sell furniture and home accessories

This platform to buy and sell quality secondhand furnishings and accessories at reasonable prices was dreamt up by a husband and wife duo in early 2006. Since then, 2nd Chance has given many great pieces of furniture new homes.

What you can sell: Furniture and home accessories
How to sell: Head here to discover how to sell

Sassy Tip: Feel like donating your profits to charity? 2nd Chance has a list of local organisations for you to choose from. The team can also issue you a receipt for tax purposes. Find out more here.

2nd Chance, Unit 14, 2/F, Kin Fat Industrial Centre, 13 Kin Fat Street, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2496 1222, www.2ndchance.com.hk

Other Notable Mentions For Selling Used Goods In Hong Kong

Asia Expat
GeoExpat
Carousell
Craigslist
Facebook Market Place (click the Market place icon on your Facebook sidebar and filter accordingly)

For the most part, all that’s required for these sites are photos of your item, your asking price and any contact details. Don’t forget to include measurements as well as a few notes on the condition and age. Make sure to also upload photos that show a few different angles – it’ll save you from an influx of questions later on.

Where To Discard In Hong Kong

If your items are not in any condition to donate or sell, consider looking into whether you’re able to recycle your goods. Small and large electronic appliances for instance, including fridges, ovens, washing machines and air-conditioning units, can be scraped for parts. Head here to explore the different government recycling resources available.

Alternatively, if there really is no saving your items, the city has quite a few refuse points where you can leave larger items that won’t fit in your regular trash. It may take some manpower to carry that mattress half way across Central, but know that it’s illegal to fly-tip in Hong Kong and you may face a hefty fine for just leaving your furniture by the bins. Click on the links below to see where your nearest refuse point is.

Refuse points:

Editor’s Note: “Where To Donate Or Sell Clothes, Furniture & Homeware In Hong Kong” was most recently updated by Nicole Moraleda in September 2023.

The post Where To Donate Or Sell Clothes, Furniture & Homeware In Hong Kong appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Chinese New Year Celebrations Around the World

Debby — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 00:00:04 +0000

Ringing in the Year of the Monkey!

If you’re considering travelling in February but don’t want to miss out on the Chinese New Year celebrations, you needn’t fret. Thanks to the vibrant Chinese diaspora, you can celebrate in almost any part of the world, while picking up a new tradition or two in the process. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey – the quick-witted, flexible and lively animal of the Chinese zodiac. So why not take a leaf out of the Monkey’s book and do some clever last-minute travel planning to spend Chinese New Year on 8 February abroad? The travel experts at KAYAK.com.hk have put together a wrap up of some less than typical, but oh so delightful destinations to get festive, Monkey style!

Vancouver, Canada

There are around 1.6 million Chinese people living in Canada, so you’re guaranteed to find an abundance of Chinese New Year cheer wherever you are in this expansive country. Head to Vancouver, where you’ll find one of the largest Chinatowns in this part of the world. The annual parade alone has more than 3,000 participants and attracts an audience of more than 50,000 people. Alongside the parade you’ll find exhibits, live performances and an endless supply of Chinese dumplings. A relatively new addition to the scene, is Lunarfest, which started as part of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2009. Lunarfest works in collaboration with local Asian artisans to celebrate ancient and modern Chinese traditions through dance, music, craft, fortune telling and much more. Chinese New Year may not be a national holiday in Canada, but the city is truly immersed in the spirit of the event, with many Chinese businesses closing early, or not opening at all.

How to get there: Return flights Hong Kong to Vancouver from HK$8,281*
Where to stay: Double occupancy per night at The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver from HK$*1,414

Manchester, United Kingdom

While Chinese New Year celebrations in London may be the second biggest in scale outside China, Manchester puts on its own dazzling display and is well worth a visit. This city is already renowned for culture, music and the arts, and ushering in of the Year of the Monkey will be no exception. The dragon parade may be the centre of the festivities, but the Chinese food market, stunning light shows and film projections, and live music and art make for a scintillating all-round experience. From one side of the city to the other, the streets will come to life from 4 – 8 February. An integral event is the parade, starting at Albert Square on 7 February, before winding its way to Chinatown where performances will light up the main stage in the lead up to the spectacular fireworks finale at 6pm. Traditional red lanterns flood the laneways, creating a welcoming warmth in this otherwise wintery time of year.

