There are many ways of welcoming in the new year. If staying up late for the midnight countdown was not your style, you could have joined a hardy group of Hongkongers who broke the ice of the new year with a morning swim in the wintry sea.
Despite the balmy weather, around 18 degrees Celsius, the ocean felt frigid. But that did not stop more than 2,500 Hongkongers from jumping into the sea for the new year winter swim at Repulse Bay, the biggest turnout in the event's 36 years.
The pier was crowded by 9am with swimmers, their families and friends. Everyone laughed and chatted as they did warm-up exercises. Mothers heated soup and chicken wings, perfect for children hungry from a long, cold swim.
The competition was divided into three categories each for males and females. There was also a leisure swim category, where local swim teams could test their own mettle, and families and those who enjoy a refreshing dip could sign up and swim for the fun of it.
Others swam for the specially designed souvenir - a gold-coloured token bearing a dragon for the Year of the Dragon.
Swimmers started from Middle Bay Beach and swam 600 metres to the finish line at the Repulse Bay jetty. They dashed into the sea at the sound of a horn, as onlookers cheered and snapped pictures.
Liu Chun-ting, 15, was fastest to the finishing line in the men's open category. Hannah Li Hang-fung, 14, came first in the women's race, on her debut in the competition.