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

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, dining deals 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.

Read More: Public Holidays In 2025 – How to Maximise Your Annual Leave

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 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

“Blessing of Ceramic Flowers” At Mira Place

To welcome the Year of the Snake, Mira Place presents Hong Kong’s first mall ceramic flower art installation, featuring over 3,000 exquisite blossoms with immersive light effects and a six-metre tall Fortune Auspicious Snake as the centrepiece. But it’s not just eye candy! There is also an interactive LED installation “Blessing of Lucky Koi Fish” that offers fortune telling, various locations in the mall to take part in the Snake Year Blessing guessing game, and a Fortune Wishes Floral Chair you can sit on to receive blessings — because who doesn’t want a little extra luck?

When: Until Sunday, 16 February, 2025
Where: Mira Place, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Creative Workshops & Performances At DX Design Hub

Not only can you watch a captivating Lunar New Year Lion Dance performance on Monday, 3 February, but you can also partake in free fun workshops if you’d rather get your hands a little messy. These include Introduction to 3D Drawing and Recycle Scented Potpourri Making. If you’d like to get an inside look into the art of storytelling centred around Chinese New Year, you can even join the PechaKucha!

When: Until Saturday, 8 February, 2025 — find out more about events here
Where: DX Design Hub, 280 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Read More: Where To Buy Scented Candles In Hong Kong

AIA Carnival’s Chinese New Year Celebration

Immerse yourself in the vibrant New Year atmosphere at AIA Carnival where tradition meets contemporary fun. The lively Lion Dance parade will kick off the celebrations on Wednesday, 29 January and continue on until Wednesday, 5 February. You’ll of course have a perfect view of the Victoria Harbour Fireworks if you happen to be at the carnival on 30 January, so it’s a win/win! Plus, the Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong will bring the essence of local Cantonese fare to exciting events that include live music, DJ performances, and movie screenings. To top it all off, there’ll be CNY-themed plushies up for grabs, and of course the shows at Live at The Big Top are not to be missed!

When: Lunar New Year events until Sunday, 9 February — get tickets here for AIA Carnival and here for Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong
Where: AIA Carnival, Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central, Hong Kong

Read More: AIA Carnival’s Milestone Birthday Brings All-New Attractions!

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

Chinese New Year Fireworks Menu At HUE Dining

The modern Australian restaurant is taking a culinary trip to Asia this Lunar New Year! For one night only, you can savour a delicious four-course menu spotlighting crispy dumplings and Longjing smoked chicken. Of course, your meal will come with a spectacular view of the fireworks too!

When: Thursday, 30 January, 2025
Where: HUE Dining, Hong Kong Museum Of Art, 1/F, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
How much: $1,500 per person (plus $390 for a wine pairing) — book here

Read More: Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth With Hong Kong’s Best American Desserts

Above & Beyond’s Traditional Festive Recipes

This Michelin Guide-recommended Cantonese restaurant has crafted two delectable menus for the festive season: the Lunar New Year delicacies available for two weeks, and the Fireworks Set Dinner for the second day of Chinese New Year. The range of auspicious Lunar New Year dishes include Lo Hei and Braised dried oyster with dried black moss and conpoy. Meanwhile, the eight-course menu for the Fireworks Set Dinner features Steamed garoupa fillet with egg white in superior chicken broth.

When: Wednesday, 29 January to Wednesday, 12 February, 2025 (Lunar New Year menu); Thursday, 30 January, 2025 (Fireworks Set Dinner)
Where: 28/F, Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
How much: Fireworks Set Dinner for $1,888 per person — book here

Read More: Michelin Guide 2024 — Hong Kong Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars

Limited-Time Specials At Tozzo

In addition to the new cakes, pastries, and seasonal gelato flavours (we’re most excited about Madagascar vanilla pudding and banana toffee), the Italian-Japanese cafe is also introducing unique specials in celebration of Chinese New Year. Namely, Pineapple black tea maritozzo, Red date, longan & gogi berry sorbet, as well as Jasmine & mandarin honey green tea — perfect for these chilly months.

When: Until Sunday, 9 February, 2025
Where: Tozzo, 2/F, JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
How much: $50 to $75 per dish

Read More: The Best New Cafes In Hong Kong — Wifi, Study Spots & Hidden Gems

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

Read More: The Best Afternoon Tea & High Tea Sets In Hong Kong

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 carte 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: $1,588 per person (plus $450 for a Hennessy drink pairing, inclusive of three cocktails!) — book here