https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-2016/i-hJWzWkT
The opening of Lunar New Year flower markets across Hong Kong announces the start of Chinese New Year. While the fairs started as exclusively flower markets, today as well as flowers you can buy a wide range of Chinese New Year themed goods including decorations, red packets, stuffed animals, toys….
Flowers are an important part of Chinese New Year as everyone hopes to improve the feng shui of their homes and offices for the year ahead. Broadly the benefits of the main flowers you’ll find at the markets are as follows:
Kumquat plants: financially prosperous year
Chrysanthemum: long life
Lettuce: wealth generation
Peach blossoms: romance and longevity
Peonies: prosperity
Tangerine trees: fruitful marriages, goodwill, prosperity and good luck
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-2016/i-DbxBTt5
The market in Victoria Park has also become an important fund raising hub for local political parties and charities of all persuasions. This year however the FEHD who run the fairs and are supposed, as part of the government, to be politically neutral, decided to ban two parties who oppose Beijing’s Sinafication of Hong Kong and the erosion of freedom of speech and the politicisation of the police and judiciary.
Lunar New Year Fair Locations
Hong Kong
Causeway Bay – Victoria Park
Kowloon
Kwun Tong – Kwun Tong Recreation Ground
Sai Kung – Man Yee Playground
Sham Shui Po – Cheung Sha Wan Playground
Sham Shui Po – Fai Hui Park
Tseung Kwan O – Po Hong Park
Tung Chung – Tat Tung Road Garden
Wong Tai Sin – Morse Park
New Territories
Kwai Tsing – Kwai Chung Sports Ground
North District – Shek Wu Hui Playground
Sha Tin – Yuen Wo Playground
Tai Po – Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square
Tsuen Wan – Sha Tsui Road Playground
Tuen Mun – Tin Hau Temple Plaza
Yuen Long – Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Lunar-New-Year-Fair-2016/i-4ZTLKDG
Lunar New Year Fairs
Date: Noon – midnight, 22–27 January
Midnight – 6am, 28 January
Venue: 15 parks and playgrounds including Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok
Tickets: Free