How to get there: Return flights Hong Kong to Manchester from HK$7,521*
Where to stay: Double occupancy per night at The Place Aparthotel from HK$1,420*

New York, United States

In New York, the Chinese community takes New Year celebrations to the street, and locals and visitors get right on board. Enthusiasts cram into Sara D. Roosevelt Park for the Firecracker Ceremony on 8 February, which adds a definite bang to the two weeks of festivities, with more than 600,000 firecrackers lighting up the heavens. Generally, the first priority for participants is to cause as much commotion as possible, using gunpowder-filled bamboo sticks in an attempt to ward off evil spirits. Overall, half a million people turn out to watch the parade floats, dancers and decorative dragons weaving a joyful line through Chinatown and Little Italy. Take a pit stop or two along the way at one of the many authentic Chinese food spots and keep your energy up to enjoy the Lunar Festival in its entirety.

How to get there: Return flights Hong Kong to New York from HK$7,431*
Where to stay: Double occupancy per night at Duane Street Hotel Tribeca from HK$1,339*

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne has an extensive Chinese community and the Chinatown neighbourhood buzzes with activity all-year-round. Come Chinese New Year, the anticipation is palpable, and festivities run for a full two weeks. The public spectacles kick off with fireworks, food and animated dragon dances in Federation Square on 6 and 7 February. See the Australian perspective on Chinese culture via ACMI’s programme of exhibitions, films and talks, then get a bird’s-eye view of the fireworks with a visit to the Eureka Skydeck 88. Kids and adults alike will enjoy a trip to Melbourne Zoo, where you can join the VIP experience of meeting the Squirrel Monkeys, as part of the zoo’s tribute to the Year of the Monkey.

How to get there: Return flights Hong Kong to Melbourne from HK$6,983*
Where to stay: Double occupancy per night at Mantra on Little Bourke from HK$1,081*

Helsinki, Finland

Perhaps not the most obvious destination for Chinese New Year, but thanks in part to a long-running partnership with Beijing, Helsinki provides an authentic and exciting atmosphere for the Lunar celebrations. In fact, the cities jointly host a cultural programme of events at Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi square each year, including dragons, dance, lions and dynamic kung fu displays. The coinciding festivities in Beijing are streamed live on a big screen in Helsinki so revellers across the world can share the experience. A vibrant Chinese market, jam-packed with food stalls, good fortune and traditional lanterns, tops off the Chinese New Year festival.

How to get there: Return flights Hong Kong to Helsinki from HK$4,791*
Where to stay: Double occupancy per night at Glo Hotel Art from HK$9,05*

Still haven’t made up your mind on where to go? KAYAK.com.hk recommends creating your own Price Alerts to monitor flight or hotel prices to make sure you don’t miss out on a deal. You can also check out Explore to discover new destinations within your budget.

Wherever you are when you welcome the Year of the Monkey, make it the start of a year to remember!

*Prices displayed are based on searches conducted on 11 January 2016 and are based on a round trip economy fare for travel from 4th – 11th February 2016. Hotel prices are for double occupancy per room per night. Prices are subject to change, availability may be limited or offers may no longer be available.

The post Chinese New Year Celebrations Around the World appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

DIY Chinese New Year manis – two easy how-to guides

Lauren — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:30:31 +0000

Chinese New Year is almost here, and with all of Hong Kong decked out in red and gold, it’s a great time to add some festive colour to your nails with a little DIY nail art! So here’s another how-to guide to two great CNY DIY manis…

RED & GOLD

You don’t need to buy a lot of fancy tools or be able to paint masterpieces to do nail art at home. In fact, for this first design, all you need is a little bit of cling film wrap! The technique is simply called a saran wrap manicure, and it’s one of my favourites to do. The results look so finely detailed, but the technique itself is actually very simple. It works very well with just about any colour combination too, including my seasonal pick of red and gold. Unfortunately, since the gold is so reflective, these didn’t photograph as well as I’d have liked, but in “real life” they looked fantastic!

1. As always, start with your base coat, then paint your nails any shade of red you like (I used Revlon Fire, from Watson’s). Once that’s dry, put a little bit of gold polish (I picked Zoya Ziv, from Cher2) on a paper plate or similar. Take some cling film and wad it into a bunch – that’s what you’re going to use to apply the gold with, letting the little folds and creases create the design. Dip the plastic wrap into your gold polish, and blot it on your paper plate to get rid of the excess.

2. Lightly dab a few spots around your nail to apply the gold. I find that less is more with this technique, so be a bit conservative in how much you apply, especially at the start. Too much, and it starts to look blobby, but with just a bit of coverage you get a nice veined look, like marble or stone. If you do wind up with more gold than you like, you can wait for it to dry, then dab some of your red back over it, but you will be able to control your results much better with a lighter hand from the start.

3. That’s pretty much all there is to it! Repeat on your other nails, changing your cling film every nail or so. Then let it dry, add your top coat, and you’re done! For a deeper, more textured look you can add more colours (such as a darker red or a bold black) either under or over your gold. I typically use 3 or 4 colours when I do saran wrap nails, but for this design – especially for CNY – the red and gold looked great all by themselves.

CNY FLOWERS

This second design for New Year’s nails is another one of my favourite styles to do. It is a little bit more detailed, but when you break it down, it’s not nearly as complicated as it might seem to add some colourful flower blossoms to your fingernails!

1. After your base coat, paint your nails a nice tan or golden colour. I used China Glaze Classic Camel, but any soft neutral or light gold should do just fine. Once that’s dry, you’re going to add some black or brown branches for your flowers. This step is very easy with a nail art striper polish (this Orly striper in Jet Black is another Cher2 find), but you could also do these with regular polish and either a fine paintbrush or by stippling the lines with a dotting tool or toothpick. Start with your main branch.

2. Then add another one, coming off of it. For this manicure, I decided to add extra branches at the tip of my ring finger and thumb, but that’s really optional (I actually think they look quite nice with just the branches at the base). And don’t worry if these branches don’t come out exactly as you want – they’ll mostly be covered by flowers, so you don’t need to worry about making them perfect.

3. After your branches are done, it’s time to start adding the flowers! These are done with a dotting tool (or if you don’t have one, a toothpick, the end of a bobby pin, a dried up ballpoint pen… whatever you can find!). Place a little bit of red and an opaque white polish on a paper plate (I used Bandi Snow White, from Colormix, and Jessica Winter Berry, from Cher2). Dip your dotting tool into either and make five small dots in a circle. Then wipe the excess polish off your tool and repeat with the other colour.

4. Continue down the branches, switching to 3-dot bunches towards the ends. You can also add a couple of tiny extra dots down the side, like little falling petals.

5. After those have dried a bit, place some small, yellow dots in the centres (I used Bourjois Jaune Trendy, from Watson’s).

6. Once you’ve done all your nails and let them dry, it’s time to add top coat (minimize smudging by being careful to brush lightly and trying not to brush over the same place more than once), and your flowering branch nails are done!

Of course you don’t have to follow my exact colours or design to come up with some great nails of your own for Chinese New Year (you can see another version I did with a red base coat up top!). For instance, if you like the look of the flowers but don’t want to do something quite as involved as the branches… or like the branches but want to mix the colours up a bit… once you know a few simple nail art techniques, the possibilities are endless!

Happy New Year, everyone! Kung Hei Fat Choi!

A New Orleans native, Elizabeth has been happy to call Hongkers home since 2007. She’s recently developed an addiction to nail polish and all things sparkly, and is rarely happier than when she’s belting out show tunes… Because she’s cool like that.

Check out Elizabeth’s awesome blog, Did My Nails, for more mani inspiration!

The post DIY Chinese New Year manis – two easy how-to guides appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.