Hongkongers are all set to welcome Lunar New Year in a big way after two years of toned-down celebrations. And to commemorate the Year Of The Rabbit, districts and malls across the city have organised LNY set-ups that feature everything from larger-than-life bunnies and massive flower arrangements, to mahjong displays and even LEGO installations. Here’s our list of places in the 852 where you can get great #LNY2023 clicks.
Central Market — Central
Fancy a throwback to the old 852? Central Market has set up street markets, flower stalls, a bazaar dedicated to Hong Kong-based illustrators, and a retro toy store. But the highlights are the five-metre-tall LED flower board at Oasis on the ground floor, and the 450 lanterns suspended above it that symbolize the Lantern Festival.
93 Queen’s Road Central, Central | +852 3618 8668
Hong Kong Cultural Centre — Tsim Sha Tsui
The government’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Office has worked with Hui Ka-hung, a master in traditional paper crafting, to create several rabbit, lion, and dim sum lantern displays. The lanterns, which are at the HKCC Piazza until February 7, will be lit between 6pm and 11pm every day.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre, L5, Auditoria Building, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2734 2009
New Town Plaza — Sha Tin
Go on a whirlwind tour of Seoul, Kyoto and Taipei, courtesy the massive rabbits sitting amid a sea of flowers at New Town Plaza. Get that springtime vibe by taking a stroll through a cherry-tree forest replete with blossoms and a rapeseed field.
18-19 Sha Tin Centre Street, Sha Tin | +852 2608 9329
Citygate Outlets — Tung Chung
Go on a sweet Lunar New Year ride with the Cheeky Cheeky family, the brainchild of a collab between Hong Kong illustrator Pok Li and Chupa Chups. Check out the various FUNtastic World displays at the L2 bridge and atrium in the mall, and near cdf Beauty on L2.
20 Tat Tung Road Tung Chung | +852 2109 2933
IFC — Central
Wander through the Garden of Auspicious Delights, which is a tribute to the beauty of blossoming flowers in springtime, at IFC Mall’s Oval Atrium. Use the Fluid Blessings digital experience to send an online blessing to your loved ones and the Bedazzling Butterfly Instagram AR Filter to take selfies with fluttering butterflies.
8 Finance Street, Central | +852 2295 3308
Festival Walk — Kowloon Tong
Festival Walk’s installations that feature auspicious flowers and 3D geometric rabbits provide great backdrops for shoppers, as well as live LNY shows. Mark your calendars on January 20, 21, 28 and 29, when the award-winning Guo Kung Fu Golden Dragon and Lion Dance Team will showcase their drum performances and flag dances at the mall, at 2pm and 4pm.
80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong | +852 2844 2222
Follow The Lucky Rabbits — Multiple locations
The Hong Kong Tourism Board has planned several Chinese New Year attractions from January 19-February 5 along Victoria Harbour. There’s a giant Lucky Rabbit rooftop installation at Central Pier, a new rainbow walk on the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade, a sea of flowers and shimmering lights at Tamar Park, and 20 Lucky Rabbits on the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Viewing Deck with lights and festive songs.
Central, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2892 2393
Langham Place — Mong Kok
Fans of the Japanese cat mofusand can head to Langham Place to see replicas of the feline frolicking at Japanese shrines, onsen, and izakaya. Check out drawings of mofusand, which are on display in Hong Kong for the first time, as well as the city’s first pop-up store dedicated to the cartoon character.
8 Argyle Street, Mong Kok | +852 3520 2800
Tsuen Wan Plaza — Tsuen Wan
Korean design team CIRCUS BOY BAND has created a Spring Fortune Garden at Tseun Wan Plaza, which features the rabbits Tokee Pink and Tokee White, as well as other Forest Club characters.
4-30 Tai Pa St, Tsuen Wan | +852 2498 8343
PMQ — Central
This is a great place for families because you’re more than welcome to push, shake, and lean on the rabbits here. There are more than 50 tumbler bunnies on the ground floor of PMQ in all sizes, which make for ‘Gram-worthy pics.
35 Aberdeen Street, Central | + 852 2870 2335
The One — Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong’s very own Plastic Thing has set up shop at The One for Lunar New Year, and features the food-loving Fatty front and centre. Check out the pop-up store for merch or just stop by for a chance to click a pic.
100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 3106 3640
Pacific Place — Admiralty
Follow the White Rabbit to Pacific Place, where you can check out the latest offering from the iconic brand — a mango-flavoured candy — at its first pop-up store in the city. There is also a larger-than-life flower-arrangement replica of the eponymous rabbit that is perfect for pics.
88 Queensway, Admiralty | +852 2844 8988
Lee Tung Avenue — Wan Chai
Lee Tung Avenue is Rabbit Central this LNY. You’ll find a family of five bunnies at the Central Piazza, as well as colourful sculptures of bunnies on the lampposts at this Wan Chai hot spot. Don’t forget to look up and be wowed by the 688 lanterns suspended above the tree-lined street, which are lit from 5pm onwards.
200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai | +852 3791 2304
Times Square — Causeway Bay
Times Square has teamed up with local toymaker URDU to design Maneki-neko- and Daruma-inspired versions of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Visitors to the mall will be greeted by two-metre-tall Mickey and Donald installations at the Open Piazza. There’s also a pop-up store at the Atrium at which shoppers can check out 50 limited-run Disney items and the URDU Fukuheya Disney collection.
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay | +852 2118 8900
Harbour City — Tsim Sha Tsui
Popular Korean character Esther Bunny has hopped over to the 852 to celebrate Chinese New Year, and you can find her at the entrance to LCX at Harbour City. Pose with Esther in her cute home as she cooks in her kitchen, waters her plants, and hangs out in her dressing room.
3/F, Ocean Terminal, 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | + 852 2118 8666
Citywalk — Tsuen Wan
Citywalk’s LEGO Prosperity Burrows Adventureland features a giant rabbit-themed float and a carrot harvest scene, as well as a waterfall-wishing well. You can even pick up limited-edition festive Lunar New Year Display and Lunar New Year Parade sets at the LEGO pop-up store.
1 & 18 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan | +852 3926 5708
MOSTown — Ma On Shan
If you yearn to visit a bygone era, MOSTown has set pieces to invoke ’60s and ’70s Hong Kong. Pose for pics at five thematic installations: the Retro Studio, the Grand Living Room, the Bountiful Mah-jong Tiles, the four-metre-tall Resplendent TV Tube, and the Blooming Days.
18 On Luk St, Ma On Shan | +852 2643 9110
Header image credits: Pacific Place via Facebook
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