To usher in the Year of the Dragon, Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai will organise its ‘Lanterns-Lit Year of the Dragon’ celebrations from February 1-March 10, 2024. During this time, the 200-metre-long pedestrian tree-lined walkway will be decorated with red lanterns, host a Chinese New Year Parade, give visitors a chance to participate in a lion dance experience workshop, and have a Dragon & Lion Dance Spectacular.
Dragon & Lion Dance Spectacular
This year will see the return of Lee Tung Avenue’s Dragon & Lion Dance Spectacular on February 20, from 2pm-2.30pm. The parade will feature the performance of an 80-plus-feet traditional golden dragon accompanied by five colourful lions. An eye-dotting ceremony will be held, after which the performing troupe will present a special choreography, including high-pole jumping and a parade around the avenue.
Lantern displays
Lee Tung Avenue will bring back its iconic red-lantern display for Chinese New Year, with a difference. This year, gold-coloured lanterns in the shape of goldfish will be “swimming” among the red lanterns, in a nod to the tradition of fish being used to denote abundance in Lunar New Year because of its sound in Cantonese. In addition, an 8-metre-long golden dragon installation will be placed at the Central Piazza. Visitors can even decorate the body of the dragon with help from art instructors.
Chinese New Year Parade
If you don’t get the chance to catch the Chinese New Year Night Parade on February 10 at Tsim Sha Tsui, don’t worry. Two performing groups from the parade will stop by at Lee Tung Avenue on February 12, from 5.30pm-7pm, to entertain visitors with their skilful displays of showmanship.
Golden Dream, a 10-member dance troupe from Spain, will turn the temperature up with their lavish outfits and passionate dance routines to rhythmic Latin music. The eight-member Universe of Lights from Germany will combine out-of-this-world costumes with enchanting movements to become movable light sculptures. Two local teams — Jean M Wong School of Ballet and SDM Jazz & Ballet Academie — will present a playful Lunar New Year-themed ballet dance and a jazz performance with Chinese dance elements respectively to celebrate the festival.
Lion dance experience workshop
Lee Tung Avenue will host a lion dance experience workshop on February 11 and 12. Apart from watching a 15-minute traditional lion dance performance up close, participants can learn the basic lion dance moves from a professional instructor and take part in a brief lion dance as well. Each session is only open to 20 participants, on a first-come-first-served basis.
There will be four workshop sessions, which are open to Lee Tung Avenue members who use 200 e-points to reserve a spot. Non-members, including tourists, can sign up for the workshop after spending HK$200 at Lee Tung Avenue on the same day with an electronic payment method and by following Lee Tung Avenue on social media.
Lee Tung Avenue will also roll out a limited-edition set of red packets featuring two designs of the begonia flower, between January 13 and March 3. Lee Tung Avenue members can redeem one set (with eight envelopes) of these limited-edition red packets with 600 e-points.
Image credits: Lee Tung Avenue
